Actor Patrick Dempsey with a Ferrari 458 Italia at the Haitian relief auction

 The first Ferrari 458 Italia to arrive in the United States was auctioned off for $530,000 for relief efforts in Haiti by the CMMB (Catholic Medical Mission Board) and the William J. Clinton Foundation. The sale took place on the expansive grounds of the Saperstein estate in Holmby Hills (an extra exclusive area of Beverly Hills in southern California, not too far from the Playboy Mansion) the evening last March 18th.

The auction was a star-studded event. Grammy Award winner John Mayer donated his time to perform, and such luminaries as Michael Bay, the director of Transformers, and actor Parick Dempsey were in attendance.

Other things to go under the hammer was Fernando Alonzo’s original racing suit (which raised $31,000) and two “experiences as a Scuderia Ferrari team member” at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in June, which went for $20,000 and $21,000.

Classic car auction promoter David Gooding and motojournalist Dan Neil conducted the sale, and the crowd held its hands high, paying about $350,000 extra in the name of a huge tax write-off, and for the privilege of having the first Italia to be delivered in North America.

Company Vice Chairman Piero Ferrari and worldwide CEO Amedeo Felisa flew in from Italy for the occasion. Marco Mattiacci, the newly appointed North America CEO was there also. They addressed the eager crowd just days after Ferrari won the first F1 race of the 2010 season. All of the sale proceeds went to the foundation in the name of relief efforts; Ferrari took no money for the car. In total, Ferrari raised $601,000 for Haiti.

It was also announced that the Department of Orthopedics and Hand Surgery of the University of Modena will make its knowledge and resources available to help CMMB in Haiti. A team of hand and microsurgery specialists, whose studies have been financed by Ferrari, will help out in the earthquake wrecked Caribbean nation.

The 570-horsepower Ferrari 458 Italia will hit showrooms here in June with an estimated price tag of $225,000.

What do you think about the auction of the first Ferrari 458 Italia in North America?

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Musician John Mayer performing at the auction

John Mayer at the Ferrari 458 Italia auction

Motojournalist Dan Neil at the auction

Source: blogs.motortrend.com, paultan.org, allworldcars.com and insideline.com