The Most Expensive Cars Sold at Auction

The world of collector cars has transformed into a high-stakes stage where automotive legends change hands for staggering sums. No longer confined to showrooms, private collections, and museums, vintage and collector cars now frequently appear at both private and public auctions. As collector cars have become an alternative investment asset class capable of generating substantial returns, they ignite fierce bidding wars at auctions, with sale prices reaching into the tens and even hundreds of millions.

These high-value vehicles are under intense scrutiny every time they appear at a classic car auction. Prestigious events like Pebble Beach, Monterey Car Week, and Amelia Island have become headline-grabbers, showcasing the rarest examples of exquisite design, engineering excellence, and racing history. For wealthy collectors and institutions, owning such a vehicle is more than a matter of prestige; it represents a piece of automotive history and elite lineage associated with names like Rudolf Uhlenhaut, Enzo Ferrari, and Peter Collins.

Whether it’s a Ferrari with Scuderia heritage or a Mercedes-Benz W 196R Stromlinienwagen driven by motorsport legends like Sir Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio, each car on this list has a compelling story to tell. The top 10 Most Expensive Cars Sold At Auction of all time are all post-World War II race cars, far from being mere ‘garage queens’ but having rightfully earned their stripes at renowned races like Daytona, Mille Miglia, Nürburgring, Le Mans, Sebring, and the Targa Florio.

The Top 10 Most Expensive Cars Sold at Auction

1. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe: $143,000,000

   • Auction Date: May 5, 2022
   • Auctioneer: RM Sotheby’s
   • One of only two prototypes ever built
   • Was famously Uhlenhaut’s daily driver
   • Based on the championship-winning Mercedes Grand Prix car driven by Fangio

2. 1954/54 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen: $53,917,370

   • Auction Date: February 1, 2025
   • Auctioneer: RM Sotheby’s
   • The most expensive F1 car sold at auction
   • Only 4 examples feature Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner) bodywork
   • Driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss

3. 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO By Scaglietti: $51,705,000

   • Auction Date: November 13, 2023
   • Auctioneer: RM Sotheby’s
   • The only 1962 GTO Tipo raced by Scuderia Ferrari
   • Previously owned by the Chairman of the Ferrari Club of America, Fred Leydorf

4. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO By Scaglietti: $48,405,000

   • Auction Date: August 26, 2018
   • Auctioneer: RM Sotheby’s
   • Third of only 36 Ferrari GTOs ever built
   • One of four upgraded by Scaglietti

5. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta: $38,115,000

   • Auction Date: August 14, 2014
   • Auctioneer: Bonhams
   • The world’s longest-held Ferrari 250 GTO (49 years)
   • Previously part of the prestigious Maranello Rosso Collection

6. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM By Scaglietti: $36,344,960

   • Auction Date: February 5, 2025
   • Auctioneer: RM Sotheby’s
   • The only privateer-entered Ferrari to win at Le Mans
   • Overall winner at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans

7. 1957 Ferrari 335 S: $35,730,510

   • Auction Date: February 15, 2016
   • Auctioneer: Artcurial
   • Key player in Ferrari winning the WSC 1957 World Constructors’ Title
   • Used as a reference in the film ‘Ferrari’ by Michael Mann

8. 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta: $30,255,000

   • Auction Date: August 18, 2023
   • Auctioneer: Bonhams
   • Bodywork designed by Fantuzzi, with the assistance of Edmondo Casoli
   • Contributed crucial Championship points that helped Ferrari win in 1967

9. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R: $29,600,000

   • Auction Date: July 12, 2013
   • Auctioneer: Bonhams
   • Marked the return of Mercedes-Benz in F1 in the post-war era
   • Fangio won multiple races and his second championship with this W196

10. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM By Scaglietti: $28,050,000

    • Auction Date: December 10, 2015
    • Auctioneer: RM Sotheby’s
    • A frontline factory race car and the ‘Holy Grail’ of Ferrari motoring for the 1956 Mille Miglia
    • Played a key role in Ferrari securing the 1956 World Sportscar Championship

Car Specifications and History

Each of these cars has a rich history and impressive specifications, making them highly sought after by collectors and institutions.