The most collectable Ferraris — from the 1950s to the 2020s

It started with a vision to conquer the racetrack. But when Enzo Ferrari — the former manager of Alfa Romeo’s successful racing team — founded his eponymous car-manufacturing business in 1947, he knew that, like his competitors on the circuit, he would also have to sell road-legal cars in order to fuel his ambitions.

Unlike Ford or Mercedes, however, Ferrari decided to use the same factory in Maranello, northern Italy, to build all his cars, which shared similar ingredients whether destined for the podium or the streets.

His business model proved to be a perfect circle: every time Ferrari’s racing division won a trophy, awareness rose and the public placed more orders. The profits from those sales paid for more development, which in turn accelerated performance on the track.

It’s a concept that still holds true today. And despite the fact that Ferrari has only ever sold about 330,000 cars, demand is higher than ever. As of November 2026, Ferraris account for 15 of the 20 most expensive cars ever sold at auction.

The 1950s: racing’s golden era

By the end of the 1950s, Ferrari had risen from practically nowhere to dominate motor racing, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, the World Sportscar Championship five times and the Mille Miglia six times, as well as claiming no fewer than four Formula 1 World Championship titles.

The 375 MM Berlinetta infused this new racing pedigree into a road-going car, says Banner. ‘It’s got a 4.5-litre engine — and they don’t get a whole lot bigger than that — so you’d need to be a very capable driver to handle it. Add in the brutish styling by Ferrari’s great collaborator Pinin Farina, creating a look that came to define the brand, and you’ve got a serious machine. It did great things for Ferrari’s recognition.’

This particular example was offered in 2025 with exceptional provenance: custom-built for one of Ferrari’s top clients, it was awarded First in Class at the 1956 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. At auction it made $9,465,000. ‘This car had it all — wonderful and simple provenance, untarnished by anything that might have happened to it in a racing career,’ explains Banner. ‘Cars that have been hidden from view for decades can also demand a premium.’

The 1960s: iconic grand tourers

In 1964, Ferrari began production on the 275 series — its successor to the 250 — which had an enormous impact on the racetrack and with customers, particularly in the US. ‘The 275 continued the legacy of Ferrari creating more approachable cars, like the Mercedes 300 SL Roadster or Porsche Speedster. Berlinettas and a mere 10 convertibles were built, with two seats, a V12 engine, and incredibly elegant styling. The 275 doesn’t grab attention by being ferocious, but by being graceful. It is one of the most beautiful cars ever made.’

Despite the 275 being called ‘the most satisfying sports car in the world’ by Road & Track magazine the year it came out, the model’s prices haven’t quite reached the heights of the 250, which accounts for five of the top nine auction records for any car, as of November 2026. The highest price paid for a 275 is $27,500,000.

This 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S NART Spider is the sixth of only 10 ever built. It was delivered brand new to the actor and racer Steve McQueen, who had first test-driven the model for Sports Illustrated the year before, comparing it to his famous brown 250 GT Lusso, and praising its more powerful 3.3-litre engine. In 1968, the earliest 275 NART Spider appeared in the film The Thomas Crown Affair, driven by McQueen’s co-star Faye Dunaway. Held in the same collection for the past 40 years, the 275 owned by McQueen retains his modifications, including quick-fill fuel cap, small, rally-style mirrors and radio console.

The 1970s: mid-engined machines

Towards the end of the 1960s, Ferrari introduced its first mid-engined road car. It was named after Enzo’s son Alfredo — or ‘Dino’ — an engineer who died aged just 24. ‘These cars represent a complete conceptual shift,’ Banner explains. ‘Until then, Ferraris had V12 engines, up front. The Dino was a V6 car, with the engine behind the driver, which gives a completely different — but very enjoyable — driving experience.’

Recently, the Dino’s popularity has soared. ‘It’s not always easy to find somewhere appropriate to drive a big V12, whereas V6s are great on country lanes, handling beautifully. They are an essential part of the Ferrari family.’

This 1972 Dino 246 GT is unrestored after nearly five decades with a single family. It comes in its rare, elegant and original Blu Dino Metallizzato colour. It follows the sale of a 1974 Dino 246 GTS in ‘signal orange’ (originally a Porsche colour) at Gooding Christie’s in March 2026, which made $1,325,000 — a new record for the model.

‘Rossa Corsa (racing red) was the mandatory national racing colour for Italian cars in the early 20th century, and became Ferrari’s signature tone. It’s iconic, but also the most prevalent colour,’ says Banner. ‘Much rarer original colours, particularly if few were built in those hues, can command substantial figures.’

The 1980s: dawn of the supercar

In 1984, Ferrari unveiled a new flagship car — the Testarossa. Its signature side air strakes became a touchpoint of the decade’s style, thanks in part to the car’s appearances in the hugely popular TV show Miami Vice, as well as celebrity patronage — Rod Stewart, Elton John, Mike Tyson and Michael Jordan all owned one.

The Testarossa proved to be immensely popular, with small evolutions in design and later fully revised models, into the 1990s. ‘Production of all models ran to five figures,’ says Banner. ‘The earliest examples of the definitive, groundbreaking design — with its distinctive single “high flying” driver’s-side rear-view mirror, or monospecchio, and centre-lock wheel hubs (monodado) — were quickly updated, making those models rare and the most sought-after. Together with the normal criteria of low miles, limited and documented history, as well as originality, those cars are the most appealing to collectors.’

