The 15 Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold At Auctions

1959 Ferrari 250 LWB California Spider Competizione

In 2010, this 1959 Ferrari 250 LWB California Spider Competizione sold for 7.2 million dollars at the Gooding and Company auction in Pebble Beach, California. It was considered the most valuable LWB California Spider ever made. The Ferrari Classiche red book-certified Spider was one of only nine LWB California Spiders made with an aluminum body. It had an excellent race record, including fifth overall at the Twelve Hours of Sebring in 1960 and the Competizione Cup Winner at the Cavallino Classic in 2011.

1904 Rolls-Royce 10hp Two-Seater

In 2007, this 1904 Rolls-Royce 10hp Two-Seater sold for 7.25 million dollars at the Bonhams auction in London. The car was first put on display in 1904 at the Paris Auto Salon. It was then shown several months later at the Olympia show, also in London. Ironically, it returned 101 years later, where it was finally sold as the Guinness Book of World Record’s most expensive Rolls-Royce ever bought. It featured a two-cylinder engine with ten horsepower and was reportedly only the fourth Rolls-Royce ever made.

1929 Mercedes-Benz 38/250 SSK

This 1929 Mercedes-Benz 38/250 SSK was sold at the Bonhams Goodwood auction in the United Kingdom for 7.4 million dollars in 2004. It has a top speed of 120 miles per hour with an engine that puts out 300 horsepower. The SSK was the last car built by Ferdinand Porsche before leaving Mercedes-Benz to start his own famous company. The car has many notable victories under its belt, including the 1931 Mille Miglia Grand Prix.

1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe

This 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe went for 7.9 million dollars at a Gooding and Company auction in Pebble Beach, California. The 57SC is most notably known for having features that were unique to Bugatti at the time, including a camshaft in the back of the engine instead of the front, a split front axle in place of a solid front axle, and a single plate clutch instead of the traditional multi-plate design. Of the 48 57SC’s ever to be built, only 17 had an Atalante coupe-style body.

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster

In 2007, this 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster was sold for 8.2 million at the RM Auctions in London. Of the 406 models ever built, only 25 featured the powerful and luxurious combination of the Spezial Roadster. The car weighed so much that adding a supercharger to its 3.8-liter inline eight-cylinder engine with 115 horsepower would not help. The car had an independent suspension, control arms of unequal length in the front, and rear coil-spring swing axles.

1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe

This 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe was sold for 8.3 million dollars at the Mecum Monterey auction in California in 2009. It holds the title of the most expensive American car ever sold to the public at an auction. It was built to be a direct competition for the Ferrari and was one of only six coupes ever made by Shelby. This Shelby Daytona made history when it won the 1965 World Manufacturer’s Championship in Reims, France, on July 4, 1965.

1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM Testarossa

This 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM Testarossa sold in 2007 at the RM Auction in Maranello, Italy, for 9.2 million dollars. RM Auctions referred to this legend as the most famous sports racing car ever built. This car is best known for its incredible three-peat win at the Le Mans in 1962, in which drivers Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien led every lap. The 3300 TRI/LM was Ferrari’s last racecar to feature a front-engine. It was also the last front-engine car ever to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster

This 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster is the second one on this list to make it big at an auction. It sold for 9.68 million in 2011 at an RM Auction in Monterey, California. It was only one of three cars with a spare tire on its rear end and was considered one of the most beautiful cars built from 1936 to 1938. It featured a 5.4-liter supercharged eight-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and had a top speed of 105 miles per hour.

1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe

In 1987, this 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe was sold for 9.7 million dollars at the Christie’s auction in London. As one of only six cars of its kind ever built, the 15-foot ride featured a 12.7-liter engine originally manufactured for aircraft use. It remains one of the largest engines ever fitted in a car. After World War II, the car was purchased by a man in Japan after it sat in creator Ettore Bugatti’s garage behind a protective wall.

1931 Duesenberg Model J Long-Wheelbase Coupe

Gooding and Company auctioned off this 1931 Duesenberg Model J Long-Wheelbase Coupe in Monterey, California, in 2011 for 10.34 million dollars. It was one of less than 500 cars of its kind ever built and featured 12,500 miles. This particular model was designed for a man named George Whittell, Jr., who paid $17,000 for the car in 1931, which equals the price of over 50 Model A Fords in today’s time.

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder

This 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder was previously owned by Oscar-winning actor James Coburn for more than 20 years before it was auctioned off at the RM Auction in Maranello, Italy, in 2008 for 10.9 million dollars to a radio personality in the United Kingdom named Chris Evans. It featured a 3.0-liter V12 engine with 280 horsepower and a four-speed manual transmission. Only 50 models of this kind were made, and one was famously featured in the 1980’s movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

1957 Ferrari Testarossa

In 2009, a 1957 Ferrari Testarossa went for 12.2 million dollars at the RM Auction in Maranello, Italy. It was one of only 22 Testarossa race cars with a pontoon fender built between 1957 and 1958. In 2011, a 1957 Ferrari Testarossa Prototype was auctioned off for 16.39 million dollars at the Gooding and Company auction in Monterey, California. The Ferrari Testarossa was famous for winning the Le Mans in 1958, 1960, and 1961.

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spider

A 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spider was sold for 27.5 million dollars at the RM Auction in Monterey, California, in 2013. NART, which is short for the North American Racing Team, made ten of these ultra-rare cars. The Spider was famously portrayed in the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair. Initially estimated around 14-17 million dollars, this particular car hit 16 million by its second bid, proving that it was truly a priceless gem.

1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R "Silver Arrow"

At Bonham’s 20th anniversary “Festival of Speed” in Goodwood, England, this 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R "Silver Arrow" sold for just over 29.6 million dollars in 2013. Only 14 of these cars were ever made, and ten are known to exist today. Of the ten that still exist, three are in museums and six own Mercedes-Benz. Within its 18-month racing streak, this car won nine of its 12 races, including two world titles.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO

On August 14, 2014, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO with the serial number 3851GT was sold for 34.6 million dollars at Bonham’s Quail Auction, which broke the most expensive car ever sold at an auction. Reports stated that bidders from around the world were in attendance both in the audience and on phones. The auction was filled with people overflowing out onto the lawn to watch the car make history. Many television programs also aired the event for the public to see.