Here's why a wrecked Ferrari sold for nearly $2 million

UNDATED (WKRC/CNN Newsource) - A completely totaled luxury car sold recently for a whopping $1.9 million.

Broker Sotheby's says the wrecked 1954 Ferrari Mondial Sider Series was purchased at an auction in California.

But to racing fans, it's more than just a hunk of metal -- it's a piece of history.

The model is one of just 13 of its kind that Ferrari made in its racing heyday.

This kind of design was behind the car manufacturer's world championships in 1952 and 1953.