Some of the world's most popular luxury brands such as Mercedes and BMW originate from Germany. Porsche is no exception. These German-built racecars tend to command the best prices based on the brand's long and storied history. These vehicles have been the company’s daily bread, their sales have long gone hand in hand with its racing success, and iconic racecars.
While most extremely costly cars sold at auctions tend to originate from Maranello Italy, Porsche has a passionate and monied collector’s market. Here is a countdown of the 10 most expensive Porsches sold at auction.
10 1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder: $4,400,000
The 1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder is arguably one of the most powerful cars to have turned its wheel on the tarmac.
This German-built machine was equipped with a twin-turbo 12 cylinder power plant that was tuned to pump out 1,580 horsepower. At the 1973 season of the Can-Am Challenge, the 917/30 Can-Am turbo boost was decreased to around 1,100 ponies. It had a top speed of 260 mph.
Gooding and Company auctioned this German Masterpiece for $4,400,000 at the 2016 Amelia Island auction.
9 1979 Porsche 935: $4,840,000
In 1979 at the Le Mans, the Porsche 935 finished first in its class and second overall. These results were astonishing for a debuting race car. In 1981, at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and in 1983 at the 12 hours of Sebring, the 935 emerged the winner of these races.
In 1980, Apple sponsored the Porsche 935. It is the only racecar that the computer firm has put its name to. In 2016, Gooding and Company auctioned it for $4,840,000 at the Amelia Island auction.
8 1960 Porsche 718 RS60 werks: $5,120,000
Porsche built the 718 RS60 Werks to be the successor of the RSK Spyder. The 1960 RS60 Werks had a wider cockpit, a luggage platform, and a larger engine than the 1959 718 RSK Spyder.
Sadly, out of the four units of the werks RS 60 that were built, this is the only one that was sold in 2019 through RM Sotheby’s for $5,120,000. The other three units are either at Porsche museums or in the collections of private collectors.
7 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder: $5,335,000
When it comes to Porsche’s collector's Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is one of the famous Porsche collectors who sold the 1955 Porsche Spyder from his collection in 2016.
Porsche built the 550 Spyder strictly as a racecar. This German beauty is an example that is unrestored and has been meticulously preserved for its entire life. While this contributes to its value, a flat four-cylinder engine that has dual Solex carburetors and 11,000 miles on the odometer also powers it.
Gooding and Company auctioned this beautiful German masterpiece for $5,335,000 at the Amelia Island Auction.
6 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion: $5,665,000
The 911 GT1 Strassenversion is a relatively modern Porsche on this list. Porsche assembled only 20 units of these special homologation cars for the GT1 class. They were also the only 20 street legal beasts that Porsche built.
This 1998 Porsche 911 GTI Strassenversion was recognized by its wide-body, front lip, and big spoiler. This beauty was the street model of the legendary Le Mans-winning Porsche 911 GT1.
In 2017 at the Gooding and company’s Amelia Island auction, this beautiful monster was sold for $5,665,000.
5 1972 Porsche 917/10 Spyder: $5,830,000
In the year 1972, the Porsche 917/10 dominated the Can-Am races as it finished first at five races out of the total nine races. Porsche earned its first Can-Am Championship in 1972 with George Folmer behind the wheels of the Porsche 917/10 Spyder.
A 5.4-liter twin-turbo 12-cylinder engine that pushed 1,150 horsepower powered the 1972 Porsche 917/10 Spyder. This German machine accelerated from 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds.
At the Mecum Monetary auction in 2012, this German-built machine was sold for $5,830,000.
4 1985 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar: $5,945,000
Porsche launched the 1985 Porsche 959 Paris -Dakar in 1983 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The 959 Paris-Dakar was a group B rally car that was powered by a 3.2-liter Porsche 911 Carrera engine that pushed 230 ponies.
The German automaker built the 959 using the 911 chassis. However, out of the seven prototypes that Porsche built, the 1985 Porsche 959 was among the three Paris-Dakar’s that entered the 1985 Paris-Dakar Rally.
The 1985 Porsche 959 Paris -Dakar was auctioned for $5,945,000 at Porsches 70th anniversary through RM Sotheby’s.
3 1956 Porsche 550 Rennsport Spyder: $6,100,000
While rally racing cars barely keep their original parts after long endurance races. The 550 Rennsport Spyder chassis 550-0090 did not participate in any rally competition. Its originality saw it auctioned for $6,100,000 at the Bonham’s Goodwood revival in 2015.
The 1956 Rennsport Spyder raced from 1953 to 1956. An air-cooled four-cylinder engine that pushed 110 ponies powered this lightweight racecar. However, this German beauty is popularly known as the car that James Dean was driving when he was killed in 1955.
2 1982 Porsche 956: $10,120,000
According to the legendary history of endurance racing, Porsche produced arguably one of the most successful Racecars that won the 1983 le man's race and the other four races. The 1982 Porsche 956 was the second most expensive racecar to be auctioned at the 2015 pebble beach auction by Gooding and company with the price tag of $10,120,000.
This mighty beast was among the first racecars that used ground effects to improve aerodynamics at the Le Mans in 1983. A 2.65-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine that generated 630 horsepower at 8,200 rpm powered this firecracker.
1 1970 Porsche 917K: $14,080,000
When it comes to the world of Porsche, the renowned 1970, 917K is arguably the most famous Porsche in the world. This German-built machine gained the world's attention when it featured in Steve McQueen’s legendary racing film Le Mans.
Under its hood sat a 4.5-liter 12-cylinder engine that pushed 600 horsepower at 8,300rpm and 415 lb-ft of torque at 6,400 rpm.
After sitting in a barn for 20years, the 1970 German-built Porsche 917K came back to the limelight in 2001. This prestigious beauty was auctioned by Gooding and Company for a whopping sum of $14,080,000 at the 2017 Pebble Beach Auction.