Daytona SP3 by Ferrari becomes the priciest new Ferrari ever sold

Daytona SP3 auction opens at Monterey

On August 16, 2025, RM Sotheby’s sold a one-off Ferrari Daytona SP3 during Monterey Car Week. RM Sotheby’s confirmed a final price of $26,000,000, setting a new record for a new Ferrari at auction.

Bidding escalated rapidly, with multiple would-be buyers pushing the price into eight figures. The unique car was built as an extra “599 plus 1” unit and included a special interior plaque to identify its one-off status. The lot was the main attraction that week.

New Ferrari auction record confirmed

The Monterey sale became the highest price ever paid for a new Ferrari. utlets described the sale as a modern milestone: some ranked it among the priciest Ferraris ever sold (e.g., 11th), while others placed it around 13th overall for any car at auction; regardless, it’s the top result for a new Ferrari.

The price surpassed the ten million dollars paid for a LaFerrari Aperta in 2017. That earlier auction also raised funds for charity. By comparison, the Daytona SP3 more than doubled the prior mark, placing a factory-fresh Ferrari in rare company at auction.

Daytona SP3 limited production background

Ferrari unveiled the Daytona SP3 in 2021 with a planned run of five hundred ninety-nine units. Pricing began at about two million two hundred fifty thousand dollars, and every example was sold before the model was publicly announced.

Publicly seen owners include Piero Ferrari and current/ex-Ferrari F1 drivers such as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who have showcased their SP3s publicly. The base specifications listed a 6.5-liter V12 engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, continuing Ferrari’s approach of pairing modern engineering with exclusivity.

Ferrari announces charity build in July 2025

On July 9, 2025, Ferrari confirmed it had created one extra Daytona SP3 beyond the original run. The car was designated “599 plus 1” and would be auctioned for charity through RM Sotheby’s.

Proceeds were pledged to the Ferrari Foundation for education projects. One specific project was rebuilding a charter school in Altadena, California, that had been destroyed by wildfires earlier that year. The announcement framed the auction as both historic and humanitarian.

Tailor Made livery in yellow and carbon

The special Daytona SP3 carried a yellow Tailor Made livery in Giallo Modena with exposed carbon fiber. Lower aerodynamic parts were finished in glossy black. Large Ferrari lettering ran across the hood and tail.

It’s the first Ferrari road car to wear a full-length Ferrari logotype graphic across the body. This uncommon branding choice distinguished the car from the standard SP3s and added to its auction appeal, reinforcing its identity as a one-off build.

Custom interior details in auction car

The cabin used carbon fiber developed for Ferrari’s Formula One cars, applied to the dashboard and steering column. Seats were trimmed in a fabric made from recycled tires, with a repeated Prancing Horse motif across interior surfaces.

A unique plaque engraved with “599+1” confirmed the car’s status as an extra build. The dashboard also featured checkerboard carbon fiber, similar to racing program components. These elements highlighted Ferrari’s Tailor Made design program inside the auction model.

Design inspiration from 1960s Ferrari racers

Ferrari said the Daytona SP3’s styling drew from 1960s sports prototypes, including the 330 P3/4, 330 P4, and 412 P. The company linked the design to its 1-2-3 sweep at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona.

The SP3 was positioned in Ferrari’s Icona program, a series of exclusive low-volume models inspired by past classics. The Icona line began in 2018 with the Monza SP1 and SP2, and the SP3 became the next chapter in that family.

V12 engine and performance specifications

The Daytona SP3 carried a mid-mounted 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12. Output was reported as 828 horsepower with a redline of 9,500 rpm, while Matthew DeBord listed 829 horsepower in his August 20 coverage.

Torque was recorded at 514 pound-feet, with power sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. At launch, the Daytona SP3 carried a base price of around $2.25 million before options. This mechanical specification was unchanged for the charity example.

Published performance claims

Ferrari’s official performance claims list zero to sixty miles per hour in under three seconds. The car’s top speed was greater than 211 miles per hour. These numbers came from Ferrari’s product specification sheets.

Because the SP3’s V12 was naturally aspirated and not hybrid-assisted, collectors regarded it as one of Ferrari’s last high-power non-hybrid models. The auction example retained these factory specifications with no reported modifications.

Other auction results at Monterey

The RM Sotheby’s auction also included several notable sales. An Alfa Romeo 33 race car sold for $1.16 million. A Ferrari F40 brought $3.8 million. A LaFerrari Aperta achieved $6.7 million, while a De Tomaso P70 prototype sold for $720,000.

Matthew DeBord noted the Daytona SP3’s $26 million price exceeded the next highest Pebble Beach auction lot that year by around $700,000. This placed the Ferrari firmly at the top of the week’s sales.

Differing reports on sale ranking

DeBord reported the Daytona SP3 as the most expensive modern car ever sold at public auction, ranking about thirteenth overall among all vehicles. His August 20 piece emphasized the modern milestone.

CarBuzz placed the car as the eleventh most expensive Ferrari ever sold. The two accounts reflected slightly different frameworks but agreed on the exceptional placement of the Daytona SP3 in auction history.

Funds directed to Altadena school project

Ferrari confirmed proceeds from the “599 plus 1” sale would go directly to the Ferrari Foundation. The Foundation listed its focus on education, prioritizing rebuilding the Altadena, California, charter school destroyed by wildfires in 2025.

The auction at RM Sotheby’s during Monterey Car Week became the delivery point for this pledge. Ferrari promoted the Tailor Made SP3 as a unique example explicitly built for this cause, emphasizing the community relief aspect.

Piero Ferrari’s personal Daytona SP3

On December 30, 2024, Evan Williams reported that Piero Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari’s only son, owned a personally specced Daytona SP3. He based its design on the classic 250 LM.

Piero said he drove the car at Fiorano, calling it a baptism and reserving it for special occasions. His example featured a simple livery with recycled materials and carbon fiber elements, showing how individual customization shaped SP3 ownership experiences.

Icona program and Ferrari’s strategy

The Icona series launched in 2018 with the Monza SP1 and SP2. These models, like the Daytona SP3, borrowed design themes from Ferrari’s racing past while using modern engineering.

It was observed that Ferrari used Icona projects to strengthen its business. He wrote that limited, invitation-only production alongside Tailor Made demand supported Ferrari’s bottom line during wider industry changes. The SP3 represented this ongoing strategy.

Historic Ferrari auction comparisons

An April 16, 2024, list of Ferrari auction results included a 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale that sold for $26.4 million in 2014. The legendary Ferrari 250 GTO models sold for even higher figures, including $48.405 million in 2018.

These historic results show older race-proven Ferraris often exceeded modern examples in value. Roger Biermann’s list contrasted these classics with newer cars, placing the Daytona SP3 among the rare modern Ferraris above $20 million.

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Winning bidder stays undisclosed

The winning bidder’s identity for the Daytona SP3 has not been revealed. Reports confirmed the buyer remained private following the August 20, 2025, auction. The unique “599+1” plaque ensures the car is distinct from the standard run 599.

Reporters described the result as Ferrari’s most successful charity auction to date, with one Tailor Made example raising $26 million for the Ferrari Foundation.

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What do you think about Ferrari’s $26M auction record? Drop your comments below.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.