Top Classic Car Auctions

$1 million plus cars

  • Home
  • Record Prices
    • The Most-Expensive Cars of All Time
    • $10 Million Plus
    • Record for Year & Marques
    • Records
  • USA
    • US Auctions
    • Amelia Island, Florida
      • Amelia Island (Florida) Auctions and Concours d’Elegance
      • Amelia Island Results
    • Monterey Week
      • Monterey Classic Car Week
      • Results
      • Monterey
      • Pebble Beach
      • Quail Lodge
    • Scottsdale / Arizona
      • Scottsdale (Arizona) – The First Classic Car Auctions of the Year
      • Results
    • Others
  • Europe
    • European Auctions
    • Goodwood
      • Events
      • Results
    • London
    • Monaco
    • Paris
      • Paris Rétromobile – First European Classic Car Auctions of the Year
      • Results
    • Villa Erba / Este
    • Others
  • News
    • Previews
    • Press Releases
  • Top 10
  • Search 🔎

1956 Aston Martin DBR1 – Most-Expensive British Car Ever

19 August 2017 by Henk Bekker in $10 Million Plus, California, M2017R, Monterey, News, Records, USA

A 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 sold for a world record $22,550,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017 sale as the most-expensive British car ever.

1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1
1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1 – Scott Fluid Images © 2017 Courtesy RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s achieved $22,550,000 for a 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017 classic car auction to set a new record for the most-expensive British car sold at public auction. This 1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1 was the first of five DBR1s produced and the only one ever sold at public auction. It won the 1959 Nürburgring 1000 KM driven by Stirling Moss and Jack Fairman and is a sister car to the 1959 Le Mans winner.

1956 Aston Martin DBR1 Auction Records

1956 Aston Martin DBR1 Side profile
Tim Scott © 2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1956 Aston Martin DBR1, chassis DBR1/1, sold for $22,550,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017 sale as the most-expensive car at the Monterey Week 2017 auctions, the most-expensive car sold thus far in 2017, the most-expensive Aston Martin ever and the most-expensive British car ever sold at public auction. This Aston Martin is the seventh most-expensive car ever sold at public auction and only the eighth car ever to have achieved a result above $20 million.

The previous record for the most-expensive British sold at public auction was set by the 1956 Le Mans-winning 1955 Jaguar D-Type that RM Sotheby’s sold for $21,780,000 at Monterey 2016 while the Aston Martin marque record increased from the $14,300,000 that was paid for a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato at the RM Sotheby’s 2015 New York sale.

1956 Aston Martin DBR1

1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1 on Track
Scott Fluid Images © 2017 Courtesy RM Sotheby’s

The 1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1 is of course a very special car. It was the first of five DBR1s built – a car designed specifically to fulfill David Brown’s dream to win the Le Mans 24 Hours race.

The 1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1 participated at Le Mans three times – 1956, 1957 and 1958 – but retired on all three occasions, including after 20 hours on its debut Le Mans race. A sister car – DBR1/2 finally won Aston Martin the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1959.

1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1 from above
Scott Fluid Images © 2017 Courtesy RM Sotheby’s

The most-significant result of DBR1/1 was an overall victory at the 1959 Nürburgring 1000 KM. During this race, DBR1/1 driven mostly by Stirling Moss – he allowed Jack Fairman only eight laps – broke the lap record 16 times to repeat the victory Moss achieved the previous year at the same race in DBR1/2.

As an Aston Martin works entry, DBR1/1 participated in 16 major international raced between 1956 and 1959. Entries included the three runs at Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1958 and 1959, as well as three entries at the Nürburgring 1000 KM, in 1957, 1958 and 1959. DBR1/1 was mostly driven by Roy Salvadori but he was also co-piloted on longer races by such famous drivers as Carrol Shelby and Jack Brabham.

1956 Aston Martin DBR1 Front
Tim Scott © 2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1 is considered to be the best presented of the five DBR1s produced and is in immaculately restored yet highly original condition. The final Works fitted engine accompanies the car but a replacement unit produced by R.S. Williams in 2010 is fitted so as not to risk the original engine during historic races.

Although the Aston Martin participated in historic races in recent years, the new owner may appreciate that it seems not to have been shown since being awarded the Most Elegant Sports Car Trophy at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

See Also:

  • $20 Million Plus Cars – The Most-Expensive Cars in the World
  • 2017: Ten Most-Expensive Cars Sold at Public Auction
  • share 
  • save 
  • tweet 
  • share 

Filed Under: $10 Million Plus, California, M2017R, Monterey, News, Records, USA Tagged With: $10 Million Plus, $20 Million Plus, 2017, Aston Martin, Monterey, Most-Expensive, RM Sotheby's

Cars Sold for $10 Million Plus

1957 Ferrari 315 / 335 S Scaglietti Spyder

1957 Ferrari 315 / 335 S – Second Most-Expensive Car Ever

A 1957 Ferrari 315 / 335 S sold for €32,075,200 ($35,711,359) at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile 2016 sale – the second highest dollar price ever paid for … [Read More...]

1955 Jaguar D-Type, chassis XKD501

1955 Jaguar D-Type: Most-Expensive British Car Ever

The 1956 Le Mans-winning 1955 Jaguar D-Type sold for $21,780,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 as the most-expensive British car ever sold at public … [Read More...]

1962 Shelby 260 Cobra “CSX2000”

1962 Shelby 260 Cobra: Most-Expensive American Car Ever

A 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra, CSX2000, the first built, became the most-expensive American car ever when sold for $13,750,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016. … [Read More...]

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider: Most-Expensive Prewar Car Ever

A 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring sold for $19,800,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016 as the most-expensive prewar car ever. It is also by … [Read More...]

