# Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder Breaks 20-Year Auction Record

> A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder sold for $10.9 million at auction, shattering a 20-year-old record.
- Title: Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder Breaks 20-Year Auction Record
- Summary: A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder sold for $10.9 million at auction, shattering a 20-year-old record.
- Keywords: ferrari, 250 gt california spyder, rm sotheby's, auction, 1961, james coburn, bugatti, kellner coach royale, christie's, royal albert hall, great depression, ferrari 250 gto
- Source: Jalopnik — https://jalopnik.com/2273294/ferrari-250-gt-california-spyder-broke-20-year-old-bugatti-type-41-royale-auction-record
- Author: Peter Nelson
- Published: 2026-10-03T23:50:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ferrari, 250 gt california spyder, rm sotheby's, auction, 1961, james coburn, bugatti, kellner coach royale, christie's, royal albert hall, great depression, ferrari 250 gto
## Auction Record Shattered
A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder sold for $10.9 million at an RM Sotheby's auction in Maranello, Italy, breaking a 20-year-old auction record.
## Previous Record Holder
The previous record was held by a 1930 Bugatti Kellner Coach Royale that sold for £5,500,000 ($9,867,000) at a Christie's auction in November 1987.
## James Coburn's Connection
The 1961 Spyder was once owned by actor James Coburn, known for roles in 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'The Great Escape'.
## Historical Context
The Bugatti sold during the Great Depression in 1930, while the 1961 Spyder sold during the Great Recession in 2008.
## Record Comparison
The 1961 Spyder's $10.9 million sale was slightly higher than the previous record of $10.7 million for a 1962 250 GTO sold in 1990.
## Historic Significance
This sale set a precedent for high-value Ferrari auctions, with similar models later selling for up to $48.4 million in 2018.
## Key takeaway

A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder sold for $10.9 million at an RM Sotheby's auction in Maranello, Italy, breaking a 20-year-old auction record.