Pristine Ferrari 250 GT SWB tipped to fetch more than $15 million at auction

A 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione by Scaglietti sports car is set to cross the auction block later this month.

The 250 GT SWB – one of 45 aluminium-bodied Competizione examples built by Ferrari in 1960 – is the headline lot at an RM Sotheby's auction in Paris later this month.

It is powered by a modified Tipo 168B 'hot rod' version of the 3.0-litre petrol V12 which came standard with the 250 GT.

According to the auction listing, it was built to compete in the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring, where it finished seventh overall, and fifth in its class.

The 250 GT went on to race in more than 50 further events and passed through the hands of multiple owners until 2014, when it became part of the Pinnacle Portfolio car collection – and was sent to be restored to factory condition. 

It was stripped back to bare metal and painted its original shade of Giallo (yellow), with a matching Pelle Verde ('green skin') interior. 

During this process, the car and chassis were confirmed to be original – and not swapped for a different body or frame during its life – and receipts totalling $US700,000 were found relating to the coupe’s storied history. 

In 2023, Ferrari Classiche – the Italian car maker's in-house classic-car division – granted the 250 GT SWB full 'Red Book' certification, which makes its originality official.

It was found the serial numbers of the coupe's chassis, engine and rear axle match – meaning none were replaced with examples from other cars during this vehicle's life.

Given the car’s immaculate condition and storied past, RM Sotheby's estimates the vehicle to sell for $US10 million to $US12 million ($AU15.2 million to $AU18.2 million) at auction.