2024 (September): The most expensive cars sold at auction thus far in 2024 were the first (1960) and final (1963) Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spiders, a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider, a 1955 Ferrari 410 SS, and a 1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP ‘Roi des Belges’,.
September 2024: The list of the ten most expensive cars sold at public auction in 2024 is led by two Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spiders — the last ever produced, a 1963 Californa Spider, achieved nearly $18 million at the Mecum Kissimmee 2024 sale, while the first one made in 1960 sold for $17 million at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction. The California Spiders are followed by a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider and a 1955 Ferrari 410 Spider Sport despite both cars selling below expectations. The fifth most expensive car thus far in 2024 is the 1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP ‘Roi des Belges’, which is the most expensive car ever produced before 1930.
Top-Ten Lists for: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 & all time.
List of the Top Ten Most Expensive Cars Sold at Auction in 2024
The 10 highest results achieved for the most expensive cars sold at public auction thus far in 2024:
| Lot | Year | Car | Price ($) | Auction House | Auction |
| 1 | 1963 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider | 17,875,000 | Mecum | Kissimmee |
| 2 | 1960 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider | 17,055,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey |
| 3 | 1938 | Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring | 14,030,000 | Gooding | Pebble Beach |
| 4 | 1955 | Ferrari 410 Sport Spider | 12,985,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey |
| 5 | 1903 | Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP ‘Roi des Belges’ | 12,100,000 | Gooding | Amelia Island |
| 6 | 1960 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione | 10,989,500 | RM Sotheby’s | Paris |
| 7 | 1979 | Ferrari 312 T4 | 8,250,800 | RM Sotheby’s | Monaco |
| 8 | 1969 | Ford GT40 Lightweight | 7,865,000 | Mecum | Monterey |
| 9 | 1997 | Porsche 911 GT1 Rennversion Couple | 7,045,000 | Broad Arrow | Monterey |
| 10 | 1966 | Ford GT40 Mk1 Road Car | 6,930,000 | Mecum | Kissimmee |
Note: Prices include the auction premium. May include post-hammer deals and charity lots if the price was disclosed publicly.
Most Expensive Cars of 2024 Sold at Public Auction
The most expensive cars sold thus far in 2024 at public auctions are:
1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider
A 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider sold for $17,875,000 as the most expensive car at the Mecum Kissimmee 2024 collector car auction in Florida, USA. The result was the first time Mecum sold a car for over $10 million, it is also the third highest ever at public auction for a short-wheelbase version of the California Spider and the 27th most-expensive car ever sold at auction.
This Ferrari was the last of the 55 SWB California Spiders produced between 1960 and 1963. It is a covered headlight version with a known history from new. It is a fully restored car that retained its original chassis, body, engine, and gearbox.
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider
The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider sold for $17,055,000 as the most expensive car sold at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2024 sale. It was also the highest result for a car at any of the 2024 Monterey / Pebble Beach classic car auctions.
This 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider was the first ever produced and the original show car shown at the Geneva Auto Salon in 1960. It was equipped from the factory with a competition-specification engine, covered headlights, and a factory removable hardtop. This first California SPider was initially finished in dark grey Grigio over a red leather interior, which was changed after the show to a black interior before being delivered to the first owner in Switzerland.
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring
A 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring sold for $14,030,000 as the top result at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2024 classic car auction. The result was well below the $16 to 20 million estimate and the nearly $20 million achieved by a 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016. Only five long-chassis 2900B Alfas are known to have survived.
The car sold at Pebble Beach was stolen while in a trailer in 2022 but later recovered. However, by that time the insurance company had settled the claim for an unknown amount.
1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider
The second most expensive car sold at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2024 classic car auction was a 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider, Chassis 0592 CM, which achieved a slightly disappointing $12,985,000 — the pre-sale estimate was “in excess of $15 million”. Its sister car, chassis 0598 CM, achieved $22,005,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022 sale.
