It’s not every day that a Ferrari 250 GTO comes to market, and it’s particularly rare that one is sold at public auction. That’s why the news that Mecum will be offering chassis 3729GT – the only 250 GTO ever painted white from the factory – at its Kissimmee sale next year is particularly exciting. Private sales behind closed doors are the norm in this world, with ‘rumoured’ prices for the most recent sale said to be in excess of $70million.
Known in some circles as Bianco Speciale, the car has long been regarded as one of the most distinctive of the 36 GTOs built, not only for its unique colour but also for its early competition pedigree and period ownership by British racing entrant John Coombs. Delivered new in May 1962, 3729GT was commissioned by Coombs as part of a calculated effort to test Ferrari’s latest GT racer against his stable of Jaguar E-types, and perhaps more subtly, to provoke Jaguar into developing a more competitive machine.
The choice of body colour – a pure white finish, in marked contrast to Ferrari’s traditional Rosso Corsa – was highly unconventional. So much so that it is widely believed strings were pulled within Ferrari’s upper ranks to sanction the build, with special approval allegedly secured through the discreet involvement of Alfredo Reali, a trusted liaison for sensitive customer requests.
Mechanically, 3729GT was completed to the standard GTO specification of the period: a front-mounted 3.0-litre Colombo V12 mated to a five-speed gearbox, with dry-sump lubrication, six twin-choke Weber 38 DCN carburettors, and a lightweight steel and aluminium body designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and executed by Scaglietti. However, Coombs’ car featured a number of specific race modifications and quickly proved itself a competitive proposition.
The GTO made its racing debut at Brands Hatch in August 1962, entered by Coombs Racing and driven by Roy Salvadori. It finished second overall in the BRSCC Peco Trophy, beaten only by another GTO piloted by Mike Parkes. Later that month, Graham Hill took the wheel at the RAC Tourist Trophy at Goodwood, placing second once again, this time in a Ferrari 1–2–3.
3729GT continued to compete into 1963, notably at the RAC TT yet again, where Mike Parkes drove it to another second place behind Hill in a newer GTO. The chassis also saw racing action in the hands of Jack Sears, who achieved a class win at Brands Hatch in the Guards Trophy. Sears would later acquire the car outright, keeping it in his private collection for nearly 30 years.
Period imagery shows the car in its original white livery with blue centre stripes and roundels, a striking departure from the more familiar red or silver GTOs of the era. While it may have been a private commission, the car’s role in manufacturer rivalry and the development of the Lightweight E-type – which Coombs later entered alongside his GTOs – gives 3729GT added historical significance.
It eventually passed to American collector Jon Shirley in 1999, by which time it had been carefully preserved and later underwent a sympathetic cosmetic refresh. It remains remarkably faithful to its in-period specification and retains many Coombs-era details. It has also been certified by Ferrari Classiche and is accompanied by a Red Book and a correct-specification spare engine suitable for historic competition use.
That the 250 GTO remains Ferrari’s most revered model is not in doubt. Only 36 examples were built, each with its own story. The car’s rarity, provenance and factory-correct white finish set it apart even within this rarefied group.
Mecum has opted not to give an estimate, but previous GTOs have achieved private sale figures in excess of $70 million. Should 3729GT come close to matching those highs, it may well become one of the most valuable cars ever sold at public auction.
Mecum’s Kissimmee sale will take place in Florida from 2-12 January 2026. Read the full history of the car at mecum.com
