When A Ferrari 250 GTO Goes Up For Sale, It's A Big Deal!
Ferrari’s only factory-white 250 GTO, complete with period race history, rare spares, and famous drivers, is heading to public auction for the first time.
A Singular GTO
Among the 36 Ferrari 250 GTOs built between 1962 and 1964, one stands entirely alone. Chassis 3729GT is the only example finished in white from the factory, specifically Bianco Speciale, and one of just eight built in right-hand drive. While most GTOs wore Rosso Corsa or national racing colors tied to their owners, this car left Maranello unlike anything else Ferrari had produced, paired with a black leather interior that emphasized the contrast.
Completed on May 7, 1962, the aluminum-bodied GTO was sent to Scaglietti for coachwork based on Giotto Bizzarrini’s aerodynamic design. Ferrari issued its certificate of origin and Italian registration two months later, before the car was delivered to England in July 1962.
Built to Race
The car was purchased new by John Coombs, a former racing driver and prominent British privateer team owner. Coombs wasted no time putting the GTO to work, modifying it with hood louvers and a cockpit fresh-air hose routed from a fog light opening, both features the car still retains today.
Its competition debut came in August 1962, and the results quickly justified Ferrari’s faith in the design. The white GTO scored multiple GT class wins and five second-place finishes during its active racing career. Most notably, it finished second overall at the RAC Tourist Trophy at Goodwood in both 1962 and 1963, then claimed a GT class victory at the 1963 Guards Trophy at Brands Hatch.
Drivers of Record
Few cars can claim a roster like this one. Over its competition life, chassis 3729GT was driven by some of the most respected names of the era, including Graham Hill, Jack Sears, Richie Ginther, Roy Salvadori, and Mike Parkes. Jack Sears, in particular, played a central role, piloting the car to its Brands Hatch win and later reacquiring it decades later as a private owner.
In an unusual footnote, the GTO was briefly loaned in 1962 to the Jaguar Competition Department. At Jaguar’s Browns Lane facility in Coventry, engineers used it for aerodynamic and performance evaluation, an extraordinary crossover between rival manufacturers during a fiercely competitive period.
Careful Custodianship
After its front-line racing years, the car changed hands several times but remained remarkably intact. John Pearce acquired it in 1964, followed by collector Neil Corner in 1967. From 1970 until 1999, the GTO was preserved in a climate-controlled environment, seeing repairs and refinishing as needed but never undergoing a full restoration.
In 1999, it entered the collection of Jon Shirley, former president and chief operating officer of Microsoft, where it has remained ever since. During this period, the car was refinished in its original Bianco Speciale and documented by Ferrari Classiche, earning the coveted Red Book certification.
Mechanical Substance
Power comes from a 3.0-liter Tipo 168/62 Colombo V12, breathing through six Weber 38 DCN carburetors. Output is rated at approximately 296 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque, routed through a five-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels. Period-correct hardware includes four-wheel disc brakes, twin Marelli distributors, and Borrani knock-off wire wheels.
Mecum notes that the car is currently fitted with a Ferrari Classiche-built V12 installed during a comprehensive mechanical refresh, while retaining its original gearbox and other key components. The sale also includes an additional correct-spec GTO V12 engine, along with spare wheels, brakes, and other rare parts accumulated over decades.
The Stakes
The GTO is scheduled to cross the block at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction on January 17, 2026, marking the first time it has ever been offered publicly. No official estimate has been released, but values north of $50 million are widely expected. For context, the highest-known price paid for a 250 GTO remains the reported $70 million private sale of chassis 4153GT in 2018.
Even if it falls short of the all-time auction record, currently held by the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé at $143 million, the sale of Ferrari’s only factory-white 250 GTO represents a rare convergence of originality, competition history, and documented provenance that is unlikely to be repeated.