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Record Prices for the Most Expensive Car Marques at Public Auctions

Ferrari and Mercedes Benz cars are the most expensive automobiles sold at top classic car auctions but many marques record prices over a million dollars.

Most Expensive car ever sold at auction 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé © Mercedes-Benz

Classic and rare exotic cars trade at multi-million-dollar prices. Privately, Ferraris are rumored to have sold for over $70 million, but public auctions remain the best indicator of what rare cars are worth. A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé sold for $143 million at an auction in 2022 to become by far the most expensive car in the world. The previous two record holders were a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO and another 1962-3 Ferrari 250 GTO — the only two 250 GTOs offered a public auction for about a decade. Ferraris are over-represented on lists of the most expensive cars in the world but even marques that usually see cars trading for much lower figures may see the best-of-marque samples sell for well over a million.

Top-Ten Lists for: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 & all time.

The Most-Expensive Cars Ever

Patrick Ernzen © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold by Bonhams
1962-3 Ferrari 250 GTO © Bonhams

The highest price ever paid at public auction for a car is $143 million for the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé somewhat unexpected sold by the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart at an invitation-only auction arranged by RM Sotheby’s.

The previous record was $48,405,000 paid for a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2018 sale. This increased the world record auction price for a car from the $38,115,000 paid for a 1962-63 Ferrari 250 GTO at the Bonhams Quail Lodge Sale during the 2014 Monterey classic car week.

1957 Ferrari 315 / 335 S Scaglietti Spyder
© Artcurial / Christian Martin

The fourth most expensive car ever in dollar terms was the 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport sold for $35,711,359 at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2016 sale.

The highest price ever paid at public auction for a purely road-going car is $ 27,500,000 for a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spider by Scaglietti. This result was achieved at the RM Auctions sale in Monterey in 2013.

The record prices for a new car sold at public auction are $10,000,000 for the 210th 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta and $7,000,000 for the 500th Ferrari LaFerrari. Both cars were sold in RM Sotheby’s auctions after being donated by Ferrari for charity.

See also: $10 Million Plus – the Most-Expensive Cars Ever

Most Expensive Classic Cars by Auction Year

marque record holder: 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R Formula-1 Racing Car
1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R Formula-1 Racing Car © Bonhams.

The highest prices achieved at classic car auctions in recent years were:

  • 2022 YTD: $143,000,000 for a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé — See Top 10 for 2022
  • 2021: $20,465,000 for a 1995 McLaren F1 – See Top 10 for 2021
  • 2020: $12,681,550 for a 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports – See Top 10 for 2020
  • 2019: $19,805,000 for a 1994 McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ – See Top 10 for 2019
  • 2018: $48,405,000 for a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO – See Top 10 for 2018.
  • 2017: $22,550,000 for a 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 – see Top 10 for 2017.
  • 2016: $35,711,359 for a 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport – see Top 10 for 2016.
  • 2015: $28,050,000 for a 1956 Ferrari 290 MM – see Top 10 for 2015.
  • 2014: $38,115,000 for a 1962-63 Ferrari 250 GTO – see Top 10 for 2014.
  • 2013: $29,650,095 for a 1954 Mercedes Benz W196R Formula 1 – see Top 10 for 2013.
  • 2012: $11,770,000 for a 1936 Mercedes Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster – see Top 10 for 2012.
  • 2011: £16,390,000 for a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – see Top 10 for 2011.

See Wikipedia for a detailed list (not always up to date) with adjusted prices.

Top Prices for Classic Cars by Marque

The following are the top prices ever paid at public auction for classic cars of various marques. All prices are nominal – i.e. prices paid at the time of auction and including premiums. Non-US dollar transactions converted to $ at time of sale.

YearCar $ Price Auction HouseYearAuction
1939Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring 19,800,000RM Sotheby’s2016Monterey
1956Aston Martin DBR1 22,550,000RM Sotheby’s2017Monterey
1929Bentley “Birkin Blower” 7,867,000Bonhams2012Goodwood Festival of Speed
1908Benz 1,870,000Bonhams2017Bothwell Collection
1957BMW 507 Roadster 5,031,683Bonhams2018Goodwood Festival of Speed
1934Bugatti Type 59 Sports 12,681,550Gooding2020London
1967Chevrolet Corvette L88 3,850,000Barrett-Jackson2014Scottsdale
1937Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo Roadster 6,600,000RM2014Amelia Island
1935Duesenberg SSJ 22,000,000Gooding2018Pebble Beach
1962Ferrari 250 GTO 48,405,000RM Sotheby’s2018Monterey
1968Ford GT40 Lightweight 11,000,000RM2012Monterey
1950Gordini Type 18S1,121,400Artcurial2022Paris
1939Horch 853A Special Roadster 5,170,000RM2012Monterey
1931Invicta 4 ½ Litre S-Type Low Chassis Sports1,771,583Bonhams2020Paris
1955Jaguar D-Type 21,780,000RM Sotheby’s2016Monterey
2015Koenigsegg One:1 4,631,767Bonhams2019Bonmont Geneva
2014Lamborghini Veneno Roadster8,337,182Bonhams2019Bonmont Geneva
1955Maserati 300S Sports Racing Spider 6,646,787Bonhams2013Goodwood Festival of Speed
1995McLaren F1 20,465,000Gooding2021Pebble Beach
1955Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé 143,000,000RM Sotheby’s2022Mercedes-Benz Museum
1913Peugeot L45 Grand Prix Racers 7,260,000Bonhams2017Bothwell Collection
1934Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe by Dietrich 4,180,000RM Sotheby’s2015Andrews Collection
1971Porsche 917K 14,080,000Gooding2017Pebble Beach
1907Renault Type AI Vanderbilt Racer3,332,500Bonhams2020Amelia Island
1912Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost “The Corgi” 7,343,000Bonhams2012Goodwood
1998RUF Turbo R Limited2,040,000Gooding2022Amelia Island
1962Shelby 260 Cobra “CSX2000” 13,750,000RM Sotheby’s2016Monterey
1912Simplex 50 HP 5 Passenger Torpedo Tourer4,845,000Bonhams2023Scottsdale
1914Stutz 4E Bearcat2,920,000Gooding2021Pebble Beach
1937Talbot Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe 13,425,000Gooding2022Amelia Island
1967Toyota Shelby 2000 GT2,535,000Gooding2022Amelia Island
1924Vauxhall 30-98 OE-Type Wensum1,658,510Gooding2020London
1991Williams FW14 Formula 14,222,060RM Sotheby’s2022Monaco

Most Expensive Cars by Country of Origin

The most expensive cars ever sold at public auction by country of origin are:

CountryCarPrice ($)Auction HouseAuction DateAuction
France1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Teardrop Coupe13,425,000Gooding2022Amelia Island
Germany
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé
143,000,000RM Sotheby’s2022Mercedes-Benz Museum
Italy1962 Ferrari 250 GTO48,405,000RM Sotheby’s2018Monterey
Japan1967 Toyota Shelby 2000 GT2,535,000Gooding2022Amelia Island
Sweden2015 Koenigsegg One:14,631,767Bonhams2019Bonmont Geneva
UK1956 Aston Martin DBR122,550,000RM Sotheby’s2017Monterey
USA1935 Duesenberg SSJ22,000,000Gooding2018Pebble Beach

More on the Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold

  • The Most Expensive Cars of All Time – $10 Million Plus for a full listing of cars selling for more than $10 million at public auctions.
  • Cars Sold for Over $20 Million – The Most-Expensive Cars Ever
  • Cars Sold for $15 to $20 Million – Mostly Italian (but not only Ferraris) and a Brit
  • Cars Sold for $12 to $15 Million – including the French record holders
  • Cars Sold for $10 to $12 Million – a mixed bunch of great marques

Top-Ten Lists for: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 & all time.

Home » Record Prices for the Most Expensive Car Marques at Public Auctions

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Classic Car Auctions

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