2018: List of the Million-Dollar-Plus Cars at Monterey Sales

by

69 cars sold for more than a million dollar each at the Monterey Motoring Week classical car auctions in California, USA, in August 2018.

Most Valuable Car Ever Sold at Auction
Darin Schnabel © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Six auctioneers achieved million dollar results on 69 of the 1378 cars offered for sale during the Monterey Motor Week 2018. Although RM Sotheby’s sold the most-expensive car ever at public auction in Monterey, Gooding sold more million-dollar cars at its Pebble Beach 2018 sale – 25 vs. 22. Bonhams and Mecum each sold 10 cars for a million dollar while Russo and Steel and Worldwide each also had a million-dollar result. A further 47 cars attracted unsuccessful highest bids that could have resulted in million-dollar cars if accepted.

Top Auctioneers at Monterey 2018

1935 Duesenberg SSJ – the Most-Expensive American Car Ever © Gooding

During Monterey Week 2018, six auction houses together sold 69 cars for over a million dollar each. Although RM Sotheby’s was the highest grossing auctioneer during Monterey 2018, Gooding with 25 results sold more million-dollar cars. RM Sotheby’s sold 22 cars for at least a million dollar, Bonhams 10, Mecum 10, Russo and Steel 1 and Worldwide Auctioneers 1.

In comparison, in 2017 during Monterey Week 71 cars were sold for above a million dollar: 32 at RM Sotheby’s, 22 at Gooding, 9 at Bonhams, 7 at Mecum and 1 at Russo and Steele.

According to Hagerty, a total of $370.9 million was earned by six auctioneers at Monterey 2018:

AuctioneerTotal ($ million)Sell-Throuhg %Lots Sold / OfferedAverage $ Price
No of $1 Million Cars
All370.962849 / 1378436,84969
RM Sotheby’s157.983125 / 1501,263,45622
Gooding132.884122 / 146954,93925
Bonhams37.881110 / 135343,69410
Mecum45.354364 / 690125,96710
Russo and Steele7.34895 / 19676,5481
Worldwide5.55633 / 59167,2671
Source: Hagerty

Million-Dollar-Plus Cars at Monterey Week 2018

The following 69 cars have sold for at least a million dollar at the various Monterey Motoring Week 2018 car auctions:

