Celebrity cash clash

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Last year at the Pebble Beach bash, a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso that once belonged to Steve McQueen (and one of only 350 made) sold at auction for $2.3 million. Not bad for a brown car. However, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder -- previous owner: James Coburn -- has just set a record at an auction held at Ferrari’s own Fiorano test track.

It went for 7 million Euros. That’s 11.4 million in U.S. dollars. I’ll just say that again. $11.4 million. Lovely car and all that, but it begs not one but several questions. The first being: what recession? And when did James Coburn become cooler than Steve McQueen? Especially to the tune of $9.1 million? Has the buyer never seen The Magnificent Seven? Or, more to the point, Our Man Flint (a tacky, ’60s, Bond-wannabe movie if ever there was one)?

The thing is, he probably has. The deep-pocketed one, Chris Evans, is big on the Brit broadcasting scene with a personal wealth of around $90 million (well, more like $80m now). And even he thinks this car will appreciate beyond his considerable means in a few years’ time. For lesser mortals who still might have a few hundred thousand to chuck around, the new Ferrari California website might be worth a visit.

-- Colin Ryan