Well, it’s still the ultimate sports racer, isn’t it? The reason that the 250GTO attracts such high prices – it’s thought that one sold privately recently for million – is as much about what they’re capable of doing as what they have done.

Few other cars are as useable in such a variety of guises. A fast cross-country blast? No problem. Trans-continental tour? Well, it will be a bit hot and noisy, but not impossible. Tour Auto, Tour Britannia, Tour de España – highly competitive. Entry to Goodwood, Laguna Seca, Spa... A given.

In this potential the 250GTO is of course not unique, but combined with the looks and the reputation it creates an unbeatable package. For the multi-millionaire car enthusiast, nothing says taste and competitiveness like a GTO, and that’s why they’re still selling at such high prices.

Interestingly, it’s tricky to pin down a specific 250GTO as being the most desirable, mainly because it’s the potential rather than the provenance that counts for much of the desibrability. And of course because they were all successful.

But Ferrari guru Michael Sheehan does say that of the 39 built, a few stand out: s/n 4219, the most original; s/n 3705, the 1962 Le Mans class winner; s/n 5575, the last 250GTO; and s/n 4293, 1963 Le Mans class winner and Spa overall winner.

NEXT: No. 2 - Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic