The most expensive cars ever sold at auction

Auction prices longer than telephone numbers

This year’s Monterey Car Week auctions saw some incredible prices achieved, proving there is no shortage of demand for the ultimate collector cars.

Among those crossing the block was a one-off new Ferrari, created exclusively to raise money for charity.

However, even this unique hypercar can’t claim to be the most expensive vehicle sold on the block. We have compiled a list of the 25 vehicles that have achieved the largest sale prices ever at auction – and one special car that now just misses out.

For ease of comparison, the value of each vehicle is represented in US dollars at the time of its original sale:

2013 Mercedes-AMG F1 W04 – $18,815,000

What does it take to break into the top 25 most expensive auction cars? This list contains plenty of significant racing cars, but how about the only example of the Mercedes-AMG W04 Formula 1 car to be sold outside of the team?

Driven by Sir Lewis Hamilton during the 2013 season, this car was used by the British driver in 14 races, including to win the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Listed in a special Las Vegas sale in November 2023, the $18,815,000 Mercedes was sold alongside one of Tom Brady’s signed game-worn Tampa Bay Buccaneer jerseys.

However, not even this incredible price is enough to break into the top 25.

25. 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta – $18,900,000

Sold by Artcurial at its Retromobile auction, this Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta is one of only five examples ever built. Before the event, Artcurial predicted it could sell for up to $25m, yet it only just made the lower estimate.

24. 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider – $19,800,000

Billed as the Italian equivalent of the Bugatti Atlantic by auctioneers RM Sotheby’s, this 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider made $19.8m at Monterey Car Week in 2016. At the time of sale, it was the most expensive pre-war car to sell at auction.

23. 1994 McLaren F1 LM Specification – $19,805,000

Proving that not every car on this list is a classic Ferrari, this is the first of two McLaren F1s to feature. One of two examples converted by McLaren to LM specification, it came with the Extra-High Downforce Kit and more power from its BMW-supplied V-12 engine.

This car was sold as part of the RM Sotheby’s Monterey event in 2019, making it the most expensive vehicle auctioned during that ‘Car Week’.

22. 1995 McLaren F1 – $20,465,000

Surpassing its pre-auction estimate by more than $5m, this McLaren F1 was sold by Gooding & Company during 2021. Although all F1s are rare, with only 64 being produced, this paint used for this example made it even more special.

Finished in a one-off hue called Creighton Brown, this particular F1 was the 25th production example built. Inside, the three-seat cockpit is finished in Light Tan and Dark Brown leather.

21. 1963 Aston Martin DP215 – $21,455,000

This one-off DP215 sold for $21.45m on day one of the RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale in 2018 and is the second most expensive Aston Martin to sell at auction. It was clocked doing 198.6 mph on the Mulsanne Straight during the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours.

20. 1955 Jaguar D-Type – $21,780,000

Speaking of Le Mans, this 1955 Jaguar D-Type was the overall winner of the famous race in 1956 and is the only Le Mans-winning C- or D-Type that has survived intact and remained essentially true to its original form.

“Unequivocally one of the most important and valuable Jaguars in the world,” said RM Sotheby’s. Quite.

19. 1935 Duesenberg SSJ – $22,000,000

The 1935 Duesenberg SSJ formerly owned by actor Gary Cooper sold for $22m at the Gooding & Company Pebble Beach sale, setting a record for the most expensive pre-war car at auction. It also became the most expensive American car sold at auction.

18. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM – $22,005,000

Surpassing the Duesenberg by just $5,000, surprisingly this is not the most expensive Ferrari 290 MM on our list. This is despite it being used as an official Ferrari works race car during 1956 and 1957, and winning the Nassau Trophy with Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel.

It was sold by RM Sotheby’s in 2018 in an event hosted at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

17. 1957 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider – $22,005,000

Sold for the exact same price as the preceding Ferrari 290 MM, the RM Sotheby’s 2022 Monterey auction was where this Ferrari 410 Sport Spider crossed the block.

With a body by Scaglietti, this is said to be one of only two factory-campaigned 410 Sports equipped with a 24-plug 4.9 V-12. The legendary Carroll Shelby won more races behind the wheel of this Ferrari than any other car in his motorsport career.

Even so, it is not the highest price ever paid for a 410 Sport Spider…

16. 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 – $22,550,000

This is the most valuable British car, a 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 that sold for $22.55m at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale in 2017.

Its racing history includes overall victory at the 1959 Nurburgring 1,000km, along with drives by some of the greatest names in motorsport, including Carroll Shelby, Sir Stirling Moss and Jack Brabham.

15. 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider – $23,000,000

Here is a reminder that, as with any investment, collector car values can go down as well as up. As we have already noted, the Ferrari 410 Sport Spider is a rarity, even in the world of collector cars. Yet this one is even more special.

Chassis number 0592CN is a truly unique proposition, acting as the prototype for the other three examples made. With a shorter wheelbase, and bespoke bodywork by Scaglietti, it was also raced by Carroll Shelby.

Following the 2014 Rick Cole Monterey auction, the Ferrari sold for $23,000,000. However, when it was sold again by RM Sotheby’s in 2024, it managed “only” $12,985,000 on the block.

14. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione – $25,305,000

It may not have the highest price, but this Ferrari has the longest name of any car on our list. In full, this is a Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione, and it represents just one of two examples built with an aluminum body.

With an illustrious racing pedigree from new, and backed by a Ferrari Classiche Red Book history, it attracted plenty of attention at the Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach sale. The result was a final price of $25,305,000.

13. 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 Tailor Made – $26,000,000

The highest new entry to our list was auctioned as part of the 2025 RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale, achieving an incredible $26,000,000.

Ferrari created this car especially to be auctioned, having sold all the 599 other examples of the mid-engined Daytona SP3 hypercar. This final SP3 would see all proceeds donated to The Ferrari Foundation charity.

For the one-off roadster, Ferrari’s Tailor Made customization team created a bespoke black and yellow color scheme. It becomes the first Ferrari road car to use the Italian marque’s logo type in its livery.

12. 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB-C Speciale – $26,400,000

Only three Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciales were built to compete in the 1965 Le Mans 24 Hours, which is why the first car produced made $26.4 million at RM’s Monterey sale in 2014.

11. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB-4S NART Spider – $27,500,000

Amazingly, even with a sale price of $27.5m, this 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4S NART Spider wasn’t the most expensive car to sell at auction in 2013.

We’ll come back to that in the moment, but this single-ownership Ferrari was one of only 10 cars built – hence the eyebrow-raising price. Lawrence Stroll, now the owner of the Aston Martin Formula 1 Team, was the winning bidder.

10. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM – $28,050,000

This 1956 Ferrari 290 MM headlined the RM Sotheby’s ‘Driven by Disruption’ sale and was the most expensive car to sell at auction in 2015. It was built for Formula One legend Juan Manuel Fangio and was one of only four 290 MMs made.

9. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 – $29,600,000

This was previously the most expensive German car, and the most expensive Mercedes-Benz, to sell at auction. It does retain the title of being the most expensive auction car of 2013 at least.

The Mercedes-Benz W 196 also manages to disrupt the Ferrari monopoly at the top of this table. Fangio raced the car to victory in the 1954 German and Swiss Grand Prix.

8. 1967 Ferrari 412 P Berlinetta – $30,255,000

This 2023 Bonhams The Quail Auction saw an exceptionally rare and desirable Ferrari sports car racer up for sale. As one of only four examples of the 412 P built, this car was originally delivered to the Maranello Concessionaires team in early 1967.

Entered into the 1000kms of Spa endurance race, driven by Lucien Bianchi and Richard Attwood, the 412 P finished in third place. At the end of the year, the points from the Spa podium finish would help Ferrari take the World Championship of Makes, adding to the importance of this car.

Later damaged in a fire, the 412 P would pass through various collectors, and be subject to a nine-year restoration. All of this helped achieve a sale price in excess of $30,000,000.

7. 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport – $35,711,359

This 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport was previously the most expensive car to be sold at auction in Europe, with the car driven by some of the world’s greatest drivers. It finished second in the 1957 Mille Miglia and was the winner of the 1958 Cuba Grand Prix.

6. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM – $36,344,960

Revealed at the 1963 Paris Auto Show, the Ferrari 250 LM was a fixed-roof version of the marque’s 250 P prototype racers. A total of 32 examples were made, with winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans the ultimate goal.

This car was used by Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team (NART) to compete in the 1965 edition of the famous French endurance race. With Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt at the wheel, the 250 LM emerged as the overall winner.

