These 10 Wildly Expensive Car Auctions Shattered Records
Car auctions happen all the time. As long as the uber-rich and super-famous maintain an affinity for car collecting, they will continue showcasing flashy, rare models for high prices. When it comes to the likes of Ferarri and Mercedes-Benz going under the hammer, you’re not likely to score a deal. Instead, they wind up among the ranks of the priciest cars ever auctioned, which we’ve rounded up below.
1. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe
Sold for: $142,000,000
The most expensive car ever sold at auction is also one of the rarest, with only two prototypes of this Mercedes-Benz ever made. Named after its creator, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, this ultra-rare coupe was essentially a road-going version of Mercedes’ dominant 300 SLR race car, featuring a lightweight design and a goosebump-inducing top speed of 180 mph. The car, previously owned by Mercedes-Benz, was sold to a private collector by RM Sotheby’s in 2022.
2. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R
Sold for: $53,017,370
The 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R recently became the most expensive Grand Prix car ever sold at auction, fetching over $53 million at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Driven by legends Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, this rare Silver Arrow dominated mid-1950s Formula One, securing multiple victories before Mercedes-Benz withdrew from racing in 1955.
3. 1962 Ferrari 330 LM/250 GTO
Sold for: $51,705,000
Welcome to the party, Ferrari! The 1962 330 LM/250 GTO by Scaglietti became the most expensive Ferrari ever sold at auction, fetching $51.7 million at an RM Sotheby’s sale in 2023. One of just 36 ever built, this rare V12-powered racer has a rich history, including podium finishes at the Nürburgring and Le Mans under Scuderia Ferrari.
4. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Sold for: $48,405,000
When this Ferrari was sold at auction in 2018, it became the most expensive car ever sold, though it’s since been edged out by the three other rides we just showed you. This particular Ferarri was one of only three made, and it was driven by Phil Hill, the Formula 1 and Le Mans champion, which helped elevate its value.
5. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Sold for: $38,115,000
Sold by Bonhams in 2014, this Ferarri was another record-breaker for its time. One of 39 ever built, the Ferarri was originally co-owned by Jo Schlesser, French Formula One and sports car racer; and Henri Oreiller, a racer, and former gold medal skier.
6. 1957 Ferrari 335 S
Sold for: $35,763,848
This ’57 Ferarri was sold by Artcurial in 2016 as a rare V12-powered race car with deep roots in motorsport history, including podium finishes at Sebring and the Mille Miglia.
7. 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta
Sold for: $30,255,000
Following a meticulous nine-year restoration, this rare racer was returned to its original glory, honoring its rich history with Maranello Concessionaires. This Ferrari raced in Le Mans, Spa, and Brands Hatch, adding to its sky-high value.
8. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196
Sold for: $29,650,095
The 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196, driven by Juan Manuel Fangio to victory in the German and Swiss Grands Prix, sold for a record-breaking $29.65 million at Bonhams’ Goodwood auction. This open-wheel Formula 1 car became the most expensive car ever auctioned at the time. It was unrestored and sold in all of its original glory.
9. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM
Sold for: $28,050,000
The 1956 Ferrari 290 MM is one of the most historically significant sports-racing Ferraris ever built. Designed to reclaim the World Sportscar Championship title for Ferrari, this V-12-powered machine was driven by legendary drivers, including Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill, and Peter Collins. Fangio drove it to a remarkable fourth-place finish in the rain-soaked 1956 Mille Miglia — without a navigator. The mythology behind this Ferarri undoubtedly drove its price up.
10. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4S
Sold for: $27,500,000
A rare 1967 Ferrari 275 was one of only 10 built for the North American Racing Team, and the car shattered its pre-auction estimate of $14 million, going for more than $27 million.
11. 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
Sold for: $26,400,000
The 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale is one of only three Berlinetta Competizione cars built for racing. It’s renowned for its rarity, excellent condition, and rich history. Powered by a 3.3-liter dry-sump V-12 with 320 hp, it was never raced — unlike its sibling, which triumphed at Le Mans 1965.
12. 1956 Aston Martin DBR1
Sold for: $22,550,000
A break from Ferarri! At RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale, a 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 set a record for the most expensive British car ever sold at auction, fetching $22.5 million. Known as one of the most important Aston Martins ever made, this DBR1 is the first of five factory-built examples and boasts a period-correct reproduction engine, alongside its final Works-fitted engine.
13. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM
Sold for: $22,005,000
This fully matching-number, Classiche-certified Ferrari was raced by Scuderia Ferrari during the 1956 and 1957 seasons, with legendary drivers like Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill, Peter Collins, Wolfgang von Trips, and Stirling Moss behind the wheel. The auction saw an intense bidding war between three collectors before the car’s final sale price, which exceeded $22 million.
14. 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport
Sold for: $22,005,000
The 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport is a legendary big-block Ferrari prototype, one of just two factory-campaigned 410 Sports with a 4.9-liter V-12. Driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and later Carroll Shelby, who won more races in it than any other car, it secured 11 wins and 19 podiums from 1956 to 1958.
15. 1935 Duesenberg Model SSJ
Sold for: $22,000,000
The 1935 Duesenberg Model SSJ is an ultra-rare American masterpiece, with only two ever built. Powered by a supercharged 420-cubic-inch straight-eight engine, it produced a staggering 400 horsepower, making it one of the fastest pre-war cars. Owned by Hollywood legends Gary Cooper and Clark Gable, the SSJ is elite in more ways than one.