Classic car auctions are more than just events for collectors — they are spectacles of luxurious wealth, history and passion. The world’s priciest classic cars command numbers as astonishing as their performance specs or racing provenance. Every so often, an extraordinary vehicle crosses the block and sets a record, reminding Americans just how coveted the rarest machines remain.
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Classic Ferraris and Mercedes-Benz usually headline these elite sales. These cars’ backstories, race wins and engineering excellence explain why collectors chase them, regardless of the price tag. The following classic vehicles represent the very top tier, each sold for tens of millions according to records tracked by auction houses and major news outlets.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé
Cost: $143,000,000
The reigning king among classic cars is the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé. According to Mercedes-Benz Group and Forbes, this car sold at an RM Sotheby’s auction in 2022 for €135 million or roughly $143 million. Only two SLR Coupés were built, designed by Rudolf Uhlenhaut for use in Mercedes’ racing program. With its unique history and iconic status, this model’s museum-quality rarity elevated it to a price never seen before in the collector car world. The sale created shock waves in the industry and remains a landmark event.
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1962 Ferrari 330 LM/250 GTO by Scaglietti
Cost: $51,705,000
A Ferrari 330 LM/250 GTO by Scaglietti set a new Ferrari auction record at the RM Sotheby’s New York sale in November 2023, according to Car and Driver and Hagerty. The car achieved a sale price of $51,705,000, making it the second-most expensive car ever sold at auction at the time. This was the only GTO of its year to have been raced by Scuderia Ferrari itself, which adds tremendous historical value. Collectors rank this as the most important Ferrari and one of the world’s most significant sports cars.
Mercedes-Benz W196R Formula 1
Cost: $53,017,370
The 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R Formula 1 is not far behind in value. Per Hagerty, this car sold at the Mercedes-Benz Museum for $53,017,370 in early 2025. Legendary drivers Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss raced it to World Championship titles in the 1950s. Exquisitely rare and technically advanced for its era, the W196’s value lies in its dominant racing pedigree and the technological milestones it achieved for Mercedes-Benz.
Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta
Cost: $38,115,000
At Bonhams’ Quail Lodge Auction in California in 2014, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta fetched $38,115,000, setting a new world record at the time, according to Bonhams. This particular GTO had a colorful history, with both triumphs on the race track and a dramatic crash early in its life. With only 39 units ever built, these cars are prized for their beauty and competition history. The GTO’s strong auction presence continues to affirm its revered status among classic car collectors.
1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti
Cost: $35,711,000
The 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti takes the next spot on the list, according to Reuters. Sold at an Artcurial auction in Paris for around €32.1 million (about $35.7 million), this car combines racing success with rarity, only four were built. It was driven in storied races by legends such as Stirling Moss and Mike Hawthorn. Its value comes from both its competition record and its status as one of Ferrari’s ultimate road racers of the 1950s.
1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta
Cost: $30,255,000
Rounding out the list, the 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta drew attention at the 2023 Bonhams Quail Auction. According to Bonhams and MotorAuthority, it sold for $30,255,000, making it the most expensive car Bonhams has ever sold. The 412P is a rare customer version of the 330 P3 and this auctioned specimen is one of just two such vehicles made. Its unique race history, including runs at Le Mans and Spa, combined with a painstaking restoration and legendary Italian design, helps explain its sky-high price.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Most Expensive Classic Cars Ever Auctioned
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