Few cars have achieved the same legendary status as the Ferrari 250 GTO. Every Ferrari lover's dream, it's often called the "holy grail" of auto design, and the ultimate collector's car. Today, it’s the most valuable production car on earth, but its greatness goes far beyond the price tag.
The 250 GTO is the perfect blend of design, innovation, and performance, making it not just the greatest Ferrari ever made, but one of the greatest cars ever made. According to the company's website, "this was the car that summed up Ferrari philosophy best."
Performance
When Ferrari unveiled the 250 GTO in 1962, it was designed to be a champion. Built for the demanding GT racing class, every inch of the car was shaped with performance in mind. Its Colombo V12 engine was derived from the 250 Testa Rossa, and was a mechanical masterpiece, delivering around 300 horsepower at a time when most family cars barely reached 70. It was one of the fastest cars of its era.
With its lightweight chassis and cutting-edge aerodynamics, the GTO could reach 174 miles per hour, an incredible feat for its time. Additionally, the car was pristinely balanced, responsive, and offered amazingly smooth handling.
The 250 GTO dominated the FIA’s International Championship for GT Manufacturers, securing victories from 1962 to 1964. Driven by legends like Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien, it achieved class victories at nearly every major endurance race, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the Targa Florio.
Design
PSParrot from England on Wikimedia
Far from being all power, the 250 GTO is also widely considered one of the most beautiful cars ever made. Unlike many race cars built purely for function, the GTO was built to be pretty as well as fast. Designed by Pininfarina and Scaglietti, its characteristic curves, long-hooded body, distinctive tail, and triple-vented nose make it both stunning and aerodynamic. The body was the result of wind tunnel testing—an advanced concept for the 1960s.
Each car was hand-made in Maranello by expert craftsmen. This blend of artistry and aerodynamics has led the Court of Bologna to legally recognize the 250 GTO as a work of art—a status no other automobile shares.
The timeless, artistic design has been the inspiration for countless other Ferraris, like the F40, the F8 Tributo, and the Daytona SP3.
Exclusivity
Only 36 examples of the 250 GTO were ever made, and each one contains subtle differences, which is why they're so valuable and coveted today. At the time of its release, not just anyone with money could buy one; every sale had to be personally approved by Enzo Ferrari. This made ownership an immediate badge of honor among the elite. When one changes hands, it’s global news. In 2018, one was famously sold at auction for a record $70 million.
In the world of supercars, many models are fast, beautiful, or rare, but the Ferrari 250 GTO is all three. At the crossroads of racing prowess, style, and pristine mechanics, this is unequivocally the greatest Ferrari ever made.
