This article is a translation of an article titled “The Most Expensive Auctioned Cars” published by the oldest car magazine in the world Autocar on September 20, 2021. The article has been condensed and skips about 30 previous car models to ensure the file size.
As demand exceeds supply, the vintage car market has become hotter year by year – that’s why we see Edsels selling for up to $100,000 (about 2.28 billion VND). However, the top-ranked cars have a different story, stories that involve millions of euros, dollars, or pounds, passing down the cars that made the history of the automotive industry. Here are the most expensive cars ever sold at auctions.
RANK 10: DUESENBERG SSJ 1953
Price: $22 million (equivalent to billions of VND)
Auction house: Gooding & Co
Date: August 2018
This is the car of the TV star Gary Cooper. The car is equipped with an 8-cylinder inline engine, generating an impressive 400 horsepower – a remarkable figure in an era over half a century ago. The auction in 2018 turned this car into the most expensive car ever produced in the United States.
RANK 9: 1956 FERRARI 290 MM
Auction house: RM Sotheby’s
Price: $22,005 million (equivalent to billions of VND)
Date: December 2018
The 1956 Ferrari 290 MM with chassis number 0628 was driven by legendary drivers Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill, and Stirling Moss (later owned by Moss). This 1956 Ferrari 290 MM was sold at an auction by the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, USA.
RANK 8: ASTON MARTIN DBR1
Price: $22.55 million (equivalent to billions of VND)
Auction house: RM Sotheby’s
Date: August 2017
The Aston Martin DBR1 is a limited edition with only 5 units produced. The mentioned car is the first model. This Aston Martin DBR1 is actually a racing car, which won the 1959 Nurburgring 1000KM race. This car has also been driven by famous racing drivers such as Roy Salvadori, Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, and Carroll Shelby. The Aston Martin DBR1 is currently the most expensive car from the United Kingdom.
RANK 7: 1964 FERRARI 275 GTB/C SPECIALE
Price: $26.4 million (equivalent to 601 billion VND)
Auction house: RM Auctions
Date: August 2014
Even the standard version of the Ferrari 275 GTB is a highly sought-after model, the 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale mentioned here belongs to one of the 3 cars of the Competizione racing version. The car in this article with chassis number #06701 has a clear “track record” (with complete car records and authentication) and is in the best condition.
RANK 6: 1967 FERRARI 275 GTB/4*S NART SPIDER
Price: $27.5 million (equivalent to 626 billion VND)
Auction house: RM Auctions
Date: August 2013
Among the 10 cars of the Nart Spider edition produced, the only car in this article with chassis number #10709 has had one owner from the time of production until it was sold at auction. This 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S NART Spider used to belong to self-made billionaire Eddie Smith; and of course, the history of this car is very clear.
RANK 5: 1956 FERRARI 290 MM
Price: $28.05 million (equivalent to 637 billion VND)
Auction house: RM Sotheby’s
Date: December 2015
This 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, with chassis number 0626, was driven by legendary driver Fangio in the 1956 Mille Miglia race, finishing 4th overall. This car with #0626 chassis has a very clear record, going along with a glorious past. It will obviously be sold at a high price.
RANK 4: 1954 MERCEDES-BENZ W196
Price: $29.6 million (equivalent to 674 billion VND)
Auction house: Bonhams
Date: July 2013
Mercedes produced only 14 Mercedes-Benz W196. Among the remaining 10 cars, Mercedes owns 6, 3 of which are in the museum, and only the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 with chassis number #006/54 can reach consumers.
RANK 3: 1957 FERRARI 335S
Price: $35,711,359 (equivalent to 813.183 billion VND)
Auction house: Artcurial
Date: February 2016
The 1957 Ferrari 335S with chassis number #0674 has been driven by 2 famous drivers, Peter Collins and Maurice Trintignant in the 12 Hours of Sebring race of the same year; then by driver Wolfgang von Trips in the Mille Miglia race. Driver Mike Hawthorn also drove it in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Not to mention countless encounters with other top cars in many races around the world.
RANK 2: 1962 FERRARI 250 GTO
Price: $38.115 million (equivalent to 867.917 billion VND)
Auction house: Bonhams
Date: August 2014
Considered the final piece for every collection, only 39 Ferrari 250 GTOs were produced, and it is very rare for these cars to be sold. Therefore, this car with chassis number #3851 GT has achieved a hefty price, especially when the car has always been owned by a family for 39 years.
RANK 1: 1962 FERRARI 250 GTO
Price: $48.405 million (equivalent to 1.102 trillion VND)
Auction house: RM Sotheby’s
Date: August 2018
Many people believe that the vintage car hobby has declined in the past decade, but clearly, it has not been mentioned about the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. This world’s most expensive car has become the highest-priced car ever sold by the auction house RM Sotheby’s.
The original 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO with chassis number #3413 belongs to the Series I version, which was later specially upgraded to the Series II version in 1964. After that, this 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO achieved great results in the 20 races it participated in.
This 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO has gone through many previous owners before being sold at this record-breaking price. Information about all previous owners is recorded in the dossier held by the new owner.
