An unidentified buyer has purchased a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO racer in a private transaction for a staggering $52 million, making it the most expensive car on the planet by some distance. In fact, it's an increase of 49 percent on the pale-green-colored 1962 model, originally built for Sir Stirling Moss, which sold last year for a paltry $35 million. Bloomberg broke the story after three traders independently confirmed the transaction.

Ferrari only built 39 examples of the 250 GTO, created in 1962 to compete at Grand Touring races, most notably the Le Mans 24 Hours. The news source claims the record-breaking GTO won the 1963 Tour de France road race and boasts a distinguished competition history. Rare Ferraris have risen by 15 percent per year over the past 30 years, according to Historic Automobile Group International's founder Dietrich Hatlapa. So as the world's most expensive car, you can't imagine it will take too long before we see the exclusive 250 GTO trade hands for $100 million.