Article content Even as images of Lot 332 flash on the several screens around the room and the speakers echo with a description of the article – a 1996 Ferrari F50 in iconic Rosso Corsa , with but 20,910 kilometers (roughly 12,993 miles) on the odometer – the din of the crowd fails to wane. It’s been at this volume almost the entire afternoon. Nearly every chair is occupied by a prospective bidder, so I lean against the plinth beneath a four-foot-tall replica of “The Spirit” (that is, a sculpture of Michael Jordan leaping through the air, mid-dunk; it’d sold for US$4,800 the night before) with my notebook in hand.
Auctioneer Sholto Gilbertson loudly asks the audience for their attention, reminds them of exactly what’s crossing the block, here; for the first time in hours, the clamour quiets to a murmur. Gilbertson looks around the room and announces the opening bid: US$1.7 million.
It happens quickly. About 30 seconds and six or seven bids later, he’s calling out $3.1 million.
The climb from there is slower. “Three-point-six million, sir?” Gilbertson queries in his low, slow voice, singling in on the bidder who’s just been beat. “C’mon, dare to dream , sir!” That does it, a $3.
7-million bid; it’s swiftly countered by a three-point-eight. The riposte comes in, $3.85 million, and Gilbertson senses the momentum has crescendoed.
He gives a final warning to the rival bidder, then drops the gavel. “Sold!” Learn more about the cars In less than five.