10 iconic Ferrari models

There's no denying that Ferraris are sexy, fun and exclusive. Perhaps that's why they are such big business.

The company makes its Wall Street debut on Wednesday, with an initial public offering on the NYSE. Its ticker? RACE, what else?

Ferrari is seeking to float about 10 percent of the company — 17.2 million shares at $48 to $52 — which could bring the company's valuation close to $10 billion. The company shipped 7,255 vehicles in 2014, netting more than $3.1 billion in revenue for the year.

Here are 10 iconic Ferraris ahead of the company's IPO.

— By CNBC's Sarah Whitten
First published 20 Oct. 2015

This 53-year-old Ferrari smashed records in 2014 when it was sold for $34.65 million at Pebble Beach, becoming the most expensive car ever sold at auction.

The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, one of only 36 made, was driven by French racing driver Jo Schlesser in the '62 Tour de France and placed second.

The same year, driver Henri Oreiller crashed the car in a race, and he was killed. Ferrari restored the car, and it eventually was purchased by Italian car aficionado Fabrizio Violati and became one of the center pieces of his famed Ferrari museum.

Although referred to as a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder in the film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," this vehicle is actually a replica of the 1963 Ferrari California Spyder.

A real California Spyder would have cost more than $300,000 during filming in 1985, but director John Hughes paid only $25,000 for the knockoff. It sold for $235,000 at auction in Monterey, California, in 2013.

Called the "Pope's Ferrari," this 2005 Ferrari Enzo was the last of 400 models created and was given to Pope John Paul II.

The pope never drove the car, but instead asked Ferrari to sell it on his behalf and donate the proceeds to the victims of the 2005 tsunami in Asia.

In August, the vehicle was sold at auction for $6.05 million. At the time, the car had only been driven 111 miles, appearing almost brand new, according to Sotheby's.

The LaFerrari went into production in 2013 and was billed as Ferrari's fastest car ever, with a top speed of 220 mph. Just 499 LaFerraris were built, with only 120 available for sale in the United States.

The vehicle was part of Ferrari's strategy to make its brand and cars more exclusive. The plan worked well for the company, as the LaFerrari sold out quickly despite its hefty $1.4 million price tag.

A total of 3,219 Ferrari 308 GTS cars were built and sold between 1974 and 1986, but only one was featured in
"National Lampoons Vacation" starring comedian Chevy Chase.

The iconic vehicle was driven in the film by supermodel Christie Brinkley and sold at retail for around $50,000 during its initial run.

Today, the Ferrari 308 GTS could auction for up to $110,000 according to Hagerty. However, that's only if the vehicle is in tip-top condition. A well-worn GTS would likely fetch less than $40,000 at auction.

Only 25 Ferrari 166 MM Barchettas were built and sold in 1950. These rare vehicles are a "landmark design" according to Marcel Massini, a Ferrari historian and expert

The fifteenth model in the series was sold in 2013 for $3.08 million in Monterey, California, according to Sotheby's Auctions.

A 1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa sold for $40 million in a private sale in 2014. While other Ferraris have sold for higher sums, this marks the highest price ever for this particular model.

This Testa Rossa was prized because it was unrestored — it had never been rebuilt with new or fabricated parts. It also had been a top racing car when it debuted in 1957, racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

There is only one 375 Plus Cabriolet Ferrari and it was built in 1954 for King Leopold III of Belgium, a famous customer of the brand.

The car was estimated to be worth $10,000,000 in 2009 and has been owned by an American car collector since the late '60s.

The 375 Mille Miglia Spyder was a one-of-a-kind Ferrari made in 1953. It is a prized vehicle because of its "super brutal and aggressive design, one-off and sensational detail," according to Massini.

Only three Ferrari 330 P4 Berlinettas were built and sold by the company in 1967. The vehicle is part of a series of four prototype racing cars produced in the '60s and '70s by Ferrari.