Even though you can buy used Ferraris for less than the cost of an economy car today, the most affordable Ferraris were always expensive when they were new. They were, however, less expensive than the entry-level model of the brand for the current season. The 2018 Ferrari Portofino is priced at $205,000. There’s also a downside to this, as the new Ferraris are more luxurious, faster, and technologically advanced. The new Portofino for example, has a V8 engine with 590 horsepower that propels the car from 0 – 124 mph in just 10.8 seconds. Ferrari measured acceleration up to 200 kph in order to satisfy metric-minded European customers. Read on to find out how older cars compare!
1951 Ferrari 340 America
After World War II the demand in the United States for new European Sports Cars exploded. The automakers responded quickly, and the result was a variety of classic roadsters like the 1950 Ferrari 340 America. The 1950 Ferrari 340 America has classic sports car proportions with a long hood. But that’s not just a design decision.
It was necessary to have the V12 Ferrari engine up front. This massive motor, which was capable of 220 horsepower and a top speed approaching 150 mph, delivered almost that much power. The small British sports car that followed Ferrari had a third of the cylinders and roughly a third of the power. The 340 America was the first Ferrari to be produced, and it is still the cheapest Ferrari. This is the equivalent of $84,000 in today’s dollars.
1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT
In the late 1960s, Ferrari began working with Fiat in order to increase production of a new line of sports cars aimed specifically at first-time buyers. They were sold as “Dino”, in honor of Enzo Ferrari’s son who died and was responsible for some of the most affordable Ferraris throughout the years.
In 1971, the Dino 246 GT cost just over $90,000. (When adjusted for inflation) The Dino, which had a V6 instead of the V12 engine found in the 340 America had almost as much power. Ferrari claims that the 246 GT has 195 horsepower and a top speed exceeding 145 mph.
1951 Ferrari 212 Inter
Ferrari’s early days were when the company was still building racing cars and just starting to create road-ready models. Consider the 1951 Inter 212. All the cars in the 212 series shared a chassis and a V12 engine, but there was varying production editions as well as race-specific models.
The chassis of the latter could also be topped by a wide range of body styles. These Inter bodies were based on a Ferrari design by Pininfarina, the legendary design house. The prices of the different bodies were different, but they could start as low as 93,000 dollars (in today’s currency).
1967 Ferrari Dino 206 GT
The Dino 246 GT was mentioned earlier, but it wasn’t until four years prior that the first “Dino”, as the name is known today, appeared. The 1967 Ferrari Dino 206 GT was a model for the entry-level models of the Prancing Horse. It was not only the first Ferrari to be built on a production line but also smaller than previous Ferraris. The Dino 206, for example, is just a few inches larger than a 2017 Honda Fit compact hatchback and about 20 inches smaller than the new Portofino.
The low MSRP reflected the nimbleness of the car. Early Dinos sold for around $100,000 after inflation. The first mid-engine Ferrari is also a highlight.
1956 Ferrari 250 GT
The 1956 250 GT, like most of Ferrari’s cheapest cars over the years was heavily influenced the automaker’s impressive motorsports successes. This is reflected in the car’s nickname. Enthusiasts add the letters “TDF” in honor of the car’s victory in the 1956 Tour de France.
The 250 GT’s original MSRP was low, despite the fact that it won many checkered flags during its racing career. The car cost “only” slightly more than $101,000. The car was also equipped with one of Ferrari’s incredible V12 engines – a 3.0-liter engine that produced 240 horsepower – and wore the legendary “Berlinetta’ body style.
1966 Ferrari 330 GTS
You may have noticed that the original prices of the Ferraris were not as low as they are now. They all cost at least $100,000. It’s still a good deal compared to the current price.
The 1966 Ferrari 330 GTS is a great example. When new, you could buy one of these roadsters for around $106,000. In 2014, an auctioned non-running Ferrari that had been in a barn after an engine fire for 45 years sold for over $2,000,000. The 330 GTS continues Ferrari’s winning formula of premium performance. It features a 3.0-liter engine and another Pininfarina-designed body.
1964 Ferrari 275 GTB
The 1964 275 GTB is next in our gallery of cheap Ferraris. The 275 GTB is the first Ferrari retail car with independent rear suspension. It also stands out in its sheet metal, and that’s on two levels. The design of the 275 GTB is dramatic and aggressive, with a curvy body and prominent vents in front of the wheels.
There’s also the metal that makes up this sheet metal. The 275 GTB is a model for high-performance cars today, using aluminum for the doors, hood, and trunk lid. The dedicated racing models had all-aluminum bodywork. All that lightweight aluminum could have a big impact on your wallet: the street-legal version had a starting price of around $111,000 in 2017 dollars.
1975 Ferrari 308 GTB
When it first hit the U.S. market, the 1975 Ferrari 308 GTB MSRP was more than $138,000. You don’t really want to hit anything with one. The 308 GTB was the first and only Ferrari to be built with a fiberglass-bodied body. The car’s only metal panel is the aluminum trunk lid on its front.
Front trunk? The 308 GTB did indeed have the exotic Ferrari mid-engine layout with the 2.9-liter engine mounted transversely. In terms of exotic locations, the 308 GTS version of the car would play a major role in the Hawaii-based series “Magnum, P.I.”
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
In previous sales, we’ve discussed how some of the lowest-priced Ferraris from history have gone on to fetch seven-figure bids. It turns out that the car with the highest auction record is also one of these.
The 1962 250 GTO was available for less than $150,000 at the time of its debut. It may seem expensive for a car that was “cheap”, but the 250 GT went on to become one of the most successful racers of the automaker, taking multiple class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. One of these full-on racecars sold for $38m at auction in 2014, and another went for $36m. Both versions feature a V12 and racing-ready features like removable front radiators.
1956 Ferrari 410 SuperAmerica
We’ll end our gallery in the same manner as we began: with a car designed for U.S. motorists — or, at least, for those who can afford to spend the equivalent of $150,000 on a new vehicle.
The 410 Super america featured a 5.0-liter engine with a Pininfarina-designed body, but it also had a lot of American touches like a prominent hood scoop in front and tailfins at the rear. The 410 America was also designed as a production vehicle first, before spawning a competition model. This is the opposite of the typical Ferrari strategy, which involves transforming a race car into a road car.
Source: Original Ferrari prices are from the book “Ferrari” published by Motor books in 2011.
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