
A classic Ferrari is expected to become the world's most expensive car after it was put up for sale at £45million.

The Ferrari 250 GTO is the most sought-after classic car because of its perfect blend of looks, rarity and performance on both the track and public road.

Just 36 were built by the Italian manufacturer and this blue, 1962 model was the second to roll off the production line.

It was raced at Le Mans and Sebring and, despite being more than 50 years old, is capable of 0-60mph in less than six seconds and a top speed of more than 170mph.

This classic Ferrari is expected to become the world's most expensive car after it was put up for sale at £45m. The Ferrari 250 GTO is the most sought-after classic car because of its perfect blend of looks, rarity and performance on both the track and public road

Just 36 were built by the Italian manufacturer and this blue, 1962 model was the second to roll off the production line

It was raced at Le Mans and Sebring and, despite being more than 50 years old, is capable of 0-60mph in less than six seconds and a top speed of more than 170mph

The Ferrari has now come onto the open market for the first time in 20 years.

John Collins, who runs Ascot-based Ferrari specialist Talacrest, is selling it for more than £45million ($55m) - an unprecedented open market asking price.

It will be the ninth Ferrari 250 GTO he has sold.

Mr Collins said: 'I'd been looking for a 250 GTO for a while and the opportunity came up with this one, which is the second GTO built.

'It is a beautiful Ferrari, the Holy Grail of classic cars, and it has a great racing history having finished sixth overall at Le Mans and first in class at Sebring.

The Ferrari has now come onto the open market for the first time in 20 years. John Collins, who runs Ascot-based Ferrari specialist Talacrest, is selling it for more than £45m ($55m) - an unprecedented open market asking price

'It is a beautiful Ferrari, the Holy Grail of classic cars,' said Mr Collins. He added: 'It has a great racing history having finished sixth overall at Le Mans and first in class at Sebring'

The car as it was in the late 1970s when it was restored and sprayed red. It was later resprayed blue, its original 1962 colour

FIVE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE CARS SOLD AT AUCTION 1. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Auction: Bonhams, The Quail, 2014 Price: £30,415,000 ($38,115,000) 2. 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti Auction: Artcurial, Paris, 2016 Price: £28,490,000 ($35,700,000) 3. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 Auction: Bonhams, Goodwood Festival of Speed, 2013 Price: £23,620,000 ($29,600,000) 4. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM Auction: RM Sotheby's Auctions, New York City, 2015 Price: £22,385,000 ($28,050,000) 5. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S NART Spider Auction: RM Sotheby's Auctions, Monterey Sale, 2013 Price: £21,950,000 ($27,500,000) Source: AutoExpress Advertisement

'I have already had one offer on the car and know there will be interest. It will get you on the Ferrari 70th anniversary tour next year.

'After the US election, people are going to be looking at investing in assets and this is a lot better than a painting on the wall.'

Ferrari 250 GTOs normally only change hands behind closed doors, with a small number of brokers negotiating deals between the world's richest car collectors.

It is thought to be the first time in more than 20 years a GTO has been openly marketed in the UK.

Bonhams sold a Ferrari 250 GTO at a US auction in 2014 when it went for $38million. The last time a GTO was auctioned before this was in 1990.

While the car was a successful track racer, it was also useable on the road..

It was its all-round drivability, combined with looks and and rarity that has made the 250 GTO the Holy Grail of cars.

The car being offered by Talacrest was built in March 1962, and used by the Ferrari factory for testing before it was sold to Luigi Chinetti and his legendary North American Racing Team.

It was the first GTO to be raced, with Phil Hill driving it to first in its class and second overall at the 12-hour Sebring race.

The car was then raced at the 1962 Le Mans 24-hour race where it finished third in its class and sixth overall. Between 1962 and 1965, it picked up numerous other podium places.

In 1969, it was sold for $5,400 and then again, later that year, for $11,000..

The car changed hands in 1975 when it was bought by a Mr Steve Griswold for $13,000 who restored the car before selling it in 1978 for $125,000.

Over the past 40 years, it has been shown at numerous concours events around the world and was recently on display in a museum.

With a £45million asking price, the 250 GTO is 245 times more expensive than a brand-new Ferrari 488 and 4,500 times the price of a Ford Fiesta, Britain's most popular car.

For more info, visit talacrest.com/ferrari-250-gto-3387