This Testarossa is a rare factory ‘Black over Black’ example — the monochrome colour inside and out enhancing its dramatic proportions and styling. It was sold in Houston in January 1988 to a Texas real-estate developer, and has done less than 20,000 miles since then. In 2024, it received a major engine-out service at Ferrari Silicon Valley.

The 1980s also saw the release of Ferrari’s 288 GTO. Unlike the Testarossa, which was designed as a Grand Tourer, it combined the pinnacle of turbocharged technology and engineering with advanced materials and low production numbers: just 272 were ever made. As a result, it is considered the first modern supercar.

The 1990s: the Schumacher era

‘There is a huge demand for cars of this era right now, as a generation who grew up watching Michael Schumacher’s rise on the track, and with posters of Ferraris on their walls, enter the market,’ says Banner.

The decade’s icon is the F40, which distilled Ferrari’s racing ethos into a road-legal format, and was the first production car to breach 200 miles per hour. ‘It was close in concept to the 288 GTO, but stylistically it looked like nothing that had ever come before. It was a like a spaceship had landed. They’re very special things, and they really resonate today.’

Created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the road-car business, the F40 was the last car personally approved by Enzo Ferrari before his death. Some 1,300 were made, including around 200 for the American market, and these tend to dominate the top end of prices today. ‘Generally, they stayed in the country, which makes tracing their lineage — and proving how well they were looked after — much easier,’ says Banner.

This F40, which was originally sold through a dealership in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, even retained its original tool kit. ‘Collectors look for the most complete package of a car, from history to accessories,’ says Banner. Sold in August 2025, it made $3,800,000.

The 2000s: the modern supercar

Just as Schumacher was halfway through winning an unprecedented five back-to-back F1 World Championships between 2000 and 2004, Ferrari released the Enzo. Developed using racetrack technology, including carbon fibre and Kevlar, it was as wild inside and out as the F40, but represented a shift in terms of the company’s approach.

‘Production numbers were slashed: only 400 Enzos were ever made,’ explains Banner. ‘Ferrari’s new boss, Luca di Montezemolo, realised they could sell more cars by producing fewer units, using scarcity to drive up demand. You had to be an incredibly important client to be offered the chance to buy an Enzo, and you’d only be offered future models if you didn’t sell it. Ferrari was a pioneer of the modern luxury market, utilising purchase history and waitlists, and rewarding brand loyalty.’

Today, the Enzo is considered one of Ferrari’s landmark ‘Big Six’ cars, alongside the 288, F40, F50, LaFerrari and F80. This Enzo was one of just six ever made in the silver colour known as Grigio Titanio. It made $4,130,000 in 2022, and prices have continued to rise in recent years.

The 2010s: emergence of the hypercar

In 2005, Ferrari took the relationship between brand and consumer to a new level with its groundbreaking FXX programme, which offered a handful of top-tier clients the chance to participate in research and development for racing cars. In 2017, the project unveiled its latest iteration, the FXX K Evo, a track-only hypercar that uses a hybrid engine to achieve over 1,000 horsepower.

‘This was a completely radical offering, giving collectors a chance to be closer than ever to the Ferrari racing family,’ says Banner. ‘Ferrari would build and maintain the cars for clients, and ship them to racetracks around the world for use at exclusive events. It created a new level of inner circle.’

Another highlight of the decade was the F12tdf — a track-focused evolution of the F12berlinetta — limited to just 799 cars. Capable of 0-60 miles per hour in under three seconds, it was named in homage to the Tour de France automobile race in which Ferrari achieved multiple victories during the 1950s and 1960s. The company called it ‘the ultimate expression of the concept of an extreme road car’.

This example, finished in Blu Tour de France with Bianco Fuji accents, has less than 10,000 kilometres on the clock, making it a particularly appealing expression, combining low mileage, limited production and Ferrari’s front-engine V12 tradition at its most intense.

The 2020s: collector cars of the future

In 2019, Ferrari began production on the SP1, the first of its ‘Special Project’ cars, which are produced in extremely limited numbers and only offered to a handful of clients. Buyers are also invited to participate in VIP tours with other owners. ‘The SP1 indicates what the next chapter of Ferrari’s evolution — where history, innovation and personalisation intersect — might look like,’ says Banner.

Aesthetically, the SP1 draws heavily on the styling of the 750 Monza, a racing car designed by Dino Ferrari in the 1950s. Customers were encouraged to paint their vehicles in vintage liveries. ‘The SP1 Ferrari offered something completely radical: a single-seat racing car that required a helmet when driving on the road,’ says Banner. ‘Almost instantly, other manufacturers started to copy it.’

Then, in October 2022, Ferrari unveiled a new, era-defining sports hypercar, the 499P. The following year, it became their first overall winner at 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1965. It won again in 2024 and 2025, harking back to the golden age of the 1960s when Ferrari won six years in a row. Antonello Coletta, head of Ferrari GT Sporting Activities, said the car was ‘a tribute to our past and a manifesto for our future’.

The car was subsequently made available to a very select number of clients as the 499P Modificata. Free from the confines of competition regulations, the more powerful iteration came with access to the Sport Prototipi Clienti programme, which offers owners the opportunity to drive the model at circuits around the world, with direct support from the factory in Maranello where it has to remain stored. This example, in its original racing livery, hasn’t been driven beyond factory shakedown, and is the first of its kind offered at public auction. ‘Yet again, Ferrari had led the way, turning these cars into collectables overnight,’ says Banner.

Gooding Christie’s Geneva Auction takes place on 8 November 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, with viewing 6-8 November. Retromobile New York Auctions take place on 20 and 21 November at the Javits Center, New York City

Related makers: Ferrari