Ferrari 340/375 MM achieves Italian auction record

This awkwardly styled, but still beautiful Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Competizione has just sold at auction for €9.856 million (AU$13.1m). Ferrari themselves declare it an Italian record for a classic Ferrari.

The car in question competed in the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Spa; alas it failed to finish either race. However, it did taste victory thanks to with Mike Hawthorn and Umberto Maglioli at the 1953 Pescara 12 Hours.

Powered by a 4.5 litre V12 complete with triple Weber carburettors it boasted 340hp. By today’s standards a 4-speed manual gearbox is prehistoric for a top line racing car, so too the use of leaf springs. Of course, in its day the 375 MM was leading edge.

Chassis 0320AM was the car up for grabs and it was also raced in the World Sports Car Championship by no less than Mike Hawthorn, Alberto Ascari and Giuseppe Farina, all three were F1 world champions.

While this is the highest sale price achieved at auction by a Ferrari in Italy, it still falls short of the US$16.4 million paid for a 1957 250 Testa Rossa in 2011.

[Source: RM Auctions]