There are collector cars, and then there are Ferraris. The cars that Enzo built are in many respects a market unto themselves, coveted by the ultra rich for their beauty, performance, and the very status they confer. Ferrari can claim the world’s most valuable car—the 250 GTO—and has at times dominated the international auction scene as thoroughly as it dominated Formula 1 in the Michael Schumacher era. Yet even at these lofty heights, Ferraris are not immune to factors affecting other enthusiast vehicles. As we wind down 2021, some notable numbers from the Ferrari market this year show how they are and aren’t just like any other car.
$10,840,000
The sale price of the only Ferrari to sell at auction for eight figures this year, which is the 1959 Ferrari 250 California LWB Spider sold by Gooding & Company at Pebble Beach. The lone eight-figure Ferrari sale is down from the record eight sold in 2015, but none sold for more than $10 million in 2019 or in 2020.
40/41
The share of Boomers (1946–1964) versus Gen-X (1965–1981) who have called us for insurance quotes on Ferraris since the beginning of 2020. That represents a huge surge in interest from Gen–Xers, who are gradually supplanting their older siblings as the prime movers in the classic car market. Note, however, that quotes are different than policies—the former represent interest, the latter ownership. Policies show that Boomers still have the majority of the cars with a 53/33 split.
24
The average premium $1 million-plus Ferraris sold for at auction this year relative to their condition-appropriate value in the Hagerty Price Guide. Most of the sparks in the pandemic-era classic car market have been in the more attainable, more modern segments—think Nissan Skyline GT-Rs and the like. We've even wondered whether the ultra rich are sitting out the latest surge in the classic car market. The fact that million-dollar Ferraris are seeing such active bidding indicates top collectors are indeed joining the frenzy.
18
As Ferrari values have risen, we've seen appreciation for ever more recent models, most dramatically the 1987–1992 F40, but also for much newer cars like (stick-shift) 1996–2006 575 Maranellos. It thus bears mentioning that Ferraris do depreciate. The typical three-year percentage depreciation for a 488 Spider from new—18 percent—is less than competitors like the Aston Martin DB11 Volante 5.2L V12 at 21 percent but more than the Ferrari Portofino at 9 percent and Lamborghini Huracan Spyder at 15 percent.
13
The percentage of people calling us for policy quotes on Ferraris who are inquiring about a 2010-2016 Ferrari 458. That makes it the most popular Ferrari, followed by the 488 with 11 percent and the F430 with 10 percent. The most popular Enzo-era car is the Dino 246, at 1 percent of our quotes. This largely reflects how much Ferrari has scaled up production in recent years.
73
The average percentage premium in the Hagerty Price Guide for an open-gate transmission when compared to its F1-equipped equivalent. The average includes the F355, 360 Modena, F430, 612 Scaglietti, 575M Maranello, and 599 GTB.
With Ferrari continuing to expand into new product lines and the likely extension into electric vehicles, demand will remain strong for the models that built Ferrari into the most sought-after car maker in the world today. The generational shift from Boomers to Gen-X is happening with the generation representing the largest share of quotes. However, with the Gen-X share of quotes for Enzo-era cars only a about a quarter, the demand for vintage cars is uncertain.
It’s interesting to read about the Stratosphere. I drive my cars. I would not drive a multi million dollar car on the street, so it would sit in a garage or barn, coming out for the event or tour,amd just sit there the rest of the time.
I looked at the requests for Insurance graphs and all I can say is that if you feel its necessary for some psychological reason to own these cars as drivers, and yes, I think they are works of art, then you have more money than brains. Why? Because of all the idiot drivers around you. Not you.
At some point as we near critical mass on EV acceptance, not just ownership a bigger separation should occur between the Japanese collector cars and the European (especially Ferrari) market. Reason being the complexity. Anybody can keep a Japanese car on the road with little in the way of a support system. For the very wealthy or those wanting bragging rights the rarer European cars will do fine. What will be universal going forward is the manual shift cars will remain the most collectable. I see people looking in the window of an older car with automatic transmission and saying “oh, if it were only a manual”
I believe your comment captures the majority of the present market, but all property assets whether they’re real estate or cars have valuation/appreciation cycles. Most of us boomers buy the older car’s that were out of grasp when we younger: 12 cyl/3rd pedal cars. If this thought process passes to the next generation, GenX’ers and Millennials will want the car’s (they grew up with) that eliminated the shift gate/pedal and go for the early technology of “third-pedal-less” cars. Remember, most of us boomers learned how to drive with a clutch, so it’s not a new or strange experience. But GenX’ers and Millennials (in most cases) did not and will want the ability to shift effortlessly with their fingers at any rpm-unlike the new hyper performance EV street go-kart’s that are being sold today.
Ferraris, and definitely multi-million dollar Ferraris, need “exercise”. If you’ve ever attended vintage racing events, people are putting extremely expensive cars at risk all the time. In fact, many of these multi-million dollar Ferraris you see for sale on TV have had a bang or two in their past lives, because they were raced. Many lost their engines at some point during their competitive days, which is why Ferrari will make you a new one and stamp it for you.
have a 1981 308gtsi love it
Why no love for the classics 308, 328, 348 ? Arguably the best looking cars Enzo put out for the masses.
They’re popular, but not popular enough to make it into the top 10 of the quote ranking.