The Monterey Car Week is here again and the auction events lined up for the week-long automotive festival are shaping up to be the biggest ever. This year's auction at Monterey will see 50% more than last year's vehicles go up for sale, with each fetching way more than $1 million. From 18-20 August 2022, over $400 million worth of collectible cars will find new owners.
Last year, Monterey played host to jaw-dropping collectibles cars like the 1995 McLaren F1, 1959 Ferrari 250 California LWB Competizione Spyder, 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Coupe, 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione and many more. This year, some of the rarest and most expensive classic cars from Ferrari, Bentley, Bugatti, and Mercedes-Benz will find their way into new garages. The following classics are the most expensive cars that will hit the auction floor at the ongoing 2022 Monterey Car Week.
10 1930 Bentley 4½-Liter Supercharged 'Blower' Sports Tourer: $7-9 Million
This 1930 Bentley 4½-Liter Supercharged ”Blower“ Sports Tourer is one of only 50 examples made, and 43 are still in existence. Of all the extant Blower Bentleys, only seven are fabric-bodied cars. This Blower Bentley will be auctioned for $7- $9 million.
Considered to be the most original Blower Bentley in existence, it still has most of its original internal leather upholstery and external Rexine fabric. The 1930 Bentley 4½-Liter Supercharged ”Blower“ Sports Tourer will be up for sale on 19 August 2022 at the Gooding & Co. Lot 42.
9 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C: $7.5-9 Million
The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C is a lightweight racing car that looks like the road-going 275 GTB. Racing car designer Mauro Forghieri and the Ferrari engineering team built only 12 examples of the iconic racecar. This particular 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C is the ninth unit built and will likely fetch between $7 million and $9 million.
The last time a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C was auctioned was in 2014 and went for $7.8 million at the RM auction in Monte Carlo. The team fitted the Ferrari 275 GTB/C with twin fiberglass fuel tanks and an aluminum floor pan.
8 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider: $8-10 Million
Independent teams and drivers at the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Targa Florio, and 12 Hours of Sebring clinched victories with the Ferrari 500 TRC Spider. The legendary racecar was Ferrari's last four-cylinder model ever built, and it was particularly exceptional on shorter winding circuits.
This particular 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider adorned in black and red is up for sale at the RM Sotheby's auction house on Lot 230, and it's estimated to be around $8 million - $10 million. Only 19 examples of the 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider were built, so it's a pretty rare sight today.
7 1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spider: $8-10 Million
This Ferrari 375 MM Spider has an impressive racing history that dates back to 1953 when it was driven by two-time Formula One champion Alberto Ascari at the 12 Hours of Casablanca. It even won the 1954 9 Hours Hedemora Grand Prix in Sweden.
This particular 1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spider wrapped in red is the ninth example built in a total of 26. It is powered by a 4,522-cc engine and has been restored over the years.
6 1958 Maserati 450S: $9-11 Million
The Maserati 450S was introduced to rival the powerful V12 sports cars from Ferrari with its quad-cam 4477-cc V8 engine that makes over 400 horsepower and tops out at 190 mph. Considered the last great sports racing car, the Maserati 450S clinched a total of 31 victories from 1956 to 1962.
Nicknamed the “Bazooka”, the Maserati 450S was mostly recognized for its speed and spectacularly lightweight alloy bodywork. Only 10 examples of the Maserati 450S were produced and this particular one going for auction is the ninth example.
5 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe: $9-11 Million
Described as the Michelangelo of the automotive world, Giuseppe Figoni's designs revolutionized automotive fashion and one of his most works was the Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe. From 1937 to 1939, only 16 examples of the Teardrop Coupe were built and the last one to be auctioned fetched over $13 million.
The Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Coupe is based on the T150C Talbot-Lago Grand Prix car and was one of the fastest cars during that era. The 3,996-cc inline six-cylinder engine produced up to 140 horsepower. It finished third at the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1938, averaging 76.75 mph.
4 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C "Tulipwood" Torpedo: $8-12 Million
The 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C "Tulipwood" Torpedo has aged well, given that it's almost a hundred years old. It's perhaps one of the most popular Hispano-Suiza ever, and it was commissioned by Andre Dubonnet, the athlete, and racecar driver.
It worked with an 8-liter H6C powertrain that made 45 horsepower. For such a large vehicle, the 1924 Tulipwood Torpedo weighed just about 160 pounds. After a brief competitive racing career, the 1924 Tulipwood Torpedo was fitted with flat open fenders, large headlights, and a low windshield, making it suitable for Dubonnet’s road use.
3 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster - $9-12 Million
The Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster was one of the most exclusive and expensive vehicles during the late ‘30s. It was available by special order only, as just 26 examples were made. The “540” in the Special Roadster's name indicates the 5.4-liter inline-8 engine, while the “K” is an acronym for “Kompressor”, which means that the engine is supercharged.
When the supercharger is engaged, the 1937 540 K Special Roadster produces up to 180 horsepower. This particular Special Roadster going for auction was originally delivered to King Mohammed Zahir Shah of Afghanistan. Even though it was cosmetically refinished in the ‘50s, it's still largely original.
2 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante - $10-12 Million
The 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante is one of the most desirable masterpieces built by Jean Bugatti himself. This particular 57SC Atalante is just one of 17 examples created and was first delivered to Paris. Even though it has been the subject of a recent mechanical restoration, the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante still has its original chassis and coachwork.
It is powered by a 3,257-cc DOHC inline 8-cylinder engine that works with a 4-speed manual gearbox to put out 197 hp. The last time a 57SC Atalante hit the auction house was in 2013, selling for $8.4 million.
1 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider - $25-35 Million
The 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider is a purpose-built Ferrari “big block” sports-racing prototype. It was designed to win the challenging Carrera Panamericana road race that spanned five days. To gain a competitive advantage in terms of handling, Ferrari used a tubular chassis and a 24-spark plug 4.9-liter V12 engine.
The Ferrari 410 Sport Spider has been driven by legendary racers like Carroll Shelby, Phil Hill, Masten Gregory, and Bruce Kessler. This particular 410 Sport Spider retains its original chassis and body.