2024 (March): The most expensive cars sold at auction thus far in 2024 were a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, a 1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP ‘Roi des Belges’, and a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione.
The list of the ten most expensive cars sold at public auction in 2024 is led by a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider that achieved nearly $18 million at the Mecum Kissimmee 2024 sale. It is followed by a 1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP ‘Roi des Belges’, which is the most expensive car ever produced before 1930. Further cars that sold for over $5 million thus far in 2024 include a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione, a 1966 Ford GT40 Road Car, and a 2022 Bugatti Chiron SS 300+ Coupe.
Top-Ten Lists for: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 & all time.
List of the Top Ten Most Expensive Cars Sold at Auction in 2024
The 10 highest results achieved for the most expensive cars sold at public auction thus far in 2024:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Auction House | Auction | |
| 1 | 1963 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider | 17,875,000 | Mecum | Kissimmee |
| 2 | 1903 | Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP ‘Roi des Belges’ | 12,100,000 | Gooding | Amelia Island |
| 3 | 1960 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione | 10,989,500 | RM Sotheby’s | Paris |
| 4 | 1966 | Ford GT40 Mk1 Road Car | 6,930,000 | Mecum | Kissimmee |
| 5 | 2022 | Bugatti Chiron SS 300+ Coupe | 5,175,000 | Bonhams | Scottsdale |
| 6 | 2004 | Ferrari Enzo | 4,510,000 | Mecum | Kissimmee |
| 7 | 1967 | Ford GT40 Mk I | 4,405,000 | Broad Arrow | Amelia Island |
| 8 | 1954 | Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe | 4,295,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Miami |
| 9 | 2004 | Ferrari Enzo | 4,196,000 | Bonhams | Paris |
| 10 | 1965 | Shelby 427 Competition Cobra | 4,180,000 | 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.
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.
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.
2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+
The ninth of 30 produced of the world’s fastest road-going car, the 2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, sold for just over $5 million as the top result at the Bonhams Scottsdale 2024 classic car auction and also the highest result for a car sold at any of the Scottsdale, Arizona, 2024 auctions. Only eight Chiron Super Sport 300+ cars were delivered to the US in 2022.
The Chiron Super Sport 300+ was inspired by the unprecedented 304,777 mph record set in a Chiron prototype in 2019 by former Le Mans-winner Andy Wallace. The sleek aero-efficient bodywork is bolstered by Bugatti’s signature styling and highlighted by an eye-catching black and orange color scheme. This Chiron was the ninth of 30 Super Sport 300+ produced and had only 255 miles on the clock.
Million-Dollar-Plus Cars Sold at Public Auctions in 2024
Thus far In 2024, at least* 91 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)
In the battle of the auction houses:
- 28 – RM Sotheby’s
- 17 — Broad Arrow
- 14 – Gooding & Co
- 14 – Mecum
- 10 – Barrett-Jackson
- 4 – Bonhams
- 3 – Artcurial
- 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).
Major classic car auctions in 2024 include:
- April: Goodwood Members (Bonhams), Rhode Island (Bonhams), Houston (Mecum), Palm Beach (Barrett-Jackson), Oxnard-Mullin (Gooding)
- May: Monaco (RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams), Indianapolis (Mecum), Toronto (RM Sotheby’s), Miami (Bonhams)
- June: London-Cliveden House (RM Sotheby’s), Bonmont-Geneva (Bonhams), Tulsa (Mecum)
- July: Tegernsee-Germany (RM Sotheby’s), Kissimmee (Mecum), Harrisburg (Mecum)
- August: Monterey Week (Monterey — RM Sotheby’s, Mecum; Pebble Beach — Gooding; Quail Lodge — Bonhams)
- September: London (Gooding), Dallas (Mecum)
- October: Indianapolis (Mecum), Las Vegas (Mecum)
- December: Kansas (Mecum)
