30 Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold At Auction

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Welcome to our list of the 30 most expensive cars ever sold at auction. From classic Ferraris to rare McLarens, each car has a unique story and a hefty price tag to match. Join us as we explore these incredible vehicles and the jaw-dropping amounts they fetched.

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1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe

On May 5, 2022, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR ‘Uhlenhaut’ coupe was sold for $143,000,000 at RM Sotheby’s, Stuttgart, 2022. It became the priciest car to be ever auctioned, tripling the previous record held by a 1963 Ferrari 250GTO sold in 2018. Only two of these cars were made, and everyone thought Mercedes would never sell them.

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1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Spyder

The 335 Sport Spyder is a rare car, with only four ever made. The Ferrari car was sold for $35,821,289 in Artcurial, Paris, in 2016. The car, with chassis 0674, was originally manufactured in early 1957 as a 315S. Later, it was converted into a 335 Sport Spyder model.

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1967 Ferrari 412 P Berlinetta

At The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, a Ferrari with the chassis number 0854 was sold for $30.25 million. In 2023, it was the first time in 25 years that a 412 P model was up for auction. Still, this Ferrari, chassis 0854, is one of the most important Ferraris ever sold at a public auction.

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1961 Ferrari 250 GT California SWB Spyder

Chassis 3095 GT is known as one of the most sought-after non-alloy 250 California Spyders because it is completely original and has closed headlights. The only change made to the car was a repaint in Ferrari’s famous red color. It was sold for $16,830,000 at Gooding and Company in Monterey in 2015.

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1962 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Speciale

Giorgetto Giugiaro from Bertone, who was only 21 years old, designed this unique car in the Ferrari 250 family. His design was inspired by the Ferrari 156 Grand Prix car from 1961, which Phil Hill drove to win the World Championship. It was sold for $16,500,000 at Gooding and Company in Monterey in 2015.

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1957 Ferrari 250 TR Spyder

This Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (chassis no. 0666) is the first example racing car built on the 290 MM chassis. It made its debut at the 1957 Nürburgring 1000km race with a beautiful Scaglietti exterior like the Ferrari 500 TR. It was sold for $16,390,000 at Gooding and Company in Monterey in 2011.

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1995 McLaren F1

This McLaren F1 hypercar, chassis no. 044 is one of only seven made legal for use in the US. The winning bid at Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction of $15,620,000 was made by Sir Lewis Hamilton. The F1 was the fastest car in the world for nearly 15 years until the Koenigsegg CCR took the title in 2005.

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2003 Ferrari F2003-GA Formula 1

Driven by the famous Michael Schumacher, F2003-GA chassis 229 is one of only four Ferrari F1 cars that Schumacher drove. In 2022, Ferrari’s Corse Clienti division gave the car a complete mechanical overhaul. It was then sold in track-ready condition. It was sold for $14,880,000 at RM Sotheby’s in Geneva in 2022.

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1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C

This 275 GTB/C, the sixth of only 12 made, is very rare. Chassis 09051 has a strong racing history. In early 2007, it was restored to its original 1966 look and came in second in its class at the Pebble Beach Concours. It was sold for $14,520,000 at Gooding and Company in Monterey in 2017.

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1963 Aston Martin DP215

In 1959, Aston Martin won the World Sportscar Championship but struggled in Formula 1. This led to the creation of the Design Project. The DP215 was one of four cars based on the DB4GT and was a 1963 Le Mans Works entry. It was sold for $21,455,000 at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in 2018.

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1994 McLaren F1

This McLaren, chassis 018, is the second of two road cars that McLaren Special Operations (MSO) upgraded to Le Mans (LM) specification. It set the record for the highest price ever paid for a McLaren supercar when it was sold in an auction for $19,805,000 in 2019 at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey.

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1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Lungo Touring Spider

Despite its complex history, this car became the most expensive Alfa Romeo ever sold at that time. Amateur racing driver Mario Tavares Leite brought the car from Italy to Brazil in 1949. The chassis was shortened, and a Chevrolet Corvette V8 engine was put in for racing. It was sold for $19,800,000 at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in 2016.

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2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04

Lewis Hamilton’s 2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04 car was sold for $18,815,000 million at an RM Sotheby’s auction in Las Vegas on November 17, 2023. The car with chassis F1W04-04 was driven by Hamilton in the 2013 season. He won the Hungarian Grand Prix in this car, beating Kimi Raikkonen.

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1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Touring Berlinetta

This car is the second of only five 8C 2900 B models made with Carrozzeria Touring Berlinetta bodies on the long-wheelbase platform. The first owner is believed to have been Galeazzo Ciano, Italy’s foreign minister and Benito Mussolini’s son-in-law. It was sold for $18,563,605 at Artcurial in Paris in 2019.

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1961 Ferrari 250 GT California SWB Spyder

Chassis 2935 GT, a Ferrari 250 California, was sold for $18,405,440 at Artcurial in Paris in 2015, making it the most expensive 250 California. This was the last 250 California with closed headlights built in Maranello. Because of its original condition, Artcurial titled it “the Holy Grail of grand-touring Spiders.”