This unique, one-off sports racing Speciale was the prototype for the iconic 410 Sport Scuderia Ferrari Works cars. At the 1956 Palm Springs Road Races, Carroll Shelby achieved his first of many Ferrari victories in this car.
1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP ‘Roi des Belges’
A rare 1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP ‘Roi des Belges’ sold for $12,105,000, as the top result at the Gooding Amelia Island 2024 classic car auction. It was also the most expensive car sold at any Amelia Island 2024 auction. It set a new marque record for a Mercedes (before Benz was added from 1926) and is the most expensive car produced earlier than 1930. It is only the 12th pre-Second World War car to achieve over $10 million at auction.
This Mercedes 60 HP was ordered new by British publishing tycoon Alfred Harmsworth, Viscount Northcliffe, and remained in family ownership for 121 years. It was displayed at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, England for over six decades. It was originally raced and set a speed record before receiving the ‘Roi des Belges’ body it still wears today, built by the prestigious coach working firm J. Rothschild et Fils. It is one of only four in private ownership with a fifth example, a Long-Wheelbase Omnibus, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione
The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione by Scaglietti sold for €10,158,125 at the RM Sotheby’s Paris sale, as the most expensive car sold during the Paris Rétromobile Week 2024 auctions.
The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione, chassis number 1773 GT, is a very rare and highly desirable alloy-bodied Competizione version built in 1960, boasting an outstanding period racing history that includes 7th overall and 5th in class at the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring as a N.A.R.T. entry, as well as four overall or class victories, including at the famous Nassau Tourist Trophy in 1960, and a total of ten podium finishes from 1960-1961.
Jody Scheckter’s 1979 Ferrari 312 T4
Jody Scheckter’s 1979 Ferrari 312 T4 sold for €7,655,000 ($8,250,800) as the most expensive car at the RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2024 classic car auction. This was the fourth-highest price for a Formula 1 car ever paid at auction and the second-highest for a Ferrari F1 car.
Jody Scheckter drove the car in nine races in his driver’s championship-winning year including in all three of his victories in 1979—the Belgian, Monaco, and Italian Grands Prix. This 312 T4 was Enzo Ferrari’s last Formula One Drivers’ World Championship-winning car and the last Ferrari that won the championship until the Michael Schumacher era.
1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight
A 1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight sold for $7,865,000 as the most expensive car in the Mecum Monterey 2024 collector car auction. This was also the third-highest result ever for a GT40.
This GT40 was one of ten lightweight cars produced by Ford and sold to privateer teams. This one was first raced in Angola by AF Pires and later by Emilio Marta who took the GT40 back to Portugal in 1975. Despite not having any major racing drivers of top races linked to the GT40, it does have its original bodywork and running gear.
1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Rennversion Coupe
A 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Rennversion Coupe sold for $7,045,000 as the top result at the Broad Arrow Monterey 2024 classic car auction. This GT1 is one of just nine customer versions built by Porsche.
The 911 GT1 was first campaigned by the German Roock Racing Team in the 1997 FIA GT Championship. It was raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by Allan McNish and Stephane Ortelli. In the 1997 U.S. PSCR season, it was raced by Rohr Racing winning the IMSA GTS-1 class championship with four race wins in the hands of McNish and Andy Pilgrim.
1966 Ford GT40 Mk1 Road Car
The second-highest result at the Mecum Kissimmee 2024 auction was for a 1966 Ford GT40 Mkl Road Car that sold for nearly $7 million. This Ford was one of the 30 original GT40 Road Cars produced and currently showed just 13,442 original miles. The car was in the care of its previous owner for nearly 30 years, unseen by the public, and was comprehensively restored by RUF Automobiles.
Million-Dollar-Plus Cars Sold at Public Auctions in 2024
Thus far In 2024, at least* 243 cars were sold at public auctions for over a million dollars. (*Definitions vary, results include auction premium, charity lots, and post-hammer deals announced in first published results.)