This made it the only privateer-entered Ferrari to take outright victory at Le Mans. It was later owned by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Sold by RM Sotheby’s in Paris, France, it just misses out on a top-five position.

5. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO – $38,115,000

For four years, this 1962-63 Ferrari 250 GTO was the most expensive car to be sold at auction. At the time, Robert Brooks, chairman of Bonhams, said: “We’ve always maintained that we would exceed the current world record and that the car would bring between $30 million and $40 million. And today the GTO did just that.”

4. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO – $48,405,000

Described as the ‘holy grail’ of classic and collector cars, this 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO smashed its $45m pre-auction estimate. With bodywork by Scaglietti, this is one of only 36 examples ever produced.

It won the Targa Florio twice, and also contributed to Ferrari winning the 1964 International Championship for GT Manufacturers. Such incredible provenance resulted in the gigantic sale price, yet it’s still not the most expensive Ferrari 250 GTO sold.

3. 1962 Ferrari 330 LM – 250 GTO – $51,705,000

One of the newer entrants on our list was sold by RM Sotheby’s at a special one-off sale, held in New York City during November 2023. Marketed as ‘The One’, this unique Ferrari 250 GTO is the only GTO Tipo 1962 to have been raced by the factory Scuderia team.

It also represents being the only works GTO to have been equipped with a 4.0 V-12 engine, which was tuned for extra power. A debut in the 1962 Nurburgring 1000km saw the car claim a second place for Scuderia Ferrari.

Following its factory motorsport career, the GTO was repurposed for sale to a private client, and later converted to 3.0-l 250 GTO specification.

3. 1962 Ferrari 330 LM – 250 GTO – $51,705,000

Having passed through various owners, the rare Ferrari 250 GTO became the property of an Ohio-based collector in 1985.

Following a thorough restoration, it was displayed at several important events across the United States. These included Amelia Island in 2001 and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2011.

The auction represented the first time this 250 GTO had been sold in 38 years. Being the only 4.0 car with Tipo 1962 coachwork by Scaglietti makes it unique, resulting in a tremendous auction price of more than $51 million. Incredibly, this was still below the pre-auction estimate.

2. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen – $53,917,370

Taking second place on the list is a very special Mercedes, following a sale in Stuttgart, Germany in February 2025. Offered from the collection of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, this is the very first Streamliner-bodied W 196 R to be offered for private ownership.

It represents one of only four examples of the famous Mercedes-Benz W196 known to wear factory-built, enclosed-fender ‘Stromlinienwagen’ coachwork.

This would make the car important enough, even before you factor in the roster of motorsport royalty who climbed behind the wheel of chassis number 00009/54…

2. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen – $53,917,370

The very first race for this Mercedes-Benz was the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, where it was driven by none other than Juan Manuel Fangio. A true F1 legend, Fangio piloted chassis no. 00009/54 to victory in his home race.

For the 1955 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Sir Stirling Moss got behind the wheel of 00009/54, setting the fastest lap in the race. Although Moss was later forced to retire, he still played a pivotal role in this car’s history.

Chassis 00009/54 was donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum by Mercedes-Benz in 1965. It remained part of the museum’s collection until the auction, where it achieved an incredible price in excess of $53 million.

1. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe – $142,000,000

What could beat a racing Mercedes-Benz into second place? Another Mercedes-Benz with a prodigious motorsport pedigree, of course.

Although our fourth-placed Ferrari held the world record for a number of years, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut absolutely shattered it with a nine-figure auction price in 2022. Only two examples of the 300 SLR Coupe were produced, and neither of them ever raced due to Mercedes-Benz’s withdrawal from motorsport in 1955.

It left this example to be used as the personal car of Mercedes designer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut. He regularly tested the 180mph top speed on the German autobahn, making the most of its 3.0-l eight-cylinder engine.

1. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe – $142,000,000

Mercedes-Benz retained ownership of both 300 SLR Coupes, with this example professionally restored during the 1980s. It subsequently appeared at various historic events, and in photoshoots for the Mercedes-Benz brand.

The decision to sell one of the 300 SLRs was taken to help establish a new Mercedes-Benz Fund, which is responsible for promoting environmental sciences.

A special auction, held by RM Sotheby’s in May 2022, led to a private collector winning the amazing car. The new owner has agreed to keep the 300 SLR available for public display.