The ten most-expensive cars sold at the Monterey Week 2017 sales were two Aston Martins, a McLaren, a Porsche and six Ferraris.
A 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 was at $22,550,000 by far the most-expensive car sold at the Monterey Week 2017 classic car auctions. It was followed by a 1995 McLaren F1, a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C and a 1970 Porsche 917K. Ferrari was the most prominent marque with six of the top ten most-expensive cars being from Maranello. Six of the ten most-expensive cars were sold by RM Sotheby’s while Gooding sold three and Bonhams one. New marque records were set for Aston Martin, McLaren and Porsche.
Top Ten Most-Expensive Cars at Monterey 2017
The ten highest results achieved at the Monterey Week, California, classic car auctions in August 2017 were:
Lot | Year | Car | Price ($) | Auction House | Auction |
1 | 1956 | Aston Martin DBR1 | 22,550,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey |
2 | 1995 | McLaren F1 | 15,620,000 | Bonhams | Quail Lodge |
3 | 1966 | Ferrari 275 GTB/C | 14,520,000 | Gooding | Pebble Beach |
4 | 1970 | Porsche 917K | 14,080,000 | Gooding | Pebble Beach |
5 | 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta | 8,305,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey |
6* | 1963 | Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition Ex-Cunningham | 8,ooo,000* | Bonhams | Quail Lodge |
7 | 1959 | Aston Martin DB4 GT Prototype | 6,765,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey |
8 | 1955 | Ferrari 121 LM Spider | 5,720,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey |
9 | 1959 | Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series III Coupe | 5,335,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey |
10 | 1959 | Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet | 4,840,000 | Gooding | Pebble Beach |
11* | 1950 | Ferrari 166 MM / 212 Export “Uovo” by Fontana | 4,510,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey |
- Based on published results by Bonhams, Gooding, Mecum, RM Sotheby’s, Russo and Steele, and Worldwide Auctioneers.
- * An 11th car was added as the Jaguar sold at Bonhams was a post-block deal.
Top Ten Results at Monterey Week 2017
Only four cars sold for over $10 million at the 2017 Monterey Week classic car auctions compared to seven at the same auctions in 2016 and 2015. The top ten cars in 2017 grossed $102,245,000 compared to $125,760,000 a year ago and $126,200,000 in 2015.
Six of the ten most-expensive cars at Monterey Week 2017 were Ferraris although for the second consecutive year the top two results were not cars from Maranello.
For the second consecutive year the top result at the Monterey Week classic car auctions set the record for the most-expensive British car ever with both being the seventh most-expensive car ever at the time of sale.
For the third consecutive year, the most-expensive car at the Monterey Week auctions was sold by RM Sotheby’s.
Ten Most-Expensive Cars at Monterey Week 2017
1. 1956 Aston Martin DBR1
A 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 sold for $22,550,000 as the top result at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017 classic car auction. The car set the new record price not only for Aston Martin but is also the most-expensive British car ever. It was the seventh most-expensive cars ever and only the eighth car to have sold for more than $20 million.
This DBR1 was the first of only five produced. It participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1956, 1957 and 1958 with its most noticeable result overall victory at the 1959 Nürburgring 100 KM race driven by Stirling Moss.
2. 1995 McLaren F1
A new McLaren marque record was set when a 1995 McLaren F1 sold for $15,620,000 at the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2017 sale. Only 64 street-legal F1 cars where ever made with this example the first of only seven that were fully federalized for use in the USA. The highly original car was never upgraded or altered and sold by it first owner with only 9,600 miles on the clock.
3. 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
The top Ferrari result at the Monterey Week 2017 auctions was achieved by a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C that sold for $14,520,000 at the Gooding Pebble Beach sale. This car is one of only 12 competition versions built by Ferrari of the 275 GTB series. It was raced in period but is now restored to concours condition.
4. 1970 Porsche 917K
Gooding also set a new Porsche marque record when a 1970 Porsche 917K sold for $14,080,000 at the Pebble Beach 2017 sale. This car was an important development car for the very successful Porsche 917 racing cars of the 1970s but was never actually raced. However, it was famously leased to Steve McQueen’s Solar Productions for use in the making of the film Le Mans (1971).
5. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
The fifth highest result during Monterey Week 2017 was for a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta that RM Sotheby’s sold for $8,305,000. Although 165 of these cars were produced in various versions, the result was unspectacular for a car restored to concours condition and with Ferrari Classiche certification and a Cavallino Classic 2016 Platinum award.
6. Ex-Team Cunningham 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight
The ex-Team Cunningham 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight failed to sell during the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2017 auction with a highest bid of $8.2 million. Bonhams announced later that the Jaguar was sold in a post-block deal for only $8 million premium included. In accepting this offer after refusing the higher bid during the auction meant the seller in effect lost a million dollar on the deal.
This 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition Coupe participated as a Team Cunningham car in the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours race but completed only 8 laps. Later, Team Cunningham would race it at the Road America 500 and then again at the Bridgehampton 500 where it finished fourth overall.
7. 1959 Aston Martin DB4GT Prototype
A 1959 Aston Martin DB4GT Prototype sold for $6,765,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017 sale. This car was the development vehicle for the DB4GT series but was also raced in period and won on its first outing at Silverstone with Stirling Moss and Reg Parnell behind the wheel. The result for the prototype was nearly double what a standard DB4GT could expect at auction.
8. 1955 Ferrari 121 LM Spider
The 1955 Ferrari 121 LM Spider that sold for $5,720,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017 was the third of only four built. The car was raced as an official Scuderia Ferrari entry in both the 1955 Mille Miglia and 24 Hours of Le Mans races but retired from both events after around 10 hours. It was more successful in shorter races in California under private ownership.
9. 1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series III Coupe
A 1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series III Coupe achieved $5,335,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017 classic car auction. This rare car was the fourth of twelve Superamerica Series III cars built. These Superamericas offered near Ferrari racing performance but with finesse a world away from the racing circuit.
10. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet
A 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet sold for $4,840,000 at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2017 sale. This car was the final of 40 cars built with Pinin Farina cabriolet bodies. New, these cars were more expensive than the now much praised Scaglietti California Spiders.
11. 1950 Ferrari 166 MM / 212 Export “Uovo”
The egg-shaped 1950 Ferrari 166 MM / 212 Export “Uovo” by Fontana sold for $4,510,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2017 sale. This unique Ferrari has a unique body designed by sculptor Franco Reggiani for Count Gianni Marzotto who raced the car extensively.
The Uovo was fast but unreliable in longer races – it memorably led a Works Ferrari in one race by 30 km before breaking down.
More Information on the Monterey Week Classic Car Auctions 2017
- Monterey Week – Updates on all Monterey week 2017 auctions
- Pebble Beach – Updates on Gooding auction announcements, previews and results
- Monterey – Updates on RM Sotheby’s auction announcements, previews and results
- Quail Lodge – Updates on Bonhams auction announcement, previews and results