- January: 36 — 13 at Kissimmee (13 – Mecum), 18 at Scottsdale / Arizona (5 – RM Sotheby’s, 2 – Bonhams, 10 – Barrett-Jackson, 1 – Worldwide), 5 at Paris (5 – RM Sotheby’s)
- February: 5 — 5 at Paris (3 – Artcurial, 2 – Bonhams)
- March: 50 — 31 at Amelia Island (17 – Broad Arrow, 14 – Gooding), 12 at Miami (12 – RM Sotheby’s), 9 at Dubai (9 – RM Sotheby’s), 1 at Glendale (1 – Mecum)
- April: 11 — 4 at Oxnard-Mullin (4 – Gooding), 3 at Palm Beach (3 – Barrett-Jackson), 4 at Orange County (Broad Arrow).
- May: 21 — 2 at Miami (2 – Bonhams), 17 at Monaco (8 – Artcuria, 1 – Bonhams, 8 – RM Sotheby’s), 2 at Indianapolis (2 – Mecum)
- June: 22 — 18 at Toronto (18 – RM Sotheby’s), 2 at London-Cliveden House (2 – RM Sotheby’s), 2 at Bonmont-Geneva ( 2 – Bonhams).
- July: 9 — 6 at Tegernsee-Germany (6 – RM Sotheby’s), 2 at Goodwood-Festival of Speed (2 – Bonhams)
- August: 87 — 87 at Monterey Week (Monterey — 33 – RM Sotheby’s, 11 – Mecum, 17 – Broad Arrow; Pebble Beach — 25 – Gooding; Quail Lodge — 1 – Bonhams).
- September: 2 — 2 at London (2 – Gooding).
In the battle of the auction houses:
- 95 – RM Sotheby’s
- 45 – Gooding & Co
- 38 — Broad Arrow
- 27 – Mecum
- 13 – Barrett-Jackson
- 11 – Artcurial
- 11 – Bonhams
- 1 – Worldwide
Most Expensive Cars Auction Series in 2024
The list takes the published results of the following 2024 auctions into consideration:
- January: Kissimmee (Mecum), Scottsdale / Arizona (Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s, Worldwide), Paris (RM Sotheby’s).
- February: Paris (Artcurial, Bonhams)
- March: Amelia Island (Bonhams, Broad Arrow, Gooding), Miami (RM Sotheby’s), Dubai (RM Sotheby’s), Glendale (Mecum).
- April: Goodwood Members (Bonhams), Rhode Island (Bonhams), Houston (Mecum), Palm Beach (Barrett-Jackson), Oxnard-Mullin (Gooding), Orange County (Broad Arrow)
- May: Miami (Bonhams), Monaco (RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams, Artcurial), Indianapolis (Mecum)
- June: Toronto (RM Sotheby’s), London-Cliveden House (RM Sotheby’s), Bonmont-Geneva (Bonhams), Tulsa (Mecum)
- July: Tegernsee-Germany (RM Sotheby’s), Festival of Speed (Bonhams), Kissimmee (Mecum), Harrisburg (Mecum)
- August: Monterey Week (Monterey — RM Sotheby’s, Mecum, Broad Arrow; Pebble Beach — Gooding; Quail Lodge — Bonhams).
- September: London (Gooding), Dallas (Mecum), Goodwood Revival (Bonhams)
Major classic car auctions in 2024 include:
- September: Beaulieu (Bonhams).
- October: Indianapolis (Mecum), Las Vegas (Mecum), Audrain (Bonhams), Zoute (Bonhams), Hershey (RM Sotheby’s), Stuttgart (RM Sotheby’s – W196R)
- November: London (Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s), Munich (RM Sotheby’s)
- December: Kansas (Mecum), London (Bonhams), Dubai (RM Sotheby’s)
- To be announced: RM Sotheby’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum cars.