The Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold at Auction

Few things appeal to collectors more than something that’s one-of-a-kind. That is why no one was surprised when this Aston Martin DP215 Competition sold for $20.46 million in 2018. The beautiful vehicle is a 1963 prototype—the last of four “project cars” the automaker made while David Brown was in charge of the marque—that would actually race at Le Mans months after its conception. It didn’t win that year’s race, but it was the first car to break the 300 kph barrier at the race when it hit a top speed of 319.6 kph (198.6 mph) on the famous Mulsanne Straight.

Ever wonder why enthusiasts are so obsessed with Jaguar’s midcentury race cars? The D-Type, built from 1954 through 1957, is the answer. Few race cars have paired looks and performance quite so effectively. This particular 1955 example, which was raced by Scottish outfit Ecurie Ecosse, was the overall winner at Le Mans the year after it was built—earning the automaker its fourth of five victories at the race. The legendary blue-and-white racer is the only one of these Le Mans–winning Jaguars still intact, which is why it sold for $21.78 million in 2016. Better yet, it’s so well cared for that it looks basically identical to how it did when it earned its famous victory.

Duesenberg may be long gone, but it’s not been forgotten by enthusiasts. This gorgeous 1935 convertible is a big reason why. It was specifically built for one of the biggest stars of Hollywood’s golden age, Gary Cooper, and paired a supercharged Model J engine with gorgeous coachwork by LaGrande. Only two examples of the roadster were ever built—the other went to Clark Gable, who, legend has it, would use it to race Cooper—which might explain why the car ended up more than doubling its pre-sale estimate when sold for $22 million at Pebble Beach in 2018.

Ferrari built so many incredible race cars during the 1950s that it can be hard to pick a favorite. Unless you were Carroll Shelby. The racer and automotive visionary considered the 1955 410 Sport Spider “the best Ferrari [he] ever drove.” He wasn’t alone in his love for the V-12 powered Prancing Horse, which was driven by some of the best drivers of the era, including Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill and Masten Gregory. The 400 hp beast wasn’t just fun to drive, though. Chassis No. 0598 CM, which sold for $22 million in 2022, was also a consummate winner, claiming the top spot in 11 races and making the podium in 19 more between 1956 and 1958.

Most 1950s Ferrari race cars experience some sort of success, but few proved themselves on three continents. This 1956 290 MM, chassis No. 0628, which was an official Scuderia Ferrari Works car during the 1956 and 1957 seasons, did just that. Driven by some of the era’s greatest drivers—including Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill and Sir Stirling Moss—it finished on the podium at the Mille Miglia in Italy, the 1000 KM of Buenos Aires and the Nassau Memorial Trophy Race in the Bahamas, just to name a trio of strong results. This particular example was the final of four built by the Prancing Horse, only three of which survive to this day, so it’s hard to argue with its $22 million sale price.

The DB5 may be the most famous Aston Martin, but the British marque’s most important model was the DBR1 roadster. That’s why it’s little surprise that the first of the four examples built is its most expensive car, having sold for $22.55 million in 2017. It didn’t sell for that much because it was the first to roll off the production line, though. The beautifully restored green roadster was also the car that racing legend Sir Stirling Moss drove to his famous come-from-behind victory at the Nürburgring 1000 KM in 1959.

The McLaren F1 laid out the blueprint for every supercar to follow when it debuted in 1992. That is why there are two examples of Gordon Murray’s most famous creation on this list. The most expensive road-going example is this head-turning 1994 model, which sold for $25.3 million in late 2025 and was originally delivered brand-new to the Brunei Royal Family. The 14th of 64 road cars that were manufactured, it was rebuilt by McLaren in 2007, at which point it was painted Ibis White and outfitted with a high-downforce body kit.

What is the one thing that is better than a classic Ferrari? How about one that is also exceedingly rare? Not only is the 1961 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione one of the most beautiful convertibles you’ll ever see, but it’s also one of just two to leave Maranello. The Grigio Argento-over-blue two-door was built to competition spec, meaning that its V-12 produces 280 hp, 40 hp more than the standard model it is based on. It’s little wonder the car sold for $25 million, which easily beat Gooding’s previous record sale this summer.

The biggest outlier on this list is likely the 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 “Tailor Made.” That’s because the hypercar, which was built after production of the Icona Series Model was supposed to be complete, hails from the 21st century. No. 599+1 features a unique racing-style livery that combines exposed carbon fiber with Giallo Modena and is bisected by a full-length Ferrari logotype. Add in a ferocious V-12 that makes 829 hp, and it’s almost possible to understand why the final Daytona SP3 sold for $26 million at Monterey Car Week in 2025.

