Honor, Responsibility, Legend: 1955 Ferrari 410 Headlines RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction

This year’s Monterey auctions are shaping up to be equal parts spectacle and substance, as the market continues to grow in grand ways. Every auction house is bringing fantastic cars to market for Monterey Car Week, including RM Sotheby’s, which has just announced the Ferrari 410 Sport Spider by Scaglietti as part of its August 18-20 auction in downtown Monterey.

Headliners seem thick on the ground already this year, but even among them, this is a special car. History, style and condition all play factors in collector car valuation, and in those terms, this one has everything going for it.

This car, s/n 0598 CM, was driven by Fangio at the 1956 1000 KM Buenos Aires, as well as by Carroll Shelby during the 1956 and 1957 seasons — Shelby had more victories in this car than in any other during his racing career, and by all accounts, he loved running it due to its fantastic power and ability to devour the competition. Other drivers included Phil Hill, Eugenio Castellotti, Masten Gregory, Richie Gunther, Joakim Bonnier, Bruce Kessler, Jim Rathmann and Chuck Daigh.

Even-number Ferrari racers led hard lives in-period, but this one survived the long haul — 40 races, with 11 victories and 19 podium finishes from 1956 to 1958. Further, it still has its original matching-numbers engine, chassis and body. Its original fuel tank has a note from Shelby: “Mr. Ferrari told me that this was his best Ferrari he ever built.” He was also quoted in-period as saying, “Nothing can touch this Ferrari if it runs,” adding later, “It was the best Ferrari I ever drove.”

The car comes with the first (1956) and the last (1958) trophies earned by Shelby during his racing appearances with it, as well as the original 1957 Nassau license plate.

As one of only two factory-campaigned 410 Sports with the 24-plug 4.9-L V12, this car would be special enough — but that incredible history will add a bunch of value when the car appears at auction inside the Portola Plaza from August 18-20.

Learn more here.