15 Amazing Cars That Brought In The Most Cash At Auction
Hardcore car collectors never think twice about buying a very special car no matter what price you put on it. For the avid collector, classic cars and vintage cars are worth every penny. Since money is no object to them, they will pay whatever it takes to bring home a rare car and display it in their garage. It’s easy to think that a million dollar car is indeed an expensive car, but legitimate car collectors will spend a real fortune to get a limited edition car worth millions of dollars.
If $4.8 million Koennigsegg CCXR Trevita car is your limit, you can’t call yourself a true blue rich car collector. True collectors don’t just stick to modern supercars. They attend classic car auctions to bid on rare cars, some such that no matter how hard you dig, you’ll never find a copy. Maybe, if a time machine was invented, you could go back in time to make another version of this car.
To get a sense of how rare classic cars can cost, here are 15 amazing cars that have fetched the highest prices at auction. These are the most expensive cars ever bought at auction on earth. Put on your wallet, let’s go.
01. 1931 DUESENBERG MODEL J MURPHY-BODIED COUPE: $10,300,000
One of the first mass-produced vintage cars, the Duesenberg Model J Murphy-bodied Coupe is a rare sight today. Less than 500 units of this car were produced and only a few still exist today. It’s been impossible to get a new one from the same automaker since the collapse of Duesenberg in 1937. Yet when the 1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy-bodied coupe debuted, it was the first choice of A-list celebrities. It is still an expensive car as it was sold at auction for $10,300,000. Something odd to note about the 1931 Dusenberg Model J Murphy-bodied Coupe, it was designed by American chocolatier Frank Hershey.
02. 1968 Ford GT40 Lightweight Race Car: $11,000,000
One of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction, this 1968 Ford GT40 lightweight race car sold for a staggering $11,000,000. The car was sold at RM Sotheby’s auction in 2012. What made it so expensive was that this classic car reigned supreme on the track. She could really run, so much so that the first time her tires touched the track, she was determined to be a champion. I succeeded in doing so. He went on a winning streak and due to his performance, he outperformed most of his competitors.
03. 1953 Ferrari 340/375mm Competition Berlinetta: $12,812,800
1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Competizione is a beautiful car with a solid track connection. This means that it is a high performance car powered by a very powerful engine, 340 HP V12. To complement this strong core, the car comes with classic contour lines to ensure it is aerodynamic. For both its looks and its capabilities, this 1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Competizione deserves to be the centerpiece of any enthusiast’s car collector’s garage. However, its true home is the racetrack. An expensive car, this sports car was auctioned for $12,812,800.
04. McLaren F1 1998: $13,750,000
Sold at Sotheby’s auction in Pebble Beach, California, the McLaren F1 is a stunning car well worth its price. This modern supercar is fast and said to be ahead of its time. This led to it being auctioned at a whopping $13,750,000. Only a deep-pocketed car collector with a burning passion for supercars can afford a 1998 McLaren F1. It is considered the jewel of the collection and is still a limited edition supercar with a total of 65 examples released into the wild. After purchasing the car, a video of it went viral when someone posted it on YouTube driving it through the streets of Monterey.
05. 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa: $16,390,000
The 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is more than just a race car. It has been designed with excellent aerodynamics to ensure superior speed on the road. Due to its outstanding performance, this car has taken a place in Ferrari history. It served as the prototype for the prestigious Ferrari series. The 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is a limited edition car with a total production of just 22 units. At some point in modern-day history, a lucky car collector got his hands on a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa in excellent condition. It was sold at auction for $16,390,000.
06. 1964 Ferrari LM: $17,600,000
This 1964 Ferrari LM is one of the most expensive classic cars ever sold at auction in 2015. It was sold at Monterey auction with the highest bid for $17,600,000. This amazing Ferrari stands out as number 23 out of a total of 32 cars produced. It was a high-performance car and it succeeded on the racetrack. Therefore, the price of the car has been increased. Its impressive performance on the track proved to be one of the best Ferraris ever. In terms of appearance, the 1964 Ferrari LM is an eye-catching car, with its elegant lines and classic looks.
07. 1954 Ferrari 375 Plus: $18,298,500
Designed to win races, the Ferrari 375-Plus managed to do just that in the 1954 Mille Miglia. However, what prevented him from doing so was a broken gearbox. He dashed his hopes of becoming the champion in this race before he could even reach the finish line. However, this disappointing loss did not prevent the 1954 Ferrari 375-Plus from performing well in any race in which it entered. Therefore, he was able to run at Le Mans. An expensive classic racing car, the 1954 Ferrari 375-Plus sold at auction for a whopping $18,298,500.
