In general, vintage cars, sports cars, and luxury cars are usually the most valuable due to their uniqueness and rarity. For example, the extremely rare and special Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was sold in 2022 for $143 million, breaking all auction records.
In addition, ownership by famous individuals can also significantly increase the value of these vehicles. During auctions, it is difficult to predict the final prices of these cars until the hammer truly falls, and here is a list of 12 cars owned by famous people that sold for astonishingly high prices.
Princess Diana – Ford Escort RS Turbo
Princess Diana, the former Princess of Wales, was one of the most beloved figures in the royal family before her passing in 1997. One of Diana’s cars in the late 1980s was a shiny black Ford Escort RS Turbo, a highly anticipated model at the time.
Unlike Rolls Royce or Bentley, which many believed were more suited for the high-ranking nobility, the Escort was an icon of the European hot hatch craze of the time. Nowadays, it is not difficult for collectors to obtain one of the tens of thousands of RS Turbos, but this special royal Escort was sold for an astonishing £650,000 (approximately 17.5 billion VND), according to BS News.
Steve McQueen – Porsche 917K
For many, the name McQueen evokes a sense of speed and smooth driving. McQueen became famous for his car-focused action movies like “Bullitt” and “LeMans,” according to IMDB. In real life, he was also a passionate car and motorcycle racer with an intense need for speed.
In the late 1960s, Porsche developed the 917K 12-cylinder air-cooled engine to compete in “LeMans,” and it became one of Porsche’s most successful race cars.
It was the 917K that McQueen drove to victory in the movie inspired by the “LeMans” race. Although the film was considered a box office failure, it became a cult classic for racing fans. McQueen acquired ownership of a 917K after it had taken a few years off from racing, according to Motor Authority.
Another 917K from the movie was sold in 2017 for $14 million, while this particular car was valued at around $16 – $18 million.
Clark Gable – Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Clark Gable, one of the highest-earning actors of his time, naturally owned one of the most expensive cars produced in the 1950s – the Mercedes-Benz 300SL.
Mercedes-Benz produced the 300SL with a racing-oriented approach, so this car was made with lightweight materials, a tubular frame, and the first fuel injection system used in a commercial car. According to the manufacturer, Gable bought the car brand new in Hollywood for $7,295 (approximately 172 million VND). In a Barrett-Jackson auction, the car was expected to sell for over $2 million but only reached $1.85 million (around 43 billion VND).
Carroll Shelby – AC Cobra 427 Super Snake
It can be argued that Carroll Shelby has had the most significant impact on increasing the power and speed of American cars. After being brought to the Ford Racing team, Shelby sought out a British car manufacturer to modify his Ace model and thus the AC Cobra was born, one of the most desirable American sports cars of that era.
As the father of the Cobra, Shelby owned one of the largest-engined models, the Cobra 427 Super Snake. Although original Cobras are currently being sold for around $2 – $3 million (approximately 47 – 70 billion VND), Shelby’s Super Snake went beyond that at an auction, selling for $5.94 million (around 140 billion VND) in 2021. The Shelby name adds value to most vehicles associated with it, but one driven by the man himself makes it even more desirable.
Sean Connery – Aston Martin DB5
The original James Bond – Sean Connery, left the role and continued to have a successful career, starring in films such as “The Hunt For Red October” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”
Thanks to the massive success of the James Bond role in one of the most successful film franchises to date, Connery was highly regarded and became extremely wealthy. The connection of the James Bond character to the Aston Martin DB5 propels the Aston Martin brand to new heights almost overnight.
Although he may not have owned one himself until 2018, Connery truly became an owner of a DB5. With the power of the Scottish star, his DB5 was sold with a final bid of $2,425,000 (approximately 57 billion VND) in 2022.
Paul Newman – Chevrolet Corvette
As one of the silver screen’s greatest talents with a career spanning over half a century, Paul Newman remains one of Hollywood’s most beloved figures, known for his iconic roles in films such as “Cool Hand Luke” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” or as the voice of Doc Hudson in Disney’s first “Cars” movie.
Additionally, he was a generous philanthropist and an ambitious racing driver. With everything Newman has done, could his name have a significant impact on a car auction?
The last car he owned was a 2002 Chevrolet Corvette that was built specifically for SCCA racing. While any race-prepared Corvette will be sold rather cheaply, a few, if any, will sell for $275,000 (approximately 6.5 billion VND), like Paul Newman’s did in 2012, according to Car Buzz.
