Evans buys £5.5 million Ferrari

Rex Features

Chris Evans has broken the world record for buying a car at auction.

The radio presenter yesterday purchased a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder at a sale in Italy for £5.5 million.

The dark blue sports car was once owned by Hollywood actor James Coburn, star of The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape, who died in 2002.

Sitting in the front row of the sale organised by RM Auctions and Sotheby's, Evans's winning bid of £5 million was topped up by a 10% buyer's premium.

"I've always wanted a car like this since I was a little boy," Evans told Bloomberg. "This is the best of the best. It seems a lot of money now, but in five to ten years' time it'll be out of my range."

Evans famously bought Billie Piper a silver Ferrari the day after they met and filled it with roses.