1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1

1956 Aston Martin DBR1 – Most-Expensive British Car Ever

A 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 sold for a world record $22,550,000 at the RM Sotheby's Monterey 2017 sale as the most-expensive British car ever. RM … [Read More...]

Most-Expensive Car Ever: 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO

The most-expensive car ever sold at public auction is a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that $48,405,000 was paid for at the RM Sotheby's Monterey 2018 … [Read More...]

1935 Duesenberg SSJ – Most-Expensive American and Prewar Car Ever

Gary Cooper’s 1935 Duesenberg SSJ sold for a record $22,000,000 as the most-expensive American car and most-valuable prewar car ever sold at public … [Read More...]

1956 Ferrari 290 MM

1956 Ferrari 290 MM Sold for $22 Million

A 1956 Ferrari 290 MM raced by Scuderia Ferrari sold for $22 million at the RM Sotheby's Petersen Automotive Museum 2018 sale in Los Angeles. A 1956 … [Read More...]

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO - the most-expensive car at public auction ever

Cars Sold for Over $20 Million – The Most-Expensive Cars Ever

Only twelve cars have ever sold for more than $20 million at public auction: seven Ferraris, two Aston Martins, a Mercedes Benz F1 racer, a Duesenberg SSJ … [Read More...]

1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring

Cars Sold for $15 – $20 Million at Public Auction

Two 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900s, ten Ferraris and two McLarens are the only cars ever to have sold for between $15 and $20 million at public auctions. A … [Read More...]

Monterey Classic Car Week

2001 Ferrari 550 GT1 Prodrive on offer at RM Sotheby's Online-Only Shift / Monterey Sale 2020

2020 RM Sotheby’s Shift / Monterey Online-Only Sale (Auction Results)

A 2001 Ferrari 550 GT1 Prodrive sold for $4,290,000 at the RM Sotheby's Shift / Monterey sale as the most-expensive car ever sold in an online-only … [Read More...]

1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder at Bonhams Quail Lodge 2020

2020 Bonhams Quail Sale (Auction Results)

The top results at the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2020 sale were $2,232,500 for a 1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder and $1,750,000 for a 2014 Bugatti Veyron. … [Read More...]

White 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose at Gooding Geared Online 2020 Sale

2020 Gooding Geared Online Sale (Auction Results)

A 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose sold for $3,080,000 as the top result and an auction record at the Gooding Geared Online sale 2020 (Pebble Beach / … [Read More...]

1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Cabriolet Décapotable

2020 Bonhams Quail Auction (Highlights Preview)

The top cars at the Bonhams Quail Sale 2020 are a 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Cabriolet Décapotable and a 1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder. Bonhams is bucking … [Read More...]

2001 Ferrari 550 GT1 Prodrive on offer at RM Sotheby's Online-Only Shift / Monterey Sale 2020

2020 RM Sotheby’s Shift / Monterey Sale (Competition Ferraris)

RM Sotheby's announced two competition Ferraris -- a 2001 Ferrari 550 GT1 Prodrive and a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione -- for the online-only … [Read More...]

redMercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing doors open on offer in the Gooding Geared Online 2020 sale

2020 Gooding Geared Online Sale (Gullwing and 911 Rally Announcement)

A works 1971 Porsche 911 ST and an unrestored Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing were announced for the Gooding Geared Online 2020 sale. Gooding announced … [Read More...]

1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast on offer in the RM Sotheby's Online Only Shift / Monterey 2020 Sale

2020 RM Sotheby’s Online-Only Shift / Monterey Sale Announced

RM Sotheby's announced a Ferrari 500 Superfast, an F50, a BMW M1 Procar, and a Bugatti Type 57 for the Online-Only Shift / Monterey Sale 2020. Two … [Read More...]

Green 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet with coachwork by Letourneur et Marchand,

2020 Gooding Geared Online Sale (Bugatti 57 Announced)

A 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Letourneur et Marchand was announced for the Gooding Geared Online classic car auction for early August … [Read More...]

→ → → More on Monterey Week

« 2017 Monterey Auctions – Top Ferraris (Preview)
2017 Bonhams Quail Lodge Sale Results »
Home » Records » 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 – Most-Expensive British Car Ever

Recent Posts

  • 2021 (Jan – April): Ten Most-Expensive Cars Sold at Public Auction
  • 2021 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Sale (Auction Results)
  • 2021 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Sale (Charity Auction Results)
  • 2021 Mecum Glendale Sale (Auction Results)
  • 2021 Mecum Indianapolis Sale (Big Oly Bronco Announced)

Classic Car Auctions

  • Home
  • Record Prices
    • The Most-Expensive Cars of All Time
    • $10 Million Plus
    • Record for Year & Marques
    • Records
  • USA
    • US Auctions
    • Amelia Island, Florida
      • Amelia Island (Florida) Auctions and Concours d’Elegance
      • Amelia Island Results
    • Monterey Week
      • Monterey Classic Car Week
      • Results
      • Monterey
      • Pebble Beach
      • Quail Lodge
    • Scottsdale / Arizona
      • Scottsdale (Arizona) – The First Classic Car Auctions of the Year
      • Results
    • Others
  • Europe
    • European Auctions
    • Goodwood
      • Events
      • Results
    • London
    • Monaco
    • Paris
      • Paris Rétromobile – First European Classic Car Auctions of the Year
      • Results
    • Villa Erba / Este
    • Others
  • News
    • Previews
    • Press Releases
  • Top 10
  • Search 🔎

Although great care is taken in writing this website, no responsibility is taken for errors or inaccuracies. This website should be considered for entertainment purposes only. Copyright on all photos are with the relevant auction houses - contact them directly for reuse.
Copyright © 2021 - 2010 · Impressum · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy · Data Protection · Cookie Policy