Have you ever imagined yourself buying a seven-figure car? Or the better question is, do you know that there are cars out there that cost people over 10 million dollars to own? The most expensive car to ever sell in a public auction was a Ferrari. Only 50 cars have ever crossed the 10-million-dollar line, that is until 2019. And almost two-thirds of those cars are Ferraris at 29. Four Aston Martin cars have crossed that line, followed by Alfa Romeo at three. McLaren has also sold three units for over $10 million.
Most of these cars are classics that have outlived their time, but still, look as good as new. With only 50 cars to have managed to cross the 10-million-dollar mark, here are ten cars that sold for eye-watering amounts at public auctions.
10 1961 Ferrari 250 GT S.W.B. California Spider – $10.9 million
Up until 2008, a 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe held the record for the most expensive car to ever sell at a public auction. The Kellner Coupe sold for 9.8 million dollars in 1987. After two decades, a Ferrari took over the crown after R.M. Auctions sold a 250 GT S.W.B. California Spider for 10.9 million dollars in Maranello.
The car was initially owned by a legendary film actor, James Coburn, and was sold to a wealthy and famous British radio personality, Chris Evans - who went on to host Top Gear for one season.
9 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – $12.4 Million
The second car on our list is another Ferrari. The 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold for 9 million euros, which is equivalent to over 12 million dollars. The car was sold by R.M. auction at Maranello, Italy, in 2009, setting a new record for the world's most expensive cars ever sold at a public auction.
The Testa Rossa is a rare ride, only 22 units were ever built. The racing beast boasts of a potent 2953cc, V-12 engine.
8 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R – $29.65 Million
The Mercedes-Benz W196R is one of the 12 cars that have ever crossed the $20 million mark. Juan Fangio, a legendary F1 racer, won five championships with the W196R. With such a reputation, the Mercedes-Benz W196R was well-deserving of the 29 million dollars that it was sold for.
Apart from breaking the world record of the most expensive car ever sold, the Bonhams Auction set a new record of the highest-grossing motorcar auction in Europe during the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed sale.
7 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spider – $27.5 Million
The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spider is a rare classic car that anybody who cares less about the price but appreciates Vintage would pay any amount to own it. Only ten units were produced, and one of them is the one that was sold for 27.5 million dollars by R.M. Auctions in 2013.
The car was bought brand-new back in 1968 by Eddie Smith Sr. of North Carolina. Eddie used the car until he passed on in 2007; six years later, his family decided to let it go. A Canadian fashion Mogul Lawrence Stroll is now the new owner of the 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spider.
6 1962/3 Ferrari 250 GTO – 2014 – $38 Million
In 2014, ten cars hit the 10-million-dollar mark, but there was one that could not leave the lips of anyone who heard about it. The 1962 Ferrari G.T.O. sold for a staggering 38.115 million dollars at the Bonhams Auctions at Monterrey.
The sale crushed Bonhams' 29-million-dollar sale record of the Mercedes-Benz W196R of 2013. Only 39 units of this car were built, and all of them have been selling for seven-figures over the years.
5 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale – $26.4 Million
So far, we can all agree that Ferrari is the most valuable car of all time. There were 453 examples of the 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C that were built for the public. But for the 1965 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans contest, Ferrari built three more units of this car, but with special features – the Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale.
The first of the three special cars never saw the contest in the period, but because it is a rare gem with a well-documented history, it managed to attract a 26.4-million-dollar cheque at the 2014 R.M.'s Monterey auction
4 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport – $35.71 Million
In 2016, history was made at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile auction when a 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport sold for over 30 million dollars – it was the second car ever to sell for a price above 30 million dollars.
Apart from being a Ferrari, the 335 Sport had a lot of additional exciting features that included an excellent racing reputation, celebrity racing, and well-documented history.
3 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 – $22.5 Million
The 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 set a new record as the most expensive British car ever sold at a public auction when it fetched 22.5 million dollars during the 2017 R.M. Sotheby's Monterey sale. The car is a legend.
One of the legendary race drivers, Sir Stirling Moss, drove this car to win the 1959 1000-kilometer Nürburgring race. It was a legendary win as Moss came from behind to cross the finish line in the first position.
2 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO – 2018 – $48.4 Million
The world is so full of mysteries, and one of them is this of seeing a man pay 48.4 million dollars for a used car. At least if you think like that, you will not have to ask questions that you have no answer to – like who can do that? Well, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for that amount in 2018. It is the most expensive car to ever sell at a public auction.
1 1935 Duesenberg SSJ – $22 Million
The last on this list is this 1935 Duesenberg S.S.J. The car sold at Gooding Pebble Beach for 22 million dollars in 2018. The sale made the 1935 Duesenberg S.S.J. the most expensive American car ever, and also the most expensive pre-war vehicle to ever sell at a public auction.
In the same year, Aston Martin sold two units for over 10 million dollars, becoming the second most popular car after Ferrari.