All Ferrari 275 GTBs are special, but few stand out quite like the Scuderia Ferrari team’s Berlinetta Competizione cars styled by Scaglietti. Only three were built for competition in the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans. The color most closely associated with the Prancing Horse may be Rosso Corsa, but there’s something particularly alluring about those finished in another hue. This particular 275 GTB/C is finished in metallic dark gray, with a lighter shade acting as a center racing stripe. It didn’t end up competing in the endurance race, which goes a long way to explaining why it was in such pristine condition when it sold for $26.4 million in 2014.

The 275 GTB is one of the most desirable Ferraris of all time. This can be an annoyance for collectors desperate to add one to their repertoire because it pushes the car’s prices even higher than the brand’s other models from the era. Especially if enthusiasts have their hearts set on a rare-spec example, such as the NART Spider, of which there are only 10. That’s what helped push bidding for this beautifully restored, matching-numbers example to $27.5 million. It’s a very good thing that bidding reached such a high peak, though, as the proceeds from the sale were donated to charity.

You’re not seeing double, there are two different 1956 Ferrari 290 MMs—both of which were built to compete in that year’s Mille Miglia—among the ten most valuable auction cars of all time. As has been well established by now, the Prancing Horse’s 1950 racers were something special. This one has the distinction of having been designed specifically for Juan Manuel Fangio, a five-time Formula 1 champion and one of the greatest drivers of all time. There’s more to the open-top speed demon than the man who raced it, though. It’s also a stunningly beautiful car that features a distinctive blue-and-yellow nose. Combine all that and it’s no wonder it sold for $28 million.

Few race cars have been more successful than the Mercedes-Benz W196. The successor to the W194 was famously driven by both Juan Manuel Fangio and Sir Stirling Moss during the 1954 and 1955 Formula 1 seasons, winning 9 of the 12 races it was entered in and two world championships. This particular example—which is finished in silver with white racing gumballs—was the first to claim victory, at the 1954 French Grand Prix. It’s also the only example not held in a factory or museum collection, which is why someone leaped at the chance to pay $29.6 million for it.

You won’t find many Ferrari race cars rarer than the 412 P Berlinetta. The Italian marque only built two examples of the gorgeous vehicle, which is the “customer version” of the successful 330 P3 and P4 race cars (an additional two 330 P3s were converted to 412 Ps). The gorgeous prototype racer combines a rear-mounted 4.0-liter V-12 with the P3’s chassis and the P4’s body, suspension, and wheels. This example was the second of the original 412 P Berlinettas and helped Ferrari claim the World Championship of Makes in 1967. Somehow, the car’s sale in August 2023 was something of a disappointment, falling $10 million short of what some thought it would go for. Still, that shouldn’t take away from just how majestic this competition-proven Ferrari is.

It may not be the most expensive modern car to sell at auction—that distinction belongs to the Ferrari Luce—but it’s hard to think of an automobile made since 1990 that’s proven itself to be more of a collector’s item than the McLaren F1. The most valuable example of Gordon Murray’s finest creation is a 1996 GTR variant owned for much of its existence by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason. This version of the race car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 wears an incredible Pop Art-inspired livery and has been converted for road use. No wonder it’s worth nearly $10 million more than the next F1.

There are race cars that were built by Ferrari, and then there are those that actually raced for the Italian marque. Of those, the 1957 335 S just might be the very finest. It’s not the most valuable of the marque’s racers—having been sold by Artcurial for $35.75 million it’s close—but it is the one that enabled the Prancing Horse to win the Constructor’s World Championship in 1957, while also finishing second at the final Mille Miglia. As tends to be the case with these vehicles, it was also piloted by some of Ferrari’s finest drivers that season, including Peter Collins, Wolfgang von Trips and Luigi Musso, during that most successful of seasons.

Here’s something that can be said about car collectors with the utmost confidence: they love a post-war Ferrari race car. Of the 25 cars on this list, 13 are Prancing Horses, and 11 of those were built with competition in mind. Even considering that, it’s hard to match the racing pedigree of 250 LM that sold for over $36 million in early February. The car, which was part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum collection, is the only privateer-entered car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. On top of that, it’s the only Prancing Horse that competed in six 24-hour races while Enzo Ferrari ran his eponymous company. Add in a stunning body from Scaglietti, along with a number-matching 3.0-liter V-12 and gearbox, and it’s little wonder the car commanded such a high sum.

