The car that sold in Monaco, chassis 0680MDTR, was the second 625 TRC built for John von Neumann. Its competition debut was made in Austria where von Neumann finished best in class in a hill-climb. The car was then shipped to the United States where von Neumann campaigned it mostly in local events.

The two 625 TRCs were orignally outfitted with 220-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines, which proved prone to over-revving during races. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

The four-cylinder engine was subsequently removed and in 1960, the car was sold on to Stan Sugerman. Fitted with a Chevrolet V8, he continued racing chassis 0680MDTR for another two seasons. Passing to more hands, the car's contemporary racing career did not end until the mid-1960s.

A decade later, a Ferrari 250 GT-sourced V12 filled the void left by the original four. In 1981, the 625 TRC was acquired by Michael Callaham, who had the car meticulously restored and prepared for racing. From 1985, Callaham and the V12 Ferrari have been regulars in North American Historic events, in particular the Monterey Historic Races / Motorsport Reunion.

Callaham eventually managed to track down the original 625 engine but continued to race with the more potent and forgiving V12. This year, he decided to part with the car and the original engine, and it was offered in RM Auctions' biennial Monaco sale, where it well exceeded the pre-sale estimate.

The first 625 TRC built, chassis 0672MDTR, was fitted with a 3.5-liter engine soon after arriving in California. It was then extensively raced by von Neumann, scoring numerous wins, including class victories in the end of year races at Nassau.

The first 625 TRC had quite a presence displayed on the lawn during the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

Late in 1958, a 250 TR engine with serial number 0750TR was fitted and the car was raced well into the 1960s by the likes of Richie Ginther and Ken Miles, who scored a victory as late as May 1962. It was subsequently acquired by a Ford dealer, who fitted a V8 for drag racing.

The rare Ferrari racer then passed through various hands without an engine or gearbox. During the 1980s, a 250 GT V12 engine was fitted in the United Kingdom. Following the complete restoration, the car was briefly owned by a Dutch drug dealer until his collection was seized by the government.

Almost a decade later, the 625 TRC was acquired by the current owner, who tracked down the same 250 TR engine that had briefly been in the car before and had been bought new from the factory by von Neumann. Restored once again, the car has since been occasionally shown at such events as the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it is seen here.

For a gallery of photos, see Ferrari 625 TRC.

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