The 2022 auction of the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “Uhlenhaut Coupe” for $142 million redefined the limits of the collector car market, nearly $100 million beyond the previous record. This extraordinary sale, though unexpected in its magnitude, exemplifies the high stakes of automotive auctions.
While some predicted a market correction after a relatively subdued 2024, the opening weeks of 2025 saw two cars fetch over $35 million, proving the unwavering dedication of serious collectors. According to Hagerty’s John Wiley, the allure of exceptional vehicles transcends economic conditions.
This compilation is a testament to the market’s dynamism, showcases the 25 most valuable cars sold at auction, a list subject to constant revision.
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
19. 1961 Ferrari 250 California SWB Spyder
$18,405,440
Previously owned by French film icon Alain Delon, this unique Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider stood out with its dark blue finish, a departure from the traditional Rosso Corsa, complemented by a black imitation leather interior. It’s one of only 37 examples featuring covered headlights. Remarkably, this car sold for $18.41 million in 2015, almost entirely in its original condition, after spending nearly 50 years secluded in a French barn.
Image Credit: Artcurial.
18. 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta
$18,563,605 (Artcurial, 2019)
The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900, a pre-war marvel of speed and design, was epitomized by the Carrozzeria Touring Berlinetta, considered a “Rolling Masterpiece.” With only five of these Touring-bodied versions ever made, and most prominently featured in museums or vintage car shows, the second example sold for $18.56 million in 2019, reflecting its historical importance and scarcity.
Image Credit: Artcurial.
17. 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Lungo Spider
$19,800,000 (RM Sotheby’s, 2016)
Alfa Romeo’s 8C 2900 Luongo Spider, a stylish and powerful open-top car, was a pre-war icon. With only 32 made and 12 surviving, this black example sold for $19.80 million in 2016, the only one auctioned this century.
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
16. 1994 McLaren F1
$19,805,000 (RM Sotheby’s, 2019)
The 1990s’ iconic McLaren F1, still modern today, with its F1-derived V-12, sold as a rare LM specification (one of two) for nearly $20 million in 2019.
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
15. 1995 McLaren F1
$20,465,000 (Gooding & Company, 2021)
A McLaren F1, one of 64 street-legal units, with only 242 miles (less than 10 miles per year since 1995), sold for over $20 million in 2021, surpassing another F1’s auction price.
Image Credit: Gooding & Company.
14. 1963 Aston Martin DP215 Competition
$21,455,000 (RM Sotheby’s, 2018)
The one-of-a-kind 1963 Aston Martin DP215 Competition, a Le Mans prototype, sold for $20.46 million in 2018. It was the first car to break 300 kph at Le Mans, reaching 319.6 kph on the Mulsanne Straight.
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
13. 1955 Jaguar D-Type
$21,780,000 (RM Sotheby’s, 2016)
The Jaguar D-Type, a midcentury racing icon, explains collector obsession. This 1955 Ecurie Ecosse example, a Le Mans winner and the only intact surviving one, sold for $21.78 million in 2016, retaining its victorious form.
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
12. 1935 Duesenberg Model SSJ Convertible
$22,000,000 (Gooding & Company, 2018)
Gary Cooper’s 1935 Duesenberg convertible, one of two made (the other for Clark Gable), with a supercharged Model J engine and LaGrande coachwork, sold for $22 million at Pebble Beach in 2018, doubling its estimate.
Image Credit: Gooding & Company.
11. 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider
$22,005,000 (RM Sotheby’s, 2022)
Carroll Shelby’s favorite Ferrari, the 1955 410 Sport Spider, driven by racing greats, sold for $22 million in 2022. Chassis no. 0598 CM won 11 races and had 19 podium finishes from 1956 to 1958.
Image Credit: rmsothebys.
10. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM
$22,005,000 (RM Sotheby’s, 2018)
The 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, chassis no. 0628, driven by Fangio, Hill, and Moss, achieved podiums on three continents. The last of four built, and one of three surviving, it sold for $22 million.
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
9. 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 Roadster
$22,550,000 (RM Sotheby’s, 2017)
The Aston Martin DBR1, the marque’s most important model, sold for $22.55 million in 2017. The first built, it gained value from Sir Stirling Moss’s 1959 Nürburgring victory.
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
8. 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
$26,400,000 (RM Sotheby’s, 2014)
A rare metallic dark gray Ferrari 275 GTB/C, one of three built for Le Mans, but never raced, sold for $26.4 million in 2014, due to its pristine condition.
Image Credit: François de Dijon / Wikimedia Commons.
7. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spider
$27,500,000 (RM Sotheby’s, 2013)
The highly sought-after Ferrari 275 GTB, especially the rare NART Spider (1 of 10), sold for $27.5 million, with all proceeds going to charity.
Image Credit: Thesupermat / Wikimedia Commons.
6. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM
$28,050,000
The 1956 Ferrari 290 MM, built for the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio, demonstrates the enduring appeal of the marque’s 1950s racers. Its unique blue-and-yellow nose and racing history, connected to one of the greatest drivers, resulted in a $28 million sale.
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
5. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196
$29,600,000 (Bonhams, 2013)
The Mercedes-Benz W196, a symbol of Formula 1’s golden era, achieved unparalleled success with Juan Manuel Fangio and Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel. This silver example, the inaugural race winner, stands as a historical artifact, being the only one not housed in a factory or museum. Its $29.6 million sale underscores its significance.
Image Credit: rmsothebys.
4. 1957 Ferrari 335 S
$35,750,000 (Artcurial, 2016)
The 1957 Ferrari 335 S, a key player in Ferrari’s 1957 Constructor’s World Championship, achieved a remarkable racing legacy. Its $35.75 million sale reflects its racing prowess, further highlighted by its second-place finish at the final Mille Miglia. This vehicle, driven by racing legends, stands as a testament to Ferrari’s racing dominance.
Image Credit: Artcurial.
3. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
$38,115,000 (Bonhams, 2014)
It would be hard to pin down the most iconic Ferrari of all time, but if there’s a single model that qualifies, it’s the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. The Prancing Horse built just 36 examples of the street-legal race car—powered by a 3.0-liter V-12—all of which somehow survive to this day. This particular example, chassis No. 3851GT, was owned by Fabrizio Violati for 49 years, and Violati actually entered it in races. There were high expectations for the car when Bonhams put it up for bid in 2014, but that didn’t make it any less stunning when it sold for a then-record $38.12 million.
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s.
2. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
$48,405,000 (RM Sotheby’s, 2018)
The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO’s legacy continued as another example, the third built, achieved a $48.41 million sale in 2018. Its exceptional originality, retaining over 95% of its factory parts, justified the higher price compared to the previously sold GTO.
Image Credit: RM Sotheby’s/Facebook.
1. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “Uhlenhaut Coupe”
$142,000,000 (2022)
The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “Uhlenhaut Coupe” set a new auction record in 2022, selling for $142 million, $93.59 million more than the previous record. The sale, benefiting sustainability scholarships, crowned this prototype the most expensive car ever sold.
Image Credit: Mercedes Benz / media.mbusa.com.
Methodology
We used data from some of the top auction houses to find some of the most expensive cars sold at auction, including Artcurial, Robb Report, RMSotheby’s, Hagerty, Bonhams, and Gooding & Company.
Image Credit: MariuszBlach / iStock.
