The 20 Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold: Icons of Luxury and Record-Breaking Sales

What are the most expensive cars ever sold? It’s a question many enthusiasts ask while admiring legendary classics and modern supercars that command record-breaking car sales. Over the last couple of decades, exclusive car auction winners have frequently made headlines with prices soaring into the tens (and even hundreds) of millions.

These extraordinary vehicles often combine rarity, iconic design, and storied racing heritage. Collectors worldwide compete for a chance to own these historic luxury cars, treating them as much like art pieces as modes of transportation. In this list, we’ll unveil the 20 highest-priced cars ever sold between 2005 and 2025, moving from #20 up to the #1 slot. Along the way, you’ll see what factors make these cars so coveted and how they’ve become car collectors’ dream vehicles.

20 Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold (2005–2025), Counting Down

20. 1954 Ferrari 375-Plus Spider Competizione – $18,300,000 (2014, Bonhams Auction)

• Sale Type: Auction at Bonhams Goodwood
• Known as the “Fearsome Four-Nine” for its 4.9L V12. One of only five built, it competed at Le Mans and the Mille Miglia in the mid-1950s, driven by legendary racers such as José Froilán González. Despite legal disputes surrounding its ownership, it fetched $18.3 million. Rarity, raw racing power, and storied history make it a pillar of record-breaking car sales.

19. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider (Baillon Barn Find) – $18,500,000 (2015, Artcurial Auction)

• Sale Type: Auction at Artcurial (Rétromobile)
• Part of the famous “Baillon Collection,” discovered in a French barn after decades. Once owned by actor Alain Delon. The car’s untouched condition and backstory captured global attention, pushing its value to $18.5 million. It’s one of only 37 short-wheelbase California Spiders—a prized jewel in the world of Ferrari collectors.

18. 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider – $19,800,000 (2016, Gooding & Co. Auction)

• Sale Type: Pebble Beach auction
• A pre-war “supercar” lauded for its dual-cam, supercharged straight-8 and Carrozzeria Touring coachwork. Only 12 Spider versions were made, and this one was in concours-winning condition. Selling for nearly $20 million, it’s recognized as one of the most expensive classic cars, reflecting how breathtaking design and historic significance can rival modern hypercar prices.

17. 1994 McLaren F1 “LM-Specification” – $19,805,000 (2019, RM Sotheby’s Auction)

• Sale Type: Monterey auction
• Originally a standard McLaren F1 but upgraded by the factory to LM specs, including a 680 hp engine and high-downforce kit. The F1 is revered as a top expensive supercar of the 1990s. Only a few “LM-Spec” conversions were done, so its uniqueness commanded $19.8 million. It underscored the modern collector market’s growing appetite for 1990s icons.

16. 1995 McLaren F1 – $20,465,000 (2021, Gooding & Co. Auction)

• Sale Type: Pebble Beach auction
• Another F1, this time a road-spec car with just 240 miles on the odometer, essentially preserved in time-capsule condition. The F1, once the world’s fastest production car (240 mph), has become a crown jewel in high-end car sales history. This record price solidified the F1 as one of the most valuable modern vehicles, proving that a well-kept ‘90s supercar can fetch well over $20 million.

15. 1963 Aston Martin DP215 Grand Touring Prototype – $21,455,000 (2018, RM Sotheby’s Auction)

• Sale Type: Monterey auction
• A one-off prototype built for Le Mans 1963, credited with hitting nearly 200 mph on the Mulsanne Straight—astonishing for the era. Driven by Phil Hill and subsequently lost for decades before being rediscovered and restored with its original engine. As a completely unique factory racer, it soared above $21 million, highlighting how intense competition among collectors drives up prices for singular prototypes.

