9 Million Dollar Ferrari Car

A person from Dallas, Texas, has listed a 1967 Ferrari Tomasiama on eBay with a starting auction price of 9 million dollars. According to Bloomberg Economic News Agency, the Tomasiama was designed by a California engineer, and it was built by Ferrari engineers and technicians, but the Ferrari car manufacturing company never officially produced or marketed it. The eBay user registered under the name Drake Kennedy has not responded to Bloomberg reporters, but it can be said with almost certainty that his car is the only privately owned Ferrari Tomasiama. Only three units of this model were made; the first Tomasiama was destroyed in a flood, and the third Tomasiama is currently kept in the Ferrari museum. This series is distinguished not only for its stunning design and appearance but also because it was designed by an American engineer named Tom Mead. The designs of this American engineer were influenced by Maserati cars of that era, and this influence can be seen in the appearance of the Tomasiama model. Automotive industry experts say that the high price set for the auction of this car is undoubtedly related to the commercial success of Ferrari cars in recent years. In 2006, the average price of vintage Ferraris sold at auction was about 900,000 dollars. However, since this summer, the average price has reached about 5.5 million dollars, and in some cases, special models of Ferrari have sold for 20 to even 30 million dollars. Jonathan Klinger, an expert on vintage and expensive cars, says, 'The Tomasiama model is a very special car; many people are interested in its distinctive appearance and it has a special place in many vintage luxury car exhibitions, but at the same time, it should be remembered that it is not an official product of Ferrari.' Phil Skinner, another expert, agrees and adds, 'This car had some Ferrari engine parts and was red, which is a popular color for Ferrari cars, and it may have some unique mechanical features, and even Enzo Ferrari, the famous owner of this company, may have taken a photo with it in the 1960s, but it is not a real Ferrari. Therefore, in my opinion, selling it for 9 million dollars is more of a wish.' A real Ferrari must have the official license of this famous car manufacturer. Although the Tomasiama model is also referred to as a Ferrari, it does not have such an official license. With such a price, one could buy valuable and unique real Ferraris. Autoweek, a specialized automotive website, has also covered the auction of this Tomasiama Ferrari in a special article, stating that it previously covered the unique features of this car in a special report on the Italian Racing Car Exhibition (Concorso Italiano). The Autoweek website writes about the history of this unique car that an American engineer from California was so enamored with Ferrari cars that he went to Italy in the early 1960s. His dream was to find a warehouse of old Ferraris there, but ultimately, the only thing he found was an old Maserati model 350 SI. Tom Mead bought the chassis and body of this old car and eventually managed to completely restore it and sell it for 2,700 dollars at that time. With this small capital, he started buying, restoring, and reshaping old Ferraris and Maseratis, and through this, he established close relationships with engineers and managers of both car companies until he finally built his special model, which was inspired by his name, Tomasiama. The first Tomasiama car, based on the Ferrari model 250 GT, was destroyed in a severe flood in Florence. The second Tomasiama, which is now up for auction, was made for an American customer by Piero Drogo, the chief designer of Ferrari racing cars. Although experts in the market for vintage luxury cars are not very optimistic that this Tomasiama can achieve such a high price, it remains to be seen what the outcome of this auction will be in the coming days and weeks.