YearCarPrice ($)Estimate ($)Auction HouseAuction
11962Ferrari 250 GTO48,405,00045,000,000 – 60,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
21935Duesenberg SSJ22,000,000Upon requestGoodingPebble Beach
31963Aston Martin DP215 Grand Touring Competition Prototype21,455,00018,000,000 – 22,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
41966Ford GT40 Mk II9,795,0009,000,000 – 12,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
51958Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta6,600,0006,500,000 – 7,500,000GoodingPebble Beach
61955Maserati A6GCS/53 Spider5,170,0005,500,000 – 6,500,000GoodingPebble Beach
71955Ferrari 500 Mondial Series II5,005,0005,500,000 – 7,500,000GoodingPebble Beach
81957Porsche 550A Spyder4,900,0004,600,000 – 5,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
91956Maserati A6G/2000 Berlinetta by Zagato4,515,0004,250,000 – 5,250,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
101998Mercedes Benz AMG CLK GTR4,515,0004,250,000 – 5,250,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
112007Porsche RS Spyder4,510,000Upon requestGoodingPebble Beach
121955Porsche 550 Spyder4,455,0004,000,000 – 5,000,000GoodingPebble Beach
131933Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe Disappearing Top Roadster3,850,0003,200,000 – 3,500,000MecumMonterey
141934Packard Twelve Indivitual Custon Convertible Victoria3,745,0004,500,000 – 6,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
151931Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix3,740,0003,200,000 – 3,700,000GoodingPebble Beach
161959Porsche 718 RSK3,740,0003,600,000 – 4,100,000GoodingPebble Beach
171948Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione3,525,0003,000,000 – 3,500,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
181967Ferrari 330 GTC Speciale3,410,0003,300,000 – 3,800,000GoodingPebble Beach
192014Ferrari LaFerrari3,305,0003,000,000 – 4,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
201937Mercedes Benz 540K Sports Roadster3,277,5003,500,000 – 4,500,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
212014Ferrari LaFerrari3,190,0003,000,000 – 3,300,000MecumMonterey
221966Ferrari Dino Berlinetta GT3,080,0002,000,000 – 3,000,000GoodingPebble Beach
232014Ferrari LaFerrari3,080,0003,200,000 – 3,600,000GoodingPebble Beach
242003Ferrari Enzo2,860,0002,900,000 – 3,100,000MecumMonterey
251938Bugatti Type 57C Atalante2,805,0002,800,000 – 3,300,000GoodingPebble Beach
261963Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster2,530,0001,800,000 – 2,200,000GoodingPebble Beach
271989Porsche 9622,200,0002,200,000 – 2,500,000MecumMonterey
281971Lamborghini Miura P400 SV2,177,5002,200,000 – 2,400,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
291963Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster1,930,0001,650,000 – 2,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
301955Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe1,875,0001,250,000 – 1,500,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
311955Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America1,870,0001,500,000 – 1,800,000GoodingPebble Beach
322014McLaren P11,820,0001,700,000 – 2,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
331948Tucker 481,820,0001,800,000 – 2,100,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
341961Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet1,792,5001,650,000 – 1,900,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
351965Ferrari 275 GTS1,760,0001,500,000 – 1,800,000GoodingPebble Beach
361963Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso1,710,0001,750,000 – 2,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
371990Ferrari F401,710,0001,400,000 – 1,600,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
381960Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet1,682,5001,500,000 – 1,800,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
391928Bentley 6 1/2 Liter Open Sports Tourer1,655,0002,000,000 – 3,000,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
401956Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe1,655,0001,200,000 – 1,600,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
411953Siata 208S Spider1,655,0001,500,000 – 1,800,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
422015Porsche 918 Weissach Spyder1,650,0001,600,000 – 2,000,000GoodingPebble Beach
432017Ford GT1,540,000Russo and SteeleMonterey
441963Ferrari 250 GT Lusso1,485,0001,700,000 – 2,000,000GoodingPebble Beach
451929Bentley 4 1/2 Liter Sports Tourer1,435,0001,250,000 – 1,500,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
461955Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing1,435,0001,450,000 – 1,650,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
471966Porsche 911 Spyder1,430,000700,000 – 1,000,000GoodingPebble Beach
482015Porsche 918 Weissach Spyder1,407,5001,350,000 – 1,750,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
491954Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing1,380,0001,400,000 – 1,600,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
501973Porsche 911 Carrera RSH 2.71,380,0001,300,000 – 1,600,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
511960Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet1,325,0001,300,000 – 1,600,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
521931Duesenberg Model J Derham Tourster1,320,000WorldwideMonterey
531964Ferrari 250 GT Lusso1,320,0001,400,000 – 1,800,000GoodingPebble Beach
541961Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster1,297,5001,300,000 – 1,500,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
551936Mercedes Benz 500K Touring Phaeton1,215,0001,400,000 – 1,600,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
561929Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan1,155,0001,000,000 1,200,000MecumMonterey
571969Lamborghini Miura P400 S1,155,0001,300,000 – 1,600,000MecumMonterey
582012Dallara DW12 Honda Indy Car1,127,5001,175,000 – 1,250,000MecumMonterey
591956Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing1,127,5001,100,000 – 1,300,000GoodingPebble Beach
601930Packard 734 Speedster Phaeton1,127,5001,000,000 – 1,400,000GoodingPebble Beach
611996Porsche 911 GT2 Club Sport1,105,0001,500,000 – 2,000,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
622011Ferrari 599 SA Aperta1,072,5001,300,000 – 1,600,000GoodingPebble Beach
631958Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster1,072,500900,000 – 1,200,000MecumMonterey
641991Ferrari F401,050,0001,000,000 – 1,200,000GoodingPebble Beach
652017Ferrari F12 TdF1,045,0001,000,000 – 1,250,000MecumMonterey
661989RUF CTR1,022,5001,000,000 – 1,200,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
671936Auburn 852 SC Boattail Speedster1,017,500850,000 – 1,000,000MecumMonterey
681935Auburn 851 SC Boattail Speedster1,012,000800,000 – 900,000GoodingPebble Beach
691993Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.81,001,0001,100,000 – 1,400,000GoodingPebble Beach

NOTE: Based on first published results and may include post-hammer deals. All prices include auction premium.

