Four of the most fabulous Ferraris you’ll ever see: yours for £6m

The highlight of Bonhams’ Scottsdale auction? No contest

The annual Scottsdale auction extravaganza is nearly upon us, and having seen what’s on offer this year we’re about as excited as we’ve ever been.

Bonhams has one of the strongest line-ups for 2018, and it’s led by these four outrageously desirable Ferraris.

No, you (almost certainly) can’t afford one. But looking costs nothing, eh?

1. 1972 FERRARI 365GTS/4 DAYTONA SPIDER

Estimate US$2,400,000-$2,800,000 (£1,800,000-£2,100,000)

The stunning Daytona is a legend: one of the fastest, most powerful cars on the market when it was launched in 1969, and still one of the most exciting classic drives today.

Produced for a mere handful of years between 1969 and 1973, only 123 of the even more beautiful Spider convertibles were made. The model up for auction was the 72nd to roll off the line, arriving in 1972.

2. 1972 FERRARI 365GTS/4 DAYTONA SPIDER (cont)

One of the ultimate performance cars, the 365GTS/4 Daytona Spider has a four-cam V12 engine that pumps out 352bhp at 7500rpm.

It'll hit over 170mph, in the unlikely event that you'll ever find yourself on a road where you can get up to that speed.

3. 1972 FERRARI 365GTS/4 DAYTONA SPIDER (cont)

Ferrari Fact of the Day: the Daytona in the 365’s name is an unofficial title, bestowed upon it by journalists after the original GTB/4 model swept the podium places at the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours race.

4. 1972 FERRARI 365GTS/4 DAYTONA SPIDER (cont)

The whole ‘two careful owners’ thing? It’s pretty much true here.

After doing the rounds of a few Los Angeles dealerships in its first decade of life, the Daytona was then lovingly looked after by just two owners from 1982 to 2014.

5. 1972 FERRARI 365GTS/4 DAYTONA SPIDER (cont)

The vehicle remains in exceptional condition, thanks to a complete restoration in the hands of the expert Junior’s House of Color team.

In 2007, it was enrolled into Ferrari Classiche’s certification programme, as acknowledgement of the fact that it retains its original chassis, engine, transaxle and body.

Alright, so the expected $2.5m price isn’t cheap, but what you’re getting here is a superbly preserved bit of motoring history.

6. 1974 FERRARI DINO 246GTS

Estimate US$450,000-$550,000 (£330,000-£410,000)

The dinky Dino is a snip at a mere half a million dollars; that might still sound like a lot, but the other three cars in this collection are all estimated to go for at least three times that.

Don’t go thinking it’s any less desirable, though. The Dino 246GTS is powered by a 195bhp 2.4-litre V6 engine, handles like a dream and looks as if it should be driven by a movie star.

7. 1974 FERRARI DINO 246GTS (cont)

The Dino, named after Enzo Ferrari’s late son Alfredino, arrived in 1967 as the 206GT.

The 246 model succeeded it in 1969, while this GTS version followed in 1972.

On its release, the American motoring magazine Road & Track declared: “It is a thrill to drive a car like the Dino, one whose capabilities are far beyond what even an expert driver can use in most real-world motoring, and that is the Dino’s reason for being.”

8. 1974 FERRARI DINO 246GTS (cont)

The model up for auction at Scottsdale is remarkably well preserved, with many original features.

Much of the original factory-applied Giallo Fly yellow paint remains, while the wheels, lights and glass are all virtually untouched.

9. 1974 FERRARI DINO 246GTS (cont)

The Dino’s interior is every bit as impressive, with luxurious tan leather seats and an original 'mouse-hair' dash.

10. 1974 FERRARI DINO 246GTS (cont)

Amazingly, this Dino 246GTS has just 27,693 miles on the clock.

See, that $500,000 estimated price tag really is quite the bargain after all... OK, maybe not.

11. 1991 FERRARI F40

Estimate US$1,400,000-$1,700,000 (£1,000,000-£1,300,000)

The ultimate supercar? Many would say so.

Introduced in 1988 to celebrate Enzo Ferrari's 40th year in the business, the F40's massive power, low weight and race-bred suspension combined to create a 200mph monster.

12. 1991 FERRARI F40 (cont)

The F40’s engine is a thing of terrifying beauty: a four-cam, three-litre V8 with four valves per cylinder, capable of pumping out 478bhp at 7000rpm.

Combine that with the car’s super-low weight – it was crafted mainly from Kevlar and carbonfibre and had a seriously minimalist cabin – and it results in a supercar that's an absolute blast to drive.

13. 1991 FERRARI F40 (cont)

The model being auctioned at Scottsdale was produced in 1991, but you’d never guess it was more than 25 years old.

On the outside it still sports the factory-applied Rosso Ferrari paint and alloy wheels, and with just 2428 miles on the clock, it is in many ways as good as new.

14. 1991 FERRARI F40 (cont)

It’s the same story on the inside: those chairs are the original Stoffa Vigogna racing seats, and it even comes with a complete – and unused – set of original fitted luggage, in the factory cotton bags.

15. 1991 FERRARI F40 (cont)

The price for all this high-speed loveliness? 'Just' $1.4m to $1.7m. And given what you’d be getting here, that’s actually a pretty good deal compared with hypercar royalty such as the McLaren F1.

16. 1967 FERRARI 275GTB/4

Estimate US$2,800,000-$3,400,000 (£2,100,000-£2,500,000)

And finally, we arrive at the priciest – and arguable most desirable – model in the collection: the legendary Ferrari 275GTB/4.

Only 331 of these super-sleek gran turismos were built, with the prototype making its debut at the 1966 Paris Auto Salon and the last car rolling off production line (and into tifosi hearts) in March 1968.

17. 1967 FERRARI 275GTB/4 (cont)

Its appeal should be obvious – just look at it.

The 275GTB/4 has a classic Ferrari sports car profile, but with that distinctive central hood blister that hides a larger-than-usual air filter.

The stunning body was designed by the legendary Battista Farina himself at the Pininfarina studio.

18. 1967 FERRARI 275GTB/4 (cont)

There’s far more to the 275GTB/4 than just good looks, though.

It runs a four-cam, 3.3-litre V12 engine capable of 300bhp at 8000rpm, and can hit a claimed top speed of 166mph.

It was also the first road Ferrari to have fully independent suspension and a rear-mounted five-speed transaxle gearbox – innovations that came directly from Maranello's sports-racing cars.

19. 1967 FERRARI 275GTB/4 (cont)

The model up for grabs at Scottsdale is beautifully preserved, with its original engine, drivetrain and bodywork.

Inside, there’s a classic three-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel, and a full set of original owner’s manuals and tools.

20. 1967 FERRARI 275GTB/4 (cont)

The 1967 275GTB/4 has done a mere 31,748 miles and, as befits its condition, will set you back a pretty penny.

With a guide price of $2.8m to $3.4m, it’s likely to be one of the most expensive cars at Scottsdale – and definitely one of the most highly sought-after.