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1954 Ferrari 375 Plus Spyder

This Ferrari, known as the ‘fearsome four-nine’ (chassis 0384), sold for $18,309,613 at the 2014 Bonhams auction in Monterey. The nickname comes from the 4.9-litre V12 engine developed by Aurelio Lampredi. This engine helped José Froilán González, Ferrari’s first F1 winner, win at Silverstone again in this car in 1954.

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1959 Ferrari 250 GT California LWB Alloy Spyder

This 1603 GT is the most expensive LWB California Spyder ever sold at auction. The first owner was George Reed from Midlothian, Illinois. In the 1960 Sebring race, he finished third in his class and fifth overall. It was sold for $18,150,000 at Gooding and Company in Monterey in 2016.

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1964 Ferrari 250 LM Coupé

Ron Fry, a racing driver and heir of the Fry chocolate family, bought this 250LM Ferrari (chassis 6105) in 1964. Fry’s 250 LM was successful, winning several races, including one at Castle Combe in 1964. Fry sold it to David SD Skailes before the 1967 racing season. It was sold for $17,600,000 at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in 2012.

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1963 Ferrari 250 GTO S1

Chassis 3765LM is a special Ferrari 250 GTO/330LM. It is the only one ever run under the name of the company. In 2023, it was sold at Sotheby’s in New York for $51,705,000. Even though it did not sell for as much as expected, the car is still the most valuable Ferrari with Cavallino Rampante emblems.

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1962 Ferrari 250 GTO S1

In 2018, at Monterey, chassis 3413, the third 250 GTO ever built, set a new record as the most expensive car ever sold at auction, going for $48,405,000 at RM Sotheby’s. Bidding started at $35 million. This car was the first to have the Series I Scaglietti coachwork, which you can recognize by its specific features.

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1954 Mercedes-Benz W196

In 2013, the Silver Arrow car that helped Fangio win his second championship became the most expensive car ever auctioned, selling for $29,650,095 at Bonham’s, Goodwood. This car, known as chassis 00006, was the first Mercedes F1 model with an open-wheel design to win a race after World War II.

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1956 Ferrari 290 MM Spyder

In 1953 and 1954, Ferrari was the top team in the new World Sportscar Championship. However, in 1955, Mercedes-Benz took the lead with their 300 SLR car. In response, Enzo Ferrari created the 290MM in 1956. The 290MM Spyder was sold for $28,050,000 at RM Sotheby’s in New York in 2015.

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1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder

The amazing story of this car starts with Eddie Smith Sr., an American businessman who loved convertibles. Luigi Chinetti, who brought the Ferrari brand to the US and was also a racing driver, talked Enzo Ferrari into making convertible versions of the 275 GTB Berlinetta. It was sold for $27,500,000 at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in 2013.

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1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale

The Ferrari 275 GTB had the tough job of following the famous 250 GTO. It came out in 1964 with several upgrades, like an independent rear suspension, a trans-axle, a fully synchromesh gearbox, and the Tipo 213 3.3-liter engine. This car was sold for $26,400,000 at RM Auctions in Monterey in 2014.

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1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1

The DBR1 is considered the best of Aston Martin’s famous racing cars. It was created after the rules for sports cars changed in 1955. The DBR1/1 made its first appearance at the 1959 Nürburgring 1000km race and became a legend in racing history. It was sold for $22,550,000 at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in 2017.

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1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider

This Ferrari (0598CM) is particularly special because it was raced by Carroll Shelby, Maranello’s biggest rival. He won more races in this car than in any other in his career. Chassis 0598 was one of just two 410 Sports built for the 1955 Carrera Panamericana race. It was sold for $22,005,000 at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in 2022.

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1956 Ferrari 290MM

This Ferrari Chassis 0628 was sold for $22,005,000 at RM Sotheby’s in Los Angeles in 2018. Its first race was as a Scuderia Ferrari Works car at the 1956 Mille Miglia, with Louis Klemantaski and Peter Collins driving. It raced in the Nürburgring 1000km and Targa Florio, finishing with a DNF and fourth place, respectively.

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1935 Duesenberg Model SSJ Lagrande Convertible

This sale set the record for the highest auction price ever paid for both a US car and a pre-war car. Chassis 2594 was one of the last Duesenbergs made during a tough time after the Great Depression. It was sold for $22,000,000 by Gooding and Company in Monterey in 2018.

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1955 Jaguar D-Type

The D-type Jaguar was a groundbreaking car with its aluminum monocoque construction, disc brakes on all wheels, and an aerodynamic body designed by Malcolm Sayer. It was one of the most advanced and celebrated racing cars ever made. It was sold for $21,780,000 at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in 2016.

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1995 McLaren F1

This 1995 McLaren F1 (chassis 029) set a new record for the model when it was sold for $20,465,000 at Gooding and Company’s 2021 Pebble Beach Auction. A Japanese collector owned this car for many years. It came with several original accessories, including the FACOM tool chest, a titanium tool kit, and a custom luggage set.

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