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Top 10 Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold

Vukasin Herbez March 10, 2017

Insane amounts of money spent on beautiful cars…

What makes a car worth a lot of money? Many factors contribute, but at the top are rarity, volumes of production, desirability, nostalgia and design. Although other variables such as condition and previous awards count towards value, there’s no denying those top 5 contributors.

When these beauties hit the auctions, serious money is spent. Looking back over the most expensive cars ever sold, most of them are Ferraris. Instead of listing everyone, we’ll simply pick out the most expensive of each manufacturer.

Enjoy the top 10 most expensive cars ever sold, listed in US Dollars.

10. 1932 Bugatti Type 55 ($10.4 million)

Auction: Gooding & Company. Pebble Beach, California

Date: 21st August 2016

Manufactured from 1932-1955, the Bugatti type 55 is the Bugatti ever sold at auction. Fetching $10.4 million, the 2-valve straight-8 engine was later used for the racing model of the car.

The buyer remains anonymous.

9. 1931 Duesenberg Model J Long-Wheelbase Coupe ($10.34 million)

Auction: Gooding & Company. Pebble Beach, California.

Date: August 21, 2011.

Known as ‘the most luxurious American vehicle ever made,’ the Duesey is an iconic motor for many reasons. Used in the US and Europe, the car was a must-own vehicle for the elite of that era. 1931 Duesenberg Model J Long-Wheelbase Coupe sold for $10.34 million.

Even the infamous gangster Al Capone sported a Duesenberg. For the time, the straight-8 265 horsepower engine was revolutionary.

8. 1968 Ford GT40 ($11 Million)

Auction: RM Auctions. Monterrey, California.

Date: August 7, 2012.

The classic GT40 has always been a hit with car fans, but this particular motor was special. The lightweight Gulf/Mirage GT40 had won races, worked with Steve McQueen and is in immaculate condition. The huge price tag was a record for RM auctions.

No buyer was named.

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Tied 7. 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra CSX 2000 ($13.75 million)

Auction: RM Sotheby’s. Monterrey, California.

Date: August 19, 2016.

Asking yourself why this particular Cobra is so special. Well, it was literally the first-ever Shelby Cobra. As such, it’s a piece of US history and became the most expensive American car ever sold.

The Ford GT40 previously held that record.

Tied 7. McLaren F1 ‘LM-Specification’ ($13.75 million)

Auction: RM Auctions. Monterrey, California.

Date: August 13, 2015.

The McClaren f-1 LM Spec is truly magnificent. As told by GT Spirit:

A bespoke 1998 McLaren F1 upgraded to LM-specification has been sold for $13.75 million by RM Sotheby’s. This is the highest price ever paid for an F1.

This McLaren F1 is chassis number 073 and one of only two officially upgraded to LM-spec by McLaren Special Operations and it has quite a rich history. It was originally painted in AMG Green Velvet with a two-tone cream and green interior. Interestingly, the original owner asked for it to be kept by McLaren rather than delivered to the owner’s house or garage. Consequently, it was always serviced on time by the British automaker.

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5. Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato ($14.3 million)

Auction: RM Auctions. New York.

Date: December 10, 2015.

At the time of sale, this was the most expensive British car ever. Since then, the vintage Aston Martin has been pipped to the post. The DB4GT earned the nickname ‘the most coveted road-ready Aston Martin.’

Who said Brits can’t make cars?!?

4. Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider 19,800,000

Auction: RM Sotheby’s. Monterrey, California.

Date: August 20, 2016.

This super-rare and gorgeous vehicle is worth its weight in gold, quite literally. As told by TopSpeed.com:

Underneath that extended hood line, you’ll find a 2,905 cc inline eight-cylinder engine. Responsible for the design was Vittorio Jano, the same designer who replaced Giuseppe Merosi as Alfa’s chief engineer in 1923. Jano also designed the V-12 from the Alfa Romeo 12C, and the V-6 and V-8 that replaced the Lampredi and Colombo in Ferrari’s competition vehicles.

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3. 1955 Jaguar D-Type ($21.78 Million)

Auction: RM Sotheby’s. Monterrey, California.

Date: August 19, 2016.

Aside from the fact that the Jaguar D-Type is an amazing car, this one was very special. One lucky billionaire scored a Le Mans-winning D-Type for his hefty check. Similarly to this list, the Jaguar pictured above, yes that very car, narrowly defeated the Aston Martin way back in 1956. What a car!

2. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 ($29.6 million)

Auction: Bonhams. West Sussex, England.

Date: July 12, 2013.

Meet the most expensive Mercedes Benz ever sold at auction. As described by Automoblog.net:

The Mercedes-Benz W196 race car was a near-indomitable machine in the hands of Fangio. Sir Sterling Moss would also win the 1955 British Grand Prix with the W196 racer. Powered by an eight-cylinder, 2.5 liter engine the Mercedes-Benz W196 was an instant winner. Operating from the mid-1954 to late 1955 season in Formula 1, the W196 was retired after Mercedes-Benz pulled out of motorsports following the fatal 1955 Le Mans crash. The race car has become a symbol of a sporting juggernaut was in full focus last week at a Bonhams 1793 auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The centerpiece of the July auction, a rare 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 brought a lot to the sale. A vehicle documented to have been driven by Juan-Manuel Fangio to a pair of victories, this exact car with vehicle identification number 196 010 00006/54 won its debut event at the German Grand Prix for Mercedes-Benz. The race vehicle was also driven by Fangio in a grand prix where he clinched the Argentinean’s second Formula 1 championship in 1954. Spending time in museum and private collections since its retirement, the Mercedes-Benz W196’s sale would again associate Juan Manuel Fangio with a record-setting performance as it found a new home.

AND FINALLY, THE MOST EXPENSIVE CAR EVER SOLD!

1. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO ($38.1 Million)

Auction: Bonhams. Carmel, California.

Date: August 14, 2014.

Although classic and iconic cars are on sale the world over, this price will be very hard to beat. The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta Breaks Record, Fetching $38.1 Million. This rare prancing horse is one of just 39 ever built, and privately has reportedly been sold for $52 Million in the past.

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