Andy Warhol – Ferrari 857
Andy Warhol’s life and career were controversial, flamboyant, and extravagant. The fame of his art brought in a large sum of money to fuel his lavish lifestyle, and the high-priced item we want to mention here is a 1955 red Ferrari 857 Sport that Warhol once owned.
It was a beautiful car made during the construction of one of the most winning race teams in history. The first Ferraris were primarily race cars produced for the road. The 857 is a prime example of an early Ferrari and one of the few fitted with a Lampredi 4-cylinder engine. Warhol purchased this car in 1966 with the intention of using it in a satirical film called “The Yellow Rolls-Royce”.
Although the film was never made and it is not known if Warhol ever drove the car, it was still sold for $6.27 million (approximately 148 billion VND) in 2012, after changing hands a few times.
Fred Astaire – Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder by Scaglietti
During the golden age of Hollywood, no dancer was better than Fred Astaire. Although Fred Astaire never owned it, a 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder will forever be associated with the dancer.
The car began its life on the race track, competing in numerous races and finishing in leading positions. However, it was earmarked for Hollywood in 1957 when Stanley Kramer Productions purchased the car for use in films. Astaire swapped his dancing shoes for a dramatic role in “On The Beach,” a role that had his character competing in the final Australian Grand Prix in the film.
The Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder is a rare Ferrari driven by a great actor and used on-screen in a blockbuster Hollywood film. It was sold for $2.53 million (approximately 59 billion VND) in 2011 at Sotheby’s.
Elvis Presley – Mercedes 600 Pullman
Mercedes-Benz created one of the greatest cars ever made in 1963: the 600 Pullman. The most luxurious car at the time, the 600 came equipped with numerous features never seen before and successfully attracted famous and wealthy individuals like Elvis Presley.
Elvis owned many cars in his lifetime, including a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600. Like many in his collection, he may not have driven this car much, and his ownership time was relatively short.
He gifted the car to his friend and musician Jimmy Velvet, who owned it for many years. Most recently, it ended when it fetched a winning bid of $288,888 (approximately 6.8 billion VND) at a charity auction, according to Hagerty. Considering Pullmans like these typically sell in the range of $150,000 (approximately 3.5 billion VND), Elvis Presley’s name still holds a certain allure.
Buster Posey – 1967 Ford Mustang Eleanor Tribute
Professional athletes can accumulate vast amounts of wealth. Buster Posey, a member of the San Francisco Giants, had a stellar career that earned him enough wealth to buy a few toys. One such toy of Posey’s is a Ford Mustang.
Posey’s Mustang is a car with incredible power. It was built to honor the star car from Nicholas Cage’s “Gone in 60 Seconds” in 2000, a gray 1967 Ford Mustang. Eleanor tribute versions start at around $200,000 (approximately 4.7 billion VND), but Posey’s car went into auction bidding and had a final payment of $550,000 (approximately 12.9 billion VND).
Burt Reynolds – Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
With an all-star cast consisting of Burt Reynolds, Sally Fields, Jackie Gleason, and Jerry Reed, “Smokey and the Bandit” was one of the highest-grossing movies of the year and a fan favorite worldwide.
The actor portraying the lead role in this car-focused film, Burt Reynolds, also owned a gleaming Trans Am, just like in the movie. The Bandit not only succeeded at the box office but also significantly boosted the sales of Pontiac cars.
After watching the movie, car buyers nationwide wanted to own the car with the firebird decal on the hood. In gratitude for the star driving the car to iconic status, GM gifted Reynolds a car after the film’s release. The car later went to auction and sold for approximately $500,000 (around 11.7 billion VND), according to Entertainment Weekly.
Alan Shepard – 1968 Chevrolet Corvette
In 1968, few experiences could match the exhilaration of driving a powerful big-block Chevrolet Corvette. However, for Alan Shepard, the experience seemed pale compared to being the first American to fly into space and play golf on the moon.
According to GM Authority, Shepard was a Corvette enthusiast and owned 10 of them over the years, even before his astronaut career. Of course, he also participated in the program for astronauts to lease Corvettes for just $1 from GM, as government employees were not allowed to accept them as gifts. After his lease ended, he bought a white convertible Chevrolet Corvette, which was auctioned in 2022.
At the time of the auction, the car had been driven but well-maintained, helping it achieve a bidding price of $308,000 (approximately 7.2 billion VND)./.
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