08. 1961 Ferrari 250 GTS WB California Spider: $18,500,000
A rare car, it was really lucky that the 1961 Ferrari 250 GTS WB California Spyder turned up as a find in the barn. The car was launched in France in late 2014 as part of the Bellin Collection. A dream come true for many car collectors, it was a major milestone in the automotive world when this car was found hidden under piles of old magazines. This proves that the 1961 Ferrari 250 GTS WB California Spider is a tough car. With its amazing quality and great background, buyers of the car found it worth it and were able to restore it to look great again.
09. 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport: $23 million
One of the most expensive classic cars ever sold at auction is the 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport. This beautiful piece of machinery was sold at Rick Cole’s Monterey auction for $23,000,000. It’s a thing of beauty, but it also has amazing power. Under the hood, this classic gets power from a 5.0-liter version of the Lampredi V12 engine. Therefore, it is considered by many to be one of the most powerful Ferraris ever produced. A rare car, only four examples appeared in production. To top it all off, each car comes with different specifications and body styles. Therefore, it can be said that each car is truly unique.
10. 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C: $26,400,000
A classic luxury sports car, this 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Special is selling for a whopping $26,400,000. Although it’s a bit lower than the price of the NART Spider, it’s still one of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction. This luxury vehicle was purchased at RM’s Monterey auction for this price. A true limited edition 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Special, it was one of only three models ever produced. Besides its rarity, it is also a high-performance car. So, it’s a great example of how a car can have it all – great looks, a powerful engine, and makes car buyers want to spend a fortune for this beast on the road.
11. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Nord Spyder: $27,500,000
A rare conversion, this 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spider is one of only 10 copies of this car. Therefore, its rarity contributed greatly to the auction price of $27,500,000. Sold by Monterey RM Auctions at this price. Before the auction, the car was said to be owned by an American Ferrari importer named Luigi Chinetti. A handsome roadster, it’s certainly an eye-catcher when on the road or just on display. To complete its look, it has a 3.3-liter V12 engine. Thus, this limited edition car is expected to perform well when you leave it on the track.
12. 1956 Ferrari 290mm: $28,050,000
In 2015, a 1956 290mm Ferrari became the most expensive car ever sold at auction that year. The classic roadster was sold at RM Sotheby’s in New York in December. This beautiful car was driven by five time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1956 Mille Maglia. The car was one of only four ever produced. It is a rare car, and it has also shown its strength as it has performed at equal or better than the competition. Moreover, he has never had an accident even in racing. This 1956 Ferrari 290mm sold for $28,050,000 and the buyer said it was worth every penny.
13. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196: $30,000
This 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 was a very attractive car at auction as it sold for $30,00,000. This expensive vintage car was purchased at the annual Bonhams auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2013. It was designed by Formula 1 racer Juan Manuel Fangio, who previously won five championships and drove the car. So, at that time, its value increased and the starting price at $7,600,00 became even higher. To date, the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 is the most expensive car ever sold at auction on British soil.
14. 1936 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic: $30,000,000 – $40,000,000
This superb 1936 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic was sold at a private auction at the Moline Auto Museum in Oxnard, California by Gooding & Company. Although it’s not technically an auction because the buyer was “fixed,” this car still deserves recognition on this list. The actual price of the car has not been disclosed but is estimated to be between $30,000,000 and $40,000,000. Many automotive experts and enthusiasts consider the 1936 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic to be a touring art form. However, even if it looks beautiful and rare, it does not end there. The car features a powerful engine that delivers high raw power. Thus, the car can reach speeds of 120 miles per hour or more. This property is already impressive for its generation.
15. 1962-1963 Ferrari 250 GTO: $38,115,000
A legendary race car in many automotive history books, the 1962-1963 Ferrari 250 GTO is the world’s most expensive car ever bought at auction. With an asking price of $38,115,000, the car was purchased at Bonham’s Carmel auction in California. The race car has been kept secret by a family for nearly 100 years and he has taken extreme care and maintenance to keep it in top condition. Thus, this allowed the price of the car to skyrocket as it has been around for over a century but the quality was maintained as if it had just gone out of production. For this reason, the 1962-63 Ferrari 250 GTO was named the best racer on the road. No other car can match its quality, aesthetics and even success on the road.