Carroll Shelby’s 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Heads to Monterey Auction, Expected to Fetch $7.5 Million

Read the full story on Modern Car Collector

Carroll Shelby’s 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Heads to Monterey Auction, Expected to Fetch $7.5 Million

One of the rarest Ferraris ever built, a 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus with direct ties to Carroll Shelby, is set to headline an upcoming Monterey auction in mid-August. Estimated to sell for between $5.5 million and $7.5 million, the historic Ferrari represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors seeking racing pedigree and rarity.

Chassis 0478 AM is one of only seven 375 Plus models built, each powered by Ferrari’s formidable Tipo 113 4.9-liter V12 designed by famed engineer Aurelio Lampredi. Making this example even more exceptional is its prototype Tipo 102 racing chassis—one of only two ever produced. The other Tipo 102 was sold to King Leopold III of Belgium, though it was bodied as a non-racing convertible.

Unlike its royal counterpart, this 375 Plus was built for competition and scored its first significant victory in July 1955, piloted by a young Carroll Shelby—years before he became an American racing legend and the mastermind behind the Shelby Cobra. Shelby later crashed the car and sold it, ending his brief ownership.

The Ferrari was subsequently rebodied with a custom Spider-style body by renowned American coachbuilder Jack Sutton, nicknamed “the American Scaglietti” for his craftsmanship. It would go on to be raced by another motorsport icon, Ken Miles, further cementing its significance in racing history.

The 375 Plus entered a private Ferrari collection in 1960, where it remained for nearly 25 years before being restored in the early 1990s. The current owner, described as a “world-class Ferrari collector,” has maintained it for the past 29 years.

Despite its modifications, the car retains its original 4.9-liter V12 engine, transmission, and rear axle, offering the potential for a factory-correct restoration. With its storied past and unmatched provenance, this Ferrari is expected to be one of the most talked-about lots of Monterey’s 2025 auction season.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter