Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari dominate list of most expensive cars ever sold at auction
How much would you pay for a used car if you really wanted it? To see if you qualify as a buyer of the world’s most expensive vehicles, first answer these five questions.
How much would you pay for a used car you really wanted? To see if you qualify as a buyer, answer these five questions.
Does your house in Switzerland have a five-level underground garage? Does your private jet have enough room to drive your car on board? Do you own at least part of an English soccer club? Do you own at least part of an F1 team? Is one of your eight homes in Monte Carlo?
If you answered yes to four or more, then keep reading to see which of these five cars you own.
1: The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut coupe
Bought at auction in 2022 for $228m.
You’ve probably never heard of Rudi Uhlenhaut, the British/German designer and engineer who headed Merc racing in the 30s. He got Mercedes winning the Le Mans 24 Hour race and a couple of F1s. Stirl Moss said the 300 SLR was “The greatest sports racing car ever built – really an unbelievable machine”.
In 1955 he built two road cars based on the 300 SLR race winner. Not just based on. He bent some metal around the racing car’s 300 SLR chassis, engine, gearbox and seats and made it look like an ordinary car but the Uhlenhaut coupe was the fastest road car of its time.
And Rudi didn’t mind taking his cars out for a drive. Running late for a meeting, he drove up the autobahn from Munich to Stuttgart in just over an hour, a 220km journey that takes 2½ hours on any Sunday. Best of all, Rudi never owned a car. He just drove OPs.
2: 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen
Bought at auction this week for $86m.
Another Rudi Uhlenhaut creation, this ‘streamlined car’ was personally ordered by Stirling Moss over Merc’s other race cars of the time. The only Streamliner to be offered for private sale and with an extraordinary race history. $86m sounds cheap.
3: 1962 Ferrari 330 LM/250 GTO
Bought at auction in 2023 for $81m.
The most expensive Ferrari ever sold. One of 39 made, this was the only 1962 250 GTO raced by the Ferrari works team and it has the bigger 4-litre V12 engine. A winner off the lights in Peppermint Grove.
The next three most expensive cars ever sold at auction are 250 GTOs, as is one of the most expensive cars sold privately.
In 2018 when a dollar was really a dollar, David MacNeil, bought the Tour de France-winning 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO for $112m. Dave owns two other 250 GTOs (as well as a heap of other Ferraris, Bugattis, Mercs and Porsches).
If you’re buying an up-market used car, say $1m or more, then you want something that’s rare, has exceptional provenance (ie: you can trace every owner from when it left the factory and every prang its ever had and every bit of work it has had done and that engine, chassis and gearbox numbers match), looks great and has a racing history or been owned by someone famous – Steve McQueen – or both.
The 250 GTO ticks all those boxes.
It was designed as a race car, winning three consecutive World Championships, overall victories in the Tour de France, class wins in Le Mans, Sebring and the Targa Florio, and wins in everything else.
The car was so successful that at the end of its first season Jaguar, Aston Martin and Chevrolet tried to convince the governing body that the GTO was not a GT car. Owners include Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason and schmutter seller Ralph Lauren. New price was $25k.
4: 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO by Scaglietti
Bought at auction in 2018 for $76m.
At the time this was the most expensive car ever sold at auction by about $15m. Over 15 class and overall wins during the 1962-65 seasons. This 250 GTO was in very standard condition (a good thing) and offered access to the world’s most exclusive clubs (only 36 members) and hard to get access to some of the world’s most prestigious events and rallies, including the GTO Tours. The GTO Legacy Tour is a driving experience for owners of the Ferrari 250 GTO.
Last year members flew their cars to the Italian Dolomites for a run around and ended up with a parade on the Fiorano Circuit in Maranello. The club and LVMH Moet Hennessy have organised tours for owners at the Le Mans Classic including a parade on the full Le Mans 24 Hours circuit.
5: 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Sold for $60m at Bonhams, Monterey, in 2014.
One of the most raced 250 GTOs in world history with one of the most tragic histories. Jo Schlesser, a Madagascar-born French businessman who was crazy about racing, took delivery of his Ferrari at Marenello and two days later raced it with “madman of downhill” Olympic skier Henri Oreiller in the 6000km 1962 Tour de France Automobile, where they came second.
But sadly, just two weeks later at another race, Oreiller lost control and crashed into the corner of a house. The GTO bent in two and trapped the poor French driver, who was killed instantly. Schlesser took the damaged car back to Maranello, where it was repaired and given a red livery, before being sold’ Schlesser was later killed in an F1 prang.
Of course, the classic car business can’t compare with the old art caper. In 2017, Christie’s sold the 1605 Leonardo da Vinci Salvator Mundi for $716. The painting depicts Jesus Christ holding a crystal ball and signing the cross. Ironically the buyer was Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The prince is worth a lazy $30bn and has a gold-plated Lamborghini Aventador SV. He recently gave singer Lil Wayne a Lambo SUV to apologise after a mix up at the airport. The gift added to Lil’s collection which includes a Bugatti, Roller, Aston Martin and Campagna T-Rex.
And another thing …
After last week’s five worst cars that put anything made by GWM, MG (particularly the MG4 and the MG ZS E4), most cars from the Stellantis stable and Quad Lock (more readers have come forward with the same problems) and MG ZS E4 on the watch list, MG’s PR person emailed to say: “If there is a particular reason for this … Was that meant to be ZS EV? That model is in run-out and if you are interested in a loan of the MG4, I’d be happy to organise this for you. The rear wheel drive and 50:50 weight distribution contribute to it being a great handling car.”
jc@jcp.com.au
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