14. 1955 Jaguar D-Type – $21,780,000 (2016, RM Sotheby’s Auction)

• Sale Type: Monterey auction
• Chassis XKD 501, the winner of the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ecurie Ecosse. Bearing its original engine and famous dorsal fin, it exemplifies Jaguar’s mid-1950s racing dominance. Its sale at $21.78 million was then a record for a British car. Pairing a Le Mans victory with a revered design practically guarantees sky-high values.

13. 1935 Duesenberg SSJ – $22,000,000 (2018, Gooding & Co. Auction)

• Sale Type: Pebble Beach auction
• Only two SSJs exist, with this one belonging to Hollywood actor Gary Cooper. Sporting 400 hp in an era when most cars struggled for half that, the SSJ could hit 140 mph in 1935. Its celebrity provenance made it the most expensive American car ever sold at auction, underscoring that nostalgia, rarity, and star ownership can push prices to the $22 million mark.

12. 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 – $22,550,000 (2017, RM Sotheby’s Auction)

• Sale Type: Monterey auction
• One of five DBR1s, regarded as Aston Martin’s greatest racer. The DBR1 model won Le Mans in 1959, and this specific chassis claimed notable victories with legendary drivers like Stirling Moss. Its $22.55 million sale set a record for the highest-priced British car at that time, thanks to both brand prestige and a robust race pedigree.

11. 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale – $26,400,000 (2014, RM Auctions)

• Sale Type: Monterey auction
• A lightweight competition version of the 275 GTB, just three built. It finished 3rd in class at the 1965 Le Mans, earning respect as a follow-up to the Ferrari 250 GTO. The $26.4 million hammer price reflected its scarcity and motorsport résumé—collectors consider it a hidden gem of 1960s Ferrari racing history.

10. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spider – $27,500,000 (2013, RM Auctions)

• Sale Type: Monterey auction
• Only 10 N.A.R.T. Spiders exist—designed for the North American Racing Team. This particular car stayed in a single family’s ownership from new until sold for $27.5 million, with proceeds donated to charity. The powerful narrative, combined with extreme rarity, propelled bids skyward. It stood as a high mark for Ferrari convertibles in North America at the time.

9. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM – $28,050,000 (2015, RM Sotheby’s Auction)

• Sale Type: “Driven by Disruption” sale in New York
• Built for Formula 1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio to race in the Mille Miglia. Although it didn’t win many races, its prestigious drivers and Scuderia Ferrari works origins gave it immense cachet. Selling at over $28 million, it’s a testament to how factory-backed Ferraris from the 1950s remain some of the most sought-after cars worldwide.

8. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (“Stirling Moss GTO”) – $35,000,000 (2012, Private Sale)

• Sale Type: Private deal
• Painted pale green for Stirling Moss, though he never actually raced it. The car reportedly went to telecom billionaire Craig McCaw. Even without a major victory, the GTO aura allowed it to fetch $35 million, illustrating that any 250 GTO—thanks to its iconic status—commands stratospheric figures in the collector realm.

7. 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti – $35,700,000 (2016, Artcurial Auction)

• Sale Type: Rétromobile auction in Paris
• A Scuderia Ferrari works racer driven by names like Wolfgang von Trips and Mike Hawthorn. It scored notable results in major events, including a 2nd place at the 1957 Mille Miglia. This fact, combined with its rarity (only four made), catapulted it to $35.7 million—one of the highest public auction prices for a Ferrari at that point.

6. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (Chassis 3851 GT) – $38,115,000 (2014, Bonhams Auction)

• Sale Type: Quail Lodge auction
• Previously held an auction record of $38.1 million. Finished in a unique pale green color, it was originally designated for Stirling Moss before his career-ending crash. A 250 GTO’s mix of 1960s racing prowess, design excellence, and exclusivity is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Ferrari collecting.

5. 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic – $40,000,000 (2010, Private Sale)

• Sale Type: Private transaction via Gooding & Co.
• An Art Deco masterpiece—only four built, with just two surviving in pristine condition. The Atlantic features riveted aluminum body panels that look like rolling sculpture. Its near-mythic status helped it temporarily hold the title for the highest sale price, reportedly around $40 million. Pre-war elegance on this level is rare, so collectors pay accordingly.

4. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (Chassis 3413 GT) – $48,405,000 (2018, RM Sotheby’s Auction)

• Sale Type: Monterey auction
• This car’s $48.4 million hammer price marked the highest ever at a public auction until bigger records emerged. Originally a factory team racer, it won the 1962 Italian GT championship. The 250 GTO’s reputation is so legendary that each confirmed sale seems to set new benchmarks in the realm of classic Ferraris.

3. 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO (Chassis 5111 GT) – $52,000,000 (2013, Private Sale)

• Sale Type: Off-market deal
• Previously owned by Paul Pappalardo, this GTO fetched $52 million—an unheard-of sum at the time. A 1960s race history, plus meticulous ownership, boosted its standing. The GTO’s “holy grail” aura elevates even modestly successful track examples into the high tens of millions.

2. 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO (Chassis 4153 GT) – $70,000,000 (2018, Private Sale)

• Sale Type: Private transaction to WeatherTech founder David MacNeil
• Once the absolute top dog until the appearance of the Mercedes SLR Uhlenhaut on the market. With a 4th place finish at Le Mans 1963 and victory in the 1964 Tour de France road race, it’s among the most pedigreed GTOs. The $70 million figure cemented its status as a global trophy car—embodying the pinnacle of Ferrari’s 1960s motorsport heritage.

1. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “Uhlenhaut Coupe” – $142,000,000 (2022, RM Sotheby’s Auction)

• Sale Type: Sealed-bid auction arranged by RM Sotheby’s on behalf of Mercedes
• The undisputed champion of most expensive cars ever sold. Only two prototypes exist, both retained by Mercedes for decades. With a 3.0L straight-8 adapted from racing, it’s essentially a road-going Formula 1 car from the mid-1950s. Engineered by Rudolf Uhlenhaut, it’s often referred to as the “Mona Lisa of cars.” The eventual $142 million sale price shattered all previous records, elevating this coupe into an entirely new stratosphere of collectible value.

Why Do These Cars Command Such High Prices?

Rarity and Limited Production

Vehicles like the Ferrari 250 GTO or the Duesenberg SSJ exist in minuscule quantities—fewer than 40 GTOs and only 2 SSJs. When supply is this tight, competition among wealthy collectors becomes intense.

Provenance and Historical Significance

Some boast celebrated race wins (Jaguar D-Type at Le Mans or Ferrari 290 MM driven by Fangio), while others have marquee owners (Gary Cooper’s Duesenberg). In either case, notable history supercharges a car’s desirability.

Cultural and Design Impact

Models like the Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe or Bugatti Atlantic are considered turning points in design and engineering. Owning one is akin to holding an important piece of automotive art.

Growing Wealth and Competition

As more high-net-worth individuals look to diversify with “trophy assets,” classic cars attract strong bidding. Icons like the Ferrari 250 GTO often see double-digit appreciation rates over time, making them coveted investments for some.

A Legacy of Record-Breaking Car Sales

Which car holds the record for the highest sale price? The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe currently stands alone at $142 million. How much did the most expensive car ever sell for? The figure nearly doubles the previous records for even the most valuable Ferraris.

From 1930s pre-war marvels like the Bugatti Atlantic to modern 1990s icons like the McLaren F1, these ultra-luxury cars keep climbing in value as new collectors enter the market. They aren’t just vehicles; they’re stories on wheels—mechanical masterpieces embodying the pinnacle of speed, style, and heritage.

Whether you’re intrigued by barn finds or enthralled by gleaming race-winners, the passion swirling around these automobiles is universal. Owners become custodians of automotive history, preserving these gems for future generations. And as the collector market grows worldwide, the next record-breaking luxury car auction might just be around the corner.

‍