Ferrari recently took over New York City’s Hudson Yards, as part of a three-day Gala event and charity auction designed to raise funds for education — with a special performance from 12-time Grammy winner John Legend.
Dubbed the “Game Changers” auction, the event featured a variety of rare vehicles, from vintage examples like the F40 to modern hypercars like the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning 499P — complete with battle scars and track wear from the race.
Other notable vehicles included contemporary examples like the Purosangue and 296 GTB, custom Icona cars like the Monza SP1 and Daytona SP3, and vintage racers like the Enzo, La Ferrari, and F50 to name just a few of the 14 vehicles.
The highlight of the gala was a charity auction, where eight distinct lots symbolizing the diverse essence of modern-day Ferrari were bid upon. These lots ranged from sports cars and racing memorabilia to lifestyle collections. The star of the show was quite evidently the Tailor Made Ferrari 812 Competizione, in an eye-catching custom yellow paintwork.
Set to be manufactured to only 999 examples, the Tailor Made vehicle is said to embody the artistic finesse of Ferrari Chief Design Officer Flavio Manzoni. The design, inspired by Manzoni’s sketches, provides a 3-dimensional illusion that accentuates the lines of the award-winning V12-powered model. This singular vehicle is responsible for raising $5.1 million USD of the $7 million USD raised through the charity auction.
The proceeds from the auction will contribute to Ferrari’s long-term educational commitment, a vision that traces back to its founder, who sixty years ago, inaugurated The Alfredo Ferrari Institute of Higher Education in Maranello. This initiative has since evolved into a global mission to equip students with essential resources in their local communities.
Reflecting on the event, Ferrari Chairman John Elkann shared “Our evening in New York was very special for Ferrari, reinforcing the love story between our company and America,” adding “The passion of our clients and their knowledge of the Prancing Horse and its history is second to none. We hold many shared values – a love of innovation, a will to progress, and a competitive drive. We also have in common a sense of community and we share our successes by giving back.”
Elsewhere in automotive, Tesla’s new “Driver Drowsiness Warning” detects yawns and closed eyes.
