Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Jazz Legend Miles Davis’ Ferrari 308 Heads to Auction

The Ferrari 308 GTSi isn’t the best Ferrari. Heck, it isn’t even a good Ferrari. It was built during an era that saw Ferrari’s engines down on power and lacking that certain something that the company had built its empire on just a decade prior. As such, they’re not the most popular models. This one in particular, however, is something quite special. A Ferrari 308 GTSi once owned by jazz legend Miles Davis.

miles davis
David Warner Ellis/Getty Images

Miles Davis was, in his time, the man. The trumpeter led bands; composed scores of music; worked with the likes of John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Cab Calloway, and John Scofield; won 32 Grammys; and continually worked for over five decades. He had his ups and downs, a period of addiction, but Davis remains one of the most, if not the most, prominent jazz musicians ever. His influence can still be felt throughout the jazz scene, as well as in other genres.

Today, however, is all about his car. Working with eBay and Beverly Hills Car Club, Davis’ 308 GTSi will be auctioned off; a portion of the proceeds going to The Grammy Museum Foundation for Music Education in Los Angeles. The 308 GTSi is finished in Fly Yellow with a chocolate brown interior and has just under 10,000 miles on its odometer. According to the club, the purchase will also come with proof of provenance.

Speaking ahead of the auction, Beverly Hills Car Club president Alex Manos stated, “ Miles had such exquisite taste. It’s a unique and exciting experience to be able to offer something to the public from the Davis estate. It will be exciting to know who the next person to own and drive it will be.”

Executive director for The Grammy Museum, Michael Sticka, added, “The Grammy Museum is deeply appreciative to the Beverly Hills Car Club for recognizing the importance of strengthening music education in our community. Through their generosity, we can continue to help foster the budding musical interests of all children.”

As of this writing, the current bid for Davis’ Ferrari is $75,000, which doesn’t sound like that much for your own piece of music history. Bidding will close at 2 p.m. PST on Friday, September 28.

Editors' Recommendations

Jonathon Klein
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jonathon is a former contributor to The Manual. Please reach out to The Manual editorial staff with any questions or comments…
Dodge Hornet R/T with PowerShot: It’s all about that torque
Dodge built a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle for your inner child
Red 2024 Dodge Hornet RT parked on a city street left front three-quarter view.

The transformation from cars with internal combustion engines (ICEs) to full battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) has different looks, depending on your perspective. The Stellantis Dodge division recently shared its perspective on electrification with a video that showcases its favorite feature from the 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T with Powershot, the brand's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The Inner Child Intervention video clarifies that, from Dodge's perspective, it's all about that torque.

Inner Child Intervention | Dodge Hornet R/T
Why the Dodge Hornet  R/T with PowerShot matters

Read more
We love this Triumph Trident 660 Special Edition with Slippery Sam graphics
the Triumph Trident 660 Tribute is affordable and approachable for new riders.
2024 Triumph Trident 660 Special Edition parked in parking garage direct right profile.

 
Triumph Motorcycles, known for its successful 3-cylinder bikes, launched a special edition model with an iconic color scheme. The 2024 Triumph Trident 660 Triple Tribute will only be available for one year. The special edition has a special color-matched fly screen and belly pan. The Triumph Shift Assist option included with the Tribute edition will be especially attractive to new riders. Earlier this year, Triumph released another model based on the same engine, the 2024 Triumph Daytona 660 mid-weight sports bike.

Why the Triumph Trident 660 Special Edition matters

Read more
What does interval mean in Formula 1?
Time intervals have three different purposes in Formula 1.
Yuki Tsunoda driving a Formula One racecar for Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda.

Formula 1 racing is the top level of motorsports and is gaining fans rapidly in the United States. Since F1 racing began in 1950, it has always been an international competition. Formula 1 is governed by The Fedération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA F1 Regulations specify the technical, sporting, and financial operations of the ten teams in each year's F1 season. Some people find F1 racing hard to understand because certain terms aren't used in typical ways. For example, the word "interval" has three meanings in F1 racing, all related to time between cars, but for different purposes. We break out the three meanings of time intervals below.
Why time intervals are important in F1 racing

The time gaps between cars in Formula 1 races are often measured in fractions of a second as 20 cars speed around tracks, often reaching speeds over 200 mph. Sometimes, the time difference between the first and last cars finishing a race can be just a few seconds, showing how closely they compete. It's not unusual for cars to finish within tenths or hundredths of a second of each other, so timing is crucial in F1 racing.

Read more