Ralph Lauren's Ferrari F50 sold for a new record price... there are only two like it!

A few months ago, we announced that a very special Ferrari F50, once owned by legendary designer Ralph Lauren, was to be auctioned in Monterey. Estimates were already very high, between 6.5 and 7.5 million dollars. But this weekend, the hammer fell on a sum that defies imagination: $9.245 million. Quite simply, it's the most expensive Ferrari F50 ever sold in the world.

An F50 like no other

Produced in just 349 examples to celebrate Ferrari's 50th anniversary, the F50 is already a Holy Grail for collectors. But this one ticks all the rarity boxes: it's one of only 55 examples to meet American specifications, and above all, it's one of only two to leave the factory in Giallo Modena, that eye-catching bright yellow.

Ordered new by Ralph Lauren in 1995, this F50 sat for eight years in his private collection alongside such jewels as the Ferrari 250 GTO and the McLaren F1. In 2003, the American designer parted company with it, and the car was transferred to the discreet garage of a Virginia couple, who only exhibited it to the public once more, in 2009.

Pedigree beyond reproach

The F50 sold this weekend has only 8,690 km on the clock. It was given a complete overhaul at Ferrari in Florida at the end of 2024, with replacement of sensitive parts (fuel tanks, tires, brakes). It has also been certified Ferrari Classiche since 2009, guaranteeing authenticity down to the smallest detail.

Suffice it to say that this is a concours example, with a clear history and a prestigious provenance.

Record shattered!

Prior to this sale, the record for an F50 was set at just over $5.5 million. The ex-Ralph Lauren has shattered that ceiling. reaching 9.245 million, almost 4 million more than the F50s usually traded in recent years.

The reason is simple: the combination of rare color, illustrious former owner, exceptional condition and low usage has transformed this F50 into a unique piece in the world of collector supercars.

Revenge on history

For a long time, the F50 lived in the shadow of its predecessor, the legendary F40, and its successor, the Enzo. But as it approaches its 30th birthday, it is now being re-evaluated in its own right. With its atmospheric V12 derived from Formula 1, its carbon chassis and its radical philosophy, the F50 embodies perhaps more than any other the transition from the analog to the modern era of hypercars.