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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 achieve prices over a million dollars.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO – Most-Expensive Car Ever – Patrick Ernzen © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

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 these rare cars are worth. A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is the most-expensive car ever sold at public auction followed by 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.

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 $48,405,000 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 third 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. It is the highest price paid for a car at a public auction held outside the USA.

Red 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T Spider
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T Spider Photo: Darin Schnabel ©2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions

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

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:

  • 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.

Since 2000, the most expensive car of the year has always been either a Mercedes Benz (4 times), Aston Martin (once) or a Ferrari. 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. For Ferrari and Mercedes, the top prices for both the most-expensive road and racing cars are given, as well as the GTO homologation special for Ferrari. All prices are nominal – i.e. prices paid at 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
1932Bugatti Type 55 Roadster 10,400,000Gooding2016Pebble Beach
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
1957Ferrari 335 Sport 35,711,359Artcurial2016Paris
1967Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spider by Scaglietti 27’500’000RM2013Monterey
1968Ford GT40 Lightweight 11’000’000RM2012Monterey
1939Horch 853A Special Roadster 5’170’000RM2012Monterey
1955Jaguar D-Type 21,780,000RM Sotheby’s2016Monterey
2014Lamborghini Veneno Roadster$8,337,182Bonhams2019Bonmont Geneva
1955Maserati 300S Sports Racing Spider 6’646’787Bonhams2013Chichester – Goodwood Festival of Speed
1994McLaren F1 ‘LM Spec’ 19,805,000RM Sotheby’s2019Monterey
1954Mercedes Benz W196R Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater 29’650’095Bonhams2013Chichester – Goodwood Festival of Speed
1936Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster 11’770’000Gooding2012Pebble Beach
1934Peugeot L45 Grand Prix Racers 7,260,000Bonhams2017Bothwell Collection
1913Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe by Dietrich 4,180,000RM Sotheby’s2015Andrews Collection
1971Porsche 917K 14,080,000Gooding2017Pebble Beach
1912Rolls Royce Silver Ghost “The Corgi” 7’343’000Bonhams2012Goodwood
1962Shelby 260 Cobra “CSX2000” 13,750,000RM Sotheby’s2016Monterey
1938Talbot Lago T150-C SS 7’150’000RM2013New York

For a More Detailed Description of Cars Sold for $10 Million Plus

  • Cars Sold for Over $20 Million – The Most-Expensive Cars Ever
  • Cars Sold for $15 to $20 Million – all Italian but not only Ferraris
  • Cars Sold for $12 to $15 Million – including the most-expensive American car ever
  • Cars Sold for $10 to $12 Million – a mixed bunch of great marques

See also Top-Ten Lists for 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 & all time.

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  • Home
  • Record Prices
    • The Most-Expensive Cars of All Time
    • $10 Million Plus
    • Record for Year & Marques
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      • Amelia Island (Florida) Auctions and Concours d’Elegance
      • Amelia Island Results
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      • Monterey Classic Car Week
      • Results
      • Monterey
      • Pebble Beach
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      • Scottsdale (Arizona) – The First Classic Car Auctions of the Year
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