The 5 Most Valuable Cars Ever Sold

Obscene amounts of money for these ultra-rare classics!

What’s not to love about ultra-rare, ultra-expensive cars that cost more than all the houses on your street combined?

There are many interesting things to be found in the list of the world’s most valuable cars ever. For instance, did you know that 7 of the top 10 most valuable cars are Ferraris, all of which were made in the 50s or 60s? In fact, Ferrari is by far the most popular brand on the list, making up over half of the top 200 most valuable cars to date.

Here are the top five most valuable (price adjusted for inflation) cars ever sold and a little info on each one.

1. Ferrari 250 GTO

Produced from 1962 to 1964, this GT car produced by Ferrari was a homologated race car, with just 39 examples being manufactured. Sold for $18,000 in 1962, roughly equating to $152,000 today, examples today consistently fetch tens of millions.

In 2018, David MacNeil payed $70 million for the Ferrari 250 GTO that finished fourth in the 1963 Le Mans 24-hours, driven by Pierre Dumay and Léon Dernier. This particular model, chassis code 4153 GT, was also the victor of the ten-day Tour de France road race, driven by Lucien Bianchi and Georges Berger in 1964. Afterwards, the car continued to race throughout the 60s and even in historical racing events up until the 90s.

You may think the car was battered after all of that racing, and you’re probably right, which is why it underwent the Ferrari Classiche certification in 2012/2013, bringing the car back up to like-new standard and approved by Ferrari.

2. Another Ferrari 250 GTO

That’s right, this car holds the record for being the most valuable car ever sold and the second most valuable car ever sold. What makes these cars so special?

Well, as we have just learned they had a famous history in motorsport and were also very rare. Furthermore, the mystique of the car is only added to with Enzo Ferrari himself having to personally approve who bought one back when they were new.

Also, being one of the most powerful cars of its era with a roaring V12 with 250cc per cylinder, the 250 GTO was the supercar of its day.

This particular example, chassis code 3851GT, was actually crashed which resulted in racing driver Henri Oreiller’s death. Once rebuilt, the car went through a lifetime of racing, then ended up in a museum, then was eventually sold for over $38 million in 2014, roughly $41 million adjusted!

3. Ferrari 355 S

This classic Ferrari, made between 1957 – 1958, is ultra rare with only 4 ever being produced. The predecessor to the almost-as-expensive 250 TR, the 355 S is famously responsible for 3-litre engine limit applied to the World Championship after the near-4.0-litre 355 S crashed in the 1957 Mille Miglia, killing the driver, co-driver and ten spectators.

It’s a beautiful car with a dark past and in 2016 one sold for nearly $36 million, roughly $38 million adjusted for today.

4. Mercedes-Benz W196

Sold for $29.6 million (roughly $32.5 million today) at the UK’s very own Goodwood, the sale of this Mercedes-Benz W196 set the world record for most expensive car ever auctioned in 2013. This vintage 1954 Formula One race car, chassis code 00006, is the car that legendary driver Juan Manuel Fangio raced in during the first F1 victory for Mercedes at the German Grand Prix and also during Mercedes win at the Swiss GP.

The iconic Silver Arrow, although not this particular car, was also driven by Sir Stirling Moss and the W196 won 9 of the 12 races it competed in, capturing both world championships the car was part of

5. Ferrari 290 MM

Sold for $28 million in 2015 (roughly $30.2 million adjusted), this particular 290 MM was also, funnily enough, also once driven by Juan Manuel Fangio. People must have really liked him! He is widely regarded as the greatest racing driver of all time, after all.

Built for Fangio to race in the 1956 Mille Miglia, the year before the devastating crash by the similar Ferrari 355 S, this classic Ferrari is mostly valuable due to its rarity. One of only four ever made, the car in the ‘56 Mille Miglia in which it raced powered by a hearty 320bhp 3.5 litre V12.

So, there you have it. The top 5 most valuable cars ever sold, four of which are Ferraris!

Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.

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