5 Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold at Auction
It’s no secret that Ferrari is a kingpin in the world of expensive cars. Many folks know that classic Ferraris fetch prices well north of the million-dollar mark. So, if you’re coming to this list in hopes of seeing brands other than Ferrari, we’ve got bad news. Only one isn’t a Ferrari. That being said, here are the five most expensive cars ever sold at auction as of August 2023.
1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta – $30,255,000
One thing that one must understand about these types of cars is that they aren’t just your average road car. Most of them, in fact, are dedicated race cars. This 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta is no exception.
According to AutoExpress, Chassis 0854 competed at Le Mans, Spa, and Brands Hatch in 1967. In addition, it won at Nuremberg, Solituderennen, and the Swedish Grand Prix. Because of its racing prestige, this 412P Berlinetta brought a final hammer price just upward of $30 million.
1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti – $35,700,000
Like the 412P, the 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti in question has a nearly endless supply of racing heritage. Like the previous contender, it saw competition time at Le Mans. In addition, it competed at the Sebring 12 Hours and Mille Miglia, just to name a couple.
You know this list is going to get crazy when our jump from fifth place to fourth brought an increase of over $5 million.
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO – $38,115,000
At one point, this Ferrari 250 GTO was the most expensive car ever sold. In all honesty, considering nearly a decade has passed since its sale in 2014, it might still be a contender.
Ferrari only built 39 250 GTOs, and this one’s phenomenal condition, alongside its win in the 1963 FIA World GT Championship, brought a final hammer price of $38,115,000
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (Yes, a different one) – $48,405,000
Until last year, this particular Ferrari 250 GTO held the record for the most expensive car ever sold. The current record holder made this $48 million price tag look like chump change, but we’ll get to that in a moment. To this day, this 250 GTO is the most expensive Ferrari ever sold.
This 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO stayed with the same owner for over two decades. In 2018, Ferrari enthusiast and vintage racer Dr Gregory Whitten decided to sell it on. As five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell drove it up to the auction block, it started bids at a whopping $35 million. Three bidders battled it out to reach a final price of $48,405,000.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe – $142,000,000
That’s not a typo. Yes, $142 million.
Only two of these hardcore racing Mercedes-Benz works of art were built to compete in a race that ultimately got canceled after the Le Mans disaster in 1955. Chief engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut drove the car to European events. However, over the span of its life, the Uhlenhaut Coupe only acquired 3,700 miles in 70 years.
Mercedes retained its ownership until 2022, when a private invite-only auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, was held to raise money for the Mercedes-Benz Foundation. A private buyer put in the winning bid of 114 million Euros, which works out to around $142 million.
