EloI am elated to write about astounding facts again. We want to look into the 10 most expensive cars of all time, but you can rest assured that the figures you’ll find here differ from what you’ve always held in mind about the cost of expensive cars.
In recent years, the top most expensive cars out there are way less than a million dollars, with many being a little close to $600,000.
Sources that write about the world’s most expensive cars that are close to the figures you’ll see here give the new-age Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail’s cost as approximately $30 million, but this isn’t even half of the world’s top two all-time most expensive cars.
What this signals is that the world’s all-time most expensive cars are not necessarily cars that are made in 2024 or anytime close. Therefore, our list will feature costly cars from any period in the world.
The Top 10 Most Expensive Cars of All Time
1. Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé
Price: $137m
Many who do not know about the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé would argue that there has never been a car sold for over a hundred million dollars, as they do not even know of any sold for a hundred million dollars.
Sometime in 1955, Mercedes-Benz came up with a road-going version of the W196 R Grand Prix car and produced two Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés.
The car, named after Rudolf Uhlenhaut, the firm’s chief engineer, would later be sold in 2022 for $135,000,000 and become the world’s all-time most expensive car.
For the record, this is the only car more expensive than the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO.
2. Ferrari 250 GTO
Price: $70m
U.S. car parts mogul David MacNeil bought the most expensive Ferrari car for $70,000,000 from Christian Glaesel, a German racing driver.
Ferrari is especially known for its luxurious products and some of the most expensive cars on the market. But of all of its products, this 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO remains the most expensive.
After having made appearances, including the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours, where it finished fourth and won the 1964 Tour de France, the car also impressed experts by never getting crashed, which is one thing that’s been said to be its immense value.
3. Ferrari 250 GTO Tipo
Price: $51.7m
Here is another costly 250 GTO. Built in 1962 with Tipo coachwork, the Ferrari 250 GTO Tipo is the most expensive Ferrari car ever sold at auction.
Who offered to get the luxury for this much money ($51,705,000) isn’t known to the media because the auction house—an RM Sotheby’s in New York—had insisted on keeping the identity private.
What’s interesting about this is that the price didn’t meet RM Sotheby’s actual bid, which, as gathered from the New York Times, was $60,000,000. As if that is all, the seller had bought the car in 1985 for just $500,000 (less than a million). WoooW!!
4. Ferrari 250 GTO
Price: $38m
It is the Ferrari 250 GTO again; they are always on the list of the world’s all-time most expensive cars and their eye-watering prices are a result of auctions.
But Ferrari cars are not the only ones auctioned; you may be eager to argue. The reality stands that buyers are always ready to lavish on the product for its immense worth with regards to its elegant design, race pedigree, highly balanced chassis, and more.
Acquired for $38,115,000, Jo Schlesser raced this costly 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. The same car would later be covered by sources as having sold for $48 million. It should maintain number four on the list, anyhow.
5. Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti
Price: $35.7m
Have you ever thought of the most expensive racing car under the hammer? Well, it is this 1957 Ferrari sold in 2016. Having been with its original buyer for about 40 years, this car got the attention it had at the auction mainly because of the appearance it had over the years.
For instance, the car was spotted at the wheel in the Mille Miglia with Wolfgang von Trips. It had also appeared at the 1957 Sebring 12 Hours, where it was raced by Maurice Trintgnant and Peter Collins. The Ferrari sports car sold for $35,700,000.
6. Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail
Price: $30m
This $30,000,000 Rolls-Royce car, “La Rose Noire Droptail,” translating literally as black rose, was launched in 2023 and it has since then been getting on the list of the world’s most expensive cars.
The charming part of this is that this price is no auction bid whatsoever. It is the company’s price tag for buyers.
7. Mercedes Benz W196
Price: $29.6m
This is the second-most expensive Mercedes-Benz making it to the list. It used to be the sixth before the invention of the Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail.
The car gained attention and was bought for $29,600,000 in 2013, becoming the most costly at the time.
One reason this car garnered the attention it got is that it, through Juan Manuel Fangio, won the 1954 German and Swiss Grand Prix.
8. Ferrari 290 MM
Price: $28m
I can imagine what crossed your mind upon seeing Ferrari on the list again. Well, it has a reputation for luxury and that is a fact.
$28,050,000, the price for which the car was sold, is also under the hammer price and not its market value. The car was designed in 1956 by Mille Miglia and was also raced by Juan Manuel Fangio. His influence in the field was one strong factor that added value to this auction’s bid.
9. Ferrari 275 GTB/4s, Nart Spider
Price: $27.5m
The North American Racing Team ordered the $27,500,000 car alongside other special road cars from the factory sometime during its 1950s and 1960s U.S. campaign to promote awareness of the Ferrari brand. It was also once used by actor Steve McQueen in the “Thomas Crown Affair” movie.
10. Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale
Price: $26.4m
With a lighter weight enhanced by its aluminum body and a 3.0-liter V12 engine that gives it some extra 70bhp, the yet-to-be-raced car at the time got buyers eager for its actual performance and so it was bought for $26,400,000 in a 2014 auction.
ALSO READ: The Fastest Cars in the World Right Now (2024)
Conclusion
While they are not the only manufacturers on the list, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari are apparently leading the list when it comes to the world’s most expensive cars of all time. One other thing to note is that the list goes from $26.4 million to $137 million.
Some other expensive cars sold for millions of dollars include the Aston Martin DBR 1 sold for $22,555,000, the Ferrari 410 Sport sold for $22,050,000, the Jaguar D-Type sold for $21,780,000, the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider sold for $19,800,000, and the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider with an $18,500,000 value.
Elo
