Three modern and two classic Ferraris are expected to sell for over $5 million as the most expensive cars on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025 classic car auction.
The lead car for the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025 classic car auction is a 1993 Ferrari F40 LM by Michelotto, which is predicted to sell for a model record of around $9 million. The second most expensive car on sale is the ex-Ralph Lauren yellow 1995 Ferrari F50, followed by a rare LaFerrari Aperta. Two classic mid-century Ferraris — a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I and a 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Spyder — are also expected to sell for over $5 million. The only two non-Ferraris on offer in this price range are a magnificent 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster and a 1989 RUF CTR1 “Yellowbird” Lightweight.
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025 Classic Car Auction
RM Sotheby’s Monterey classic car auction: 15 – 16 August 2025 at the Monterey Conference Center in California, USA.
Previous RM Sotheby’s Monterey Results:
| Year | Earnings ($ million) | Million $ Cars | Sell-Through Rate |
| 2024 | 161 | 33 | 87 |
| 2023 | 164 | 45 | 86% |
| 2022 | 239 | 52 | 95% |
| 2021 | 148.5 | 43 | 90% |
| 2020 | 30.4 | 7 | Online only |
| 2019 | 107 | 21 | 74% |
| 2018 | 158 | 22 | 83% |
| 2017 | 133 | 32 | 88% |
| 2016 | 118 | 21 | – |
| 2015 | 173 | 35 | – |
| 2014 | 143 | 35 | 91% |
The Monterey auction week record is $48,405,000 paid for a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO at the RM Sotheby’s 2018 sale.
Most Expensive Cars on Offer at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025
The most expensive cars on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025 classic car auctions have upper estimates exceeding $5 million and include:
| Year | Car | RUF CTR1 ‘Yellowbird’ Lightweight | |
| 1 | 1993 | Ferrari F40 KM by Michelotto | 8,500,000 – 9,500,000 |
| 2 | 1995 | Ferarri F50 | 6,500,000 – 7,500,000 |
| 3 | 2017 | Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta | 6,000,000 – 7,000,000 |
| 4 | 1958 | Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet | 5,750,000 – 6,500,000 |
| 5 | 1955 | Ferrari F375 Plus Spyder | 5,500,000 – 7,500,000 |
| 6 | 1935 | Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster | 5,500,000 – 7,000,000 |
| 7 | 1989 | RUF CTR1 ‘Yelowbird’ Lightweight | 4,500,000 – 5,000,000 |
Most Expensive Ferraris on Sale at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025
The three most expensive cars on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025 classic car auction are modern Ferraris. All three are expected to sell for new model records:
1993 Ferrari F40 LM by Michelotto
The 1993 Ferrari F40 LM by Michelotto, estimate: $8,500,000 – $9,500,000, was the 14th of only 19 examples built by Michelotto to GTC specification, which featured the most powerful F40 engines. This F40 was the Winner of the Ferrari: Passion and Performance Collection class at the 2025 ModaMiami concourse. The current F40 model record-holder is the 1987 Ferrari F40 LM, chassis 74045, sold for €4,3842,500 ($5,568,875) at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2019 sale.
Two further interesting F40s are on offer in the same sale: a low-mileage (360 km) 1990 Ferrari F40, estimate: $2,400,000 to $2,600,000, and a unique blue 1992 Ferrari F40 “Blue Chip F40” estimate: $2,500,000 – $2,800,000. See Ferrari 40s for details.
1995 Ferrari F50
The ex-Ralph Lauren 1995 Ferrari F50, estimate: $6,500,000 – 7,500,000, is finished in ultra-rare Giallo Modena. Of the 349 produced, only 55 were US-spec, of which only four were non-red examples and only two finished in yellow. States. Originally ordered by Ralph Lauren, this Ferrari F50 remained in his collection until 2003. It has since remained in single enthusiast ownership, quietly preserved for 22 years, with a brief public showing at the Cavallino Classic in 2009. It shows just 5,300 miles.
Only a handful Ferrari F50s have ever sold for over $5 million. The model record was set when a 1996 Ferrari F50 sold for $5,532,500 at the RM Sotheby’s Moda Miami 2025 classic car auction.
2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
The rare 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, estimate: $6,000,000 – $7,000,000, is also likely to set a new model record. Only 210 were produced of which none have sold at public auction thus far. The final Aperta produced sold for €8,300,000 ($10,043,000) as a charity lot at the RM Sotheby’s Ferrari Maranello 2017 sale.
Top Classic Ferraris at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025 Sale
Two mid-century classic Ferraris are also expected to sell for over $5 million at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025 sale:
1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Spyder by Sutton
The 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Spyder by Sutton (Estimate: $5,500,000 – $7,500,000 USD) is a one-off factory-built competition special, originally fitted with a Scuderia Ferrari Works 375 Plus engine for the influential American privateer team Scuderia Parravano. It is one of just two Tipo 102 Plus chassis ever built and the only one specified for racing. It was raced in period by among others Carroll Shelby, Dan Gurney, Jack McAfee, and Ken Miles.
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I
The 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I by Pinin Farina (Estimate: $5,750,000–$6,500,000 USD) was the 17th of just 40 built. It was displayed at the 1958 Geneva Salon and delivered new to opera legend Giuseppe Di Stefano.
Other $5 Million Cars at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025
Only two further cars are expected to sell for over $5 million at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025 classic car auction:
1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen
The 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen, estimate: $5,500,000 – $7,000,000, is one of only seven extant original short-tail, low-door Spezial Roadsters on the 500 K chassis.
1989 RUF CTR1 ‘Yellowbird’ Lightweight
The 1989 RUF CTR1 ‘Yellowbird’ Lightweight, estimate: $4,500,000 – $5,000,000, will try to ride the current RUF price mania. This Bordeaux Red car is also nicknamed “Redbird” and is one of only six lightweights produced. It was Alois Ruf’s personal car. (A 1989 RUF CTR “Yellowbird” almost tripled the marque record when it achieved $6,055,000 at the Gooding Christie’s Amelia Island 2025 sale.)
Pebble Beach and Monterey Week Auctions 2025
Monterey Week Sales Auction Results 2025:
Pre-Sale Announcements 2025:
- Bonhams: Modern Bugattis
- Gooding Christie’s: Top Ferraris, Three California Spiders
- RM Sotheby’s: Top $5-Million-Plus Cars, Ferrari F50 & F40s, Classic Ferraris
Top 2025 Monterey Week Auctions:
- Bonhams: Quail Lodge, 15 August 2025
- Broad Arrow: Monterey, 13 – 14 August 2025
- Gooding Christie’s: Pebble Beach, 15 & 16 August 2025
- Mecum: Monterey, 14 – 16 August 2025
- RM Sotheby’s: Monterey, 15 & 16 August 2025