It would be hard to pin down the most iconic Ferrari of all time, but if there’s a single model that qualifies, it’s the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. The Prancing Horse built just 36 examples of the street-legal race car—powered by a 3.0-liter V-12—all of which somehow survive to this day. This particular example, chassis No. 3851GT, was owned by Fabrizio Violati for 49 years, and Violati actually entered it in races. There were high expectations for the car when Bonhams put it up for bid in 2014, but that didn’t make it any less stunning when it sold for a then-record $38.12 million.

Anyone familiar with the Ferrari 250 GTO knows that it is special, even amongst its fellow prancing horses. This particular example, which sold for $38.5 million at Mecum’s Kissimmee 2026 auction, is the only example of the revered nameplate to leave the factory finished in Bianco. The color alone is enough to make this V-12 noteworthy, but it was also a force on the track throughout the 1960s and still retains some of its period racing details. In fact, despite having been repaired and refinished over the years, this 250 GTO is the rare classic that has never been fully restored.

Yes, the Ferrari Luce is the most controversial vehicle debut this side of the Tesla Cybertruck, but that didn’t stop someone from spending $40 million on the first example of Ferrari’s debut EV. Chassis 0 was configured by the automaker’s Tailor Made program and is finished in a special, light-inspired Madreperla Semi-Gloss livery over a Le Mans metallic leather in Perla with Grigio Corvara trim. The entire gavel price, which was significantly higher than the pre-sale estimate of more than $1.1 million, will be donated to the Ferrari Foundation to benefit future educational initiatives.

Some cars really do combine it all. Just look at the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe that sold for a tad under $43 million at Gooding Christie’s 2026 Pebble Beach sale. Not only is the blue coupe one of the greatest race cars to ever come from the U.S., but this example also played a pivotal role in Shelby winning the FIA World Manufacturers’ Championship in 1965. If all that somehow wasn’t enough, this example of the Ferrari killer, the third of just six that were built, is also the only one that was personally owned by its creator, Carroll Shelby.  

It was fitting that Violati’s Ferrari 250 GTO would be knocked off its throne by another 250 GTO. Four years after the heavily raced Ferrari went for $38.12 million, RM Sotheby’s sold another dazzling example for $48.41 million. Despite the sizable price difference, you’re really splitting hairs trying to differentiate the two coupés. Still, the more expensive 250 GTO was the third to roll off the line and is overwhelmingly original, retaining over 95 percent of the parts it left the factory with. No wonder someone was willing to pay an extra $10 million for it.

As the list up until now has made abundantly clear, there’s no marque that captures the imagination of collectors like Ferrari. And at the top of the pyramid of Prancing Horses is parked the 250 GTO. This example of the V-12-powered stunner may not have had the most illustrious of competitive careers—though it did win its class at the Nürburgring 1,000 Km in 1962—but it was one of just two raced by the marque’s in-house team, Scuderia Ferrari. Add that to the fact that it has won its fair share of awards on the classic car show circuit in the decades since, and it’s little surprise that the beautifully maintained no. 7 car sold for $51.7 million in the fall of 2023. Don’t be surprised if its gavel price is beaten in the next four to five years, though, especially with how things have gone over the last decade.

This list may be dominated by Ferraris—as any grouping of the most expensive automobiles will be—but the top two spots are held down by a pair of Silver Arrows. We’ll get to the legendary Uhlenhaut Coupe in a minute, but the next most expensive car, the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen, is no slouch. The curvaceous speed machine is one of just 14 W 196 R race cars that were built (only 10 of which survived their time on the track). Of those, only four featured the Stromlinienwagen (or Streamline) configuration, where the vehicle’s wheels were covered to improve top-speed capabilities. If that wasn’t enough, this example was also driven by two of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss. This example—which, like the Le Mans-winning 250 LM, was part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum collection—was the first offered for private ownership, which is a big part of the reason why it sold for just shy of $53 million.

Records are meant to be broken, and four years after the Ferrari 250 GTO became the most expensive car for a second time when it went for $48.41 million, the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “Uhlenhaut Coupe” sold for $142 million. That’s right, it broke the previous mark, which had stood since 2018, by $93.59 million, with the entire sum going to the newly established Mercedes-Benz Fund, a global scholarship program meant to aid young people working to make the world a more sustainable place. The silver prototype racer isn’t just the most expensive auction car, it is the priciest vehicle period. While that sum is still shocking to look at, those familiar with the car—one of two designed to race in the 1955 Carrera Panamericana before it was called off—know the silver speed machine is more than deserving of its spot on this list. We also have a feeling that it might hold onto its title a bit longer than the previous record holder.