A limited-edition Ferrari owned by Angelina Jolie is heading for auction in Paris where it is expected to command prices north of $800,000.
The American actor’s Ferrari 250 GT Coupe was the 11th of just 353 that were produced by the iconic Italian car manufacturer in the late 1950s. It is due to be auctioned at Christie’s as part of the “Exceptional Sale” on November 20, an annual sale of bespoke lots across a wide range of categories. It has been given an estimate of €600,000 to €800,000 ($662,000 to $882,000). By a stroke of coincidence, the auction is taking place just a short distance from the Grand Palais, where the model was first unveiled in 1958.
Inside the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Pininfarina. Photo: © Mathieu Heurtault, courtesy of Christie’s.
The Ferrari 250 GT Coupe is the product of innovative design and financial difficulty. In the early 1950s Ferrari was struggling to balance the books and so its founder, Enzo Ferrari, tasked Pinin Farina, a legendary car designer, with creating a simple and classic car that could boost sales. The result was Ferrari’s first attempt at releasing a model for the everyday motorist—though one with deep pockets, of course.
The first iteration of the Ferrari 250 arrived in 1954. It catered to the tastes of a wealthy clientele who wanted a sporty yet comfortable car capable of driving long distances, a so-called grand touring car. The car is powered by a 3.0-litre V12 engine and was designed to reach a top speed of 143mph.
Jolie’s Ferrari is gloss black and features chrome pieces for its bumpers and headlights as well as silver wire wheels. The interior sports a red leather interior and a classic wooden steering wheel.
The 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Pininfarina. Photo: © Mathieu Heurtault, courtesy of Christie’s.
“Whether she’s driving a car, flying a plane, or riding a motorbike, Angelina Jolie takes control with the same ease and pleasure,” Christie’s trumpeted in a press release. “The Ferrari 250 GT is one of the most sought-after classic cars in the world. Combining elegance and horsepower, it undoubtedly belongs in the category of the finest objets d’art.”
(Enzo Ferrari has also found his way onto the silver screen: notably in the 2019 film, Ford v Ferrari, which revisited the auto companies’ head-to-head at the 1966 Le Mans in France; and in Michael Mann’s biopic Ferrari (2023), which saw Adam Driver play the car manufacturer.)
In the past year, similar Ferrari 250s created in partnership with Pinin Farina in the late 1950s have sold for between $400,000 and $800,000. The record for a Ferrari at auction is $51 million, which was paid for a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO at Sotheby’s in New York in 2023.
Earlier this year, Christie’s acquired Gooding and Company, a leading auction house focused on the collector car market.