$20-Million-Plus Cars at Monterey 2018

RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction 2018
Darin Schnabel © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Only 47 cars have ever sold for more than $10 million at public auction and only 11 for more than $20 million. Three of these valuable cars were sold during the Monterey Week 2018 auctions:

  • The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for $48,405,000 as the most-expensive car ever sold at public auction. It obviously also set a new Ferrari and RM Sotheby’s company record.
  • The 1935 Duesenberg SSJ sold for $22,000,000 as the most-expensive American car and most-expensive prewar car ever sold at public auction. It also set a new Duesenberg marque and Gooding company record.
  • The 1963 Aston Martin DP215 Grand Touring Competition Prototype sold for $21,455,000 as the 11th most-expensive car ever sold and the second Aston Martin to have achieved over $20 million at public auction.

The 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II at $9,795,000 narrowly missed the $10 million mark but was still the second most-expensive Ford ever.

Million-Dollar-Plus Cars at Monterey 2018

2007 Porsche RS Spyder
© Gooding

The 69 cars sold for more than $1 million at the various Monterey Week 2018 auctions included 20 cars made by Ferrari, 11 by Mercedes-Benz, 11 by Porsche, 4 by Duesenberg and 3 by Bentley.

The most-common model names included eight Ferrari 250s and eight Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs. Mercedes Benz 300 SL prices were relatively strong and many more are likely to test the market at common auctions. The Gullwing at Bonhams was the highest 300 SL Coupe result in four years.

1928 Bentley 6 ½ -Liter Open Sports Tourer by Barker
1928 Bentley 6 ½ -Liter Open Sports Tourer by Barker © Bonhams

The oldest million-dollar result was for a 1928 Bentley 6 ½ Litre Open Sports Tourer while a 1908 American Underslung 50 HP Roadster also received an unsuccessful million-dollar bid.

The newest million-dollar cars were a 2017 Ford GT and a 2017 Ferrari F12tdf. A 2018 Bugatti Chiron attracted a $3.1 million bid but like 15 other 21st century cars failed to sell despite bids above a million dollar.

Top Unsuccessful Highest Bids at Monterey 2018

The following were the highest unsuccessful bids at the Monterey Week 2018 auctions:

YearCarPrice ($)Estimate ($)Auction HouseAuction
11966Ferrari 275 GTB/CHB 10,300,00012,000,000 – 14,000,000GoodingPebble Beach
21960Ferarri 250 GT SWB Alloy Berlinetta CompetizioneHB 8,893,5009,500,000 – 12,500,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
31962Ferrari 250 GT SWB BerlinettaHB 8,700,000Refer to departmentBonhamsQuail Lodge
41953Ferrari 250 MM BerlinettaHB 7,400,0007,500,000 – 9,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
51950Ferrari 166 MM/195 S Berlinetta Le MansHB 5,500,0006,500,000 – 7,500,000GoodingPebble Beach
61956Maserati A6G/54 BerlinettaHB 3,400,0004,300,000 – 4,600,000GoodingPebble Beach
71954Ferrari 375 America Coupe by VignaleHB 3,250,0003,500,000 – 5,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
82015Ferrari LaFerrariHB 3,200,0003,250,000 – 3,500,000MecumMonterey
92018Bugatti ChironHB 3,100,0003,300,000 – 3,900,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
101995Ferrari F50HB 3,000,0003,700,000 – 4,200,000MecumMonterey
111967Ferrari 275 GTB/4 BerlinettaHB 2,800,0003,000,000 – 3,100,000MecumMonterey
121966Ford GT40 Mk IHB 2,800,0003,500,000 – 4,000,000GoodingPebble Beach
131984Ferrari 288 GTOHB 2,550,0002,750,000 – 3,250,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
142017Lamborghini Centenario LP770-4HB 2,250,0002,750,000 – 3,000,000MecumMonterey
152014Pagani HuayraHB 2,200,0002,500,000 – 2,700,000MecumMonterey
162015Bugattin Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse RoadsterHB 2,000,0002,000,000 – 2,200,000MecumMonterey
171968Porsche 908 Works Short-Tail CoupeHB 2,000,0002,300,000 – 2,800,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
181958Porsche 550A SpyderHB 2,000,0004,500,000 – 5,000,000MecumMonterey
191961Ferrari 250 GT Series II CabrioletHB 1.550.0002,000,000 – 2,300,000GoodingPebble Beach
201975Gulf-Mirage GR8HB 1,950,0002,500,000 – 3,500,000GoodingPebble Beach
212014Bugattin Veyron Grand Sport VitesseHB 1,800,0002,100,000 – 2,600,000GoodingPebble Beach
221967Ford GT40 Mk IVHB 1,750,0002,500,000 – 3,000,000GoodingPebble Beach
232015McLaren P1HB 1,700,0001,700,000 – 1,800,000MecumMonterey
242012Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport 16.4HB 1,700,0001,700,000 – 1,800,000MecumMonterey
251972Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Spider CompetizioneHB 1,700,0002,300,000 – 3,500,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
261965Aston Martin DB5 Vantage ConvertibleHB 1,675,0001,900,000 – 2,500,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
272017Ford GTHB 1,600,0001,700,000 – 1,900,000MecumMonterey
282010Bugatti Veyron (Sang Noir)HB 1,550,0001,700,000 – 1,800,000MecumMonterey
292015Porsche 918 SpyderHB 1,500,0001,800,000 – 2,000,000MecumMonterey
302008Lamborghini ReventonHB 1,500,0001,700,000 – 2,000,000MecumMonterey
311965Ferrari 275 GTB Long NoseHB 1,500,0002,000,000 – 2,500,000MecumMonterey
321952Siata 208 CS Corsa SpiderHB 1,450,0001,800,000 – 2,200,000GoodingPebble Beach
331932Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Series V Grand Sport RoadsterHB 1,400,0001,800,000 – 2,200,000GoodingPebble Beach
341966Ferrari 500 Superfast Series IIHB 1,350,0001,750,000 – 2,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
351931Duesenberg Model J Convertible SedanHB 1,350,0001,750,000 – 2,000,000GoodingPebble Beach
361927Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A S RoadsterHB 1,250,0001,500,000 – 2,000,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
371933Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental Fixed Head CoupeHB 1,150,0001,400,000 – 1,800,000RM Sotheby’sMonterey
381965Shelby 289 CobraHB 1,100,0001,100,000 – 1,300,000MecumMonterey
392010Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand SportHB 1,050,0001,500,000 – 1,800,000GoodingPebble Beach
402017Ferrari F12 TdFHB 1,000,0001,100,000 – 1,200,000MecumMonterey
411955Mercedes Benz 300 SL GullwingHB 1,000,0001,300,000 – 1,400,000MecumMonterey
421952Bentley R-Type Continental FastbackHB 1,000,0001,500,000 – 2,000,000GoodingPebble Beach
431908American Underslung 50 HP RoadsterHB 1,000,0001,200,000 – 1,400,000GoodingPebble Beach
441976Lamborghini Countach LP400 PeriscopicaHB 979,0001,100,000 – 1,500,000GoodingPebble Beach
452008Bugatti Veyron 16.4HB 950,0001,000,000 – 1,000,000MecumMonterey
461964Shelby 289 CobraHB 950,0001,100,000 – 1,300,000BonhamsQuail Lodge
471931Bentley 8 Liter Silent Bloc SaloonHB 920,0001,000,000 – 1,600,000BonhamsQuail Lodge

Note: HB indicated highest unsuccessful bid as reported by Hagerty. Some cars may have sold in post-hammer deals.

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C, chassis 09063, (Estimate: $12,000,000 – $14,000,000)
© Gooding

If all the highest bids were accepted, at least 47 more cars could have sold for more than a million dollar at the Monterey 2018 auctions.

The top five unsuccessful highest bids were for Ferraris with Gooding, RM Sotheby’s and Bonhams each failing to sell a top Ferrari. Some highest bids were very close to lower estimate and it was surprising that more deals were not done at or immediately after the auctions.

2018 Bugatti Chiron
© Bonhams

Several 21st century hypercars failed to sell including six Bugatti Veyrons. 15 21st century cars attracted highest bids of more than a million dollar but did not sell. Most of these cars were offered at Mecum, and with several bids at or very close to the estimate begged the question if the owners really intended to sell – compared to the catalogue auctioneers (Bonhams, Gooding and RM Sotheby’s), the cost to the vendor of a car not selling due to a high reserve at Mecum is very low.

2018 Monterey Week Classic Car Auctions

Monterey 2018 Auction Results

Auction Previews:

Pre-Sale Announcements

1911 Mercedes 28/60 Tourer
© Bonhams

Bonhams Quail Lodge 2018:

Gooding Pebble Beach 2018:

Mecum  Monterey 2018:

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 3413 GT
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 3413 GT – Patrick Ernzen © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2018: