RM Sotheby’s New York City auction, called “Driven by Disruption,” was an absolute blockbuster of an event. Earlier we covered Janis Joplin’s Porsche, which sold for $1.76 million. Now, I get to inform you of the auction’s star of the night: a 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, built for Formula One driver Juan Manuel Fangio.
After a spirited auction, the hammer down with a final bid of $28 million. According to RM Sotheby’s Facebook post regarding this lot, the crowd reacted to the final bid with applause. What’s more, the pre-auction estimate for the car was $28 million – spot on. Needless to say, their experts at RM Sotheby’s know how to value their lots.
This exact 290 MM was chassis #0626 and was one of four examples ever built. It was purchased by Temple Buell in New York in the spring of 1957. Buell then sold the car in 1958, and it continued to be raced up until 1964. After being owned by world-renowned Ferrari collector Pierre Bardinon for 34 years, it was then passed to a new owner, who had the car regularly maintained for 12 years.
Now, the famed 290 MM is in the hands of a new owner and we wish them a fruitful ownership.
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Gallery
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(Source: RM Sotheby’s)