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Top 10 Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold at Auction

Ranked by hammer price in US dollars, from the $143 million Mercedes-Benz to a $35.7 million Ferrari, with when and where each car sold.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe$143,000,000 2

1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R Stromlinienwagen$53,917,370 3

1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO$51,705,000

Quick answer

The most expensive car ever sold at auction is a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which sold for US$143,000,000 at RM Sotheby's in Stuttgart on May 5, 2022. A 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R Stromlinienwagen is second at $53.9 million, and a 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO is third at $51.7 million.

How it's ranked: The price paid at auction in US dollars at the time of the sale (not adjusted for inflation), as listed on Wikipedia's List of most expensive cars sold at auction.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe

Mercedes-Benz · Sold May 5, 2022 · RM Sotheby's, Stuttgart · released 1955

$143,000,000

The most valuable car ever sold.

A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe sold for US$143,000,000 at RM Sotheby's in Stuttgart, Germany on May 5, 2022, the highest price ever paid for a car at auction and almost three times the next sale on this list. The 300 SLR was a two-seat sports racing car built for the 1955 World Sportscar Championship, based on the W196 Formula One car but with a 3-litre engine. The photo shows the open racing version of the 300 SLR.

Best forThe all-time auction record

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Source: en.wikipedia.org › Mercedes-Benz_300_SLR

1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R Stromlinienwagen

Mercedes-Benz · Sold February 1, 2025 · RM Sotheby's, Stuttgart · released 1954

$53,917,370

The most expensive racing car ever sold.

A 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R Stromlinienwagen, the streamlined version of the W196, sold for US$53,917,370 at RM Sotheby's in Stuttgart on February 1, 2025. The W196 was Mercedes-Benz's Formula One car for the 1954 and 1955 seasons; driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, it won 9 of 12 races entered and both world championships it competed in. The photo shows the open-wheel W196 rather than the streamlined body of the car that sold.

Best forFormula One history

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Source: en.wikipedia.org › Mercedes-Benz_W196

1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO

Ferrari · Sold November 13, 2023 · RM Sotheby's, New York City · released 1962

$51,705,000

The record Ferrari sale.

A 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO sold for US$51,705,000 at RM Sotheby's in New York City on November 13, 2023, the highest price on this list for a Ferrari. The 250 GTO was built from 1962 to 1964 to compete in the FIA Group 3 Grand Touring category; GTO stands for Gran Turismo Omologato.

Best forThe most valuable Ferrari ever auctioned

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Source: en.wikipedia.org › Ferrari_250_GTO

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (2018 sale)

Ferrari · Sold August 26, 2018 · RM Sotheby's, Monterey · released 1962

$48,405,000

The 250 GTO that set the 2018 record.

A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for US$48,405,000 at RM Sotheby's in Monterey, California on August 26, 2018. The 250 GTO is powered by Ferrari's Tipo 168/62 Colombo V12, a 3-litre engine, and has four of the ten sales on this list.

Best forCollectors of the most famous Ferrari

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Source: en.wikipedia.org › Ferrari_250_GTO

1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe

Shelby · Sold August 14, 2026 · Gooding Christie's, Monterey · released 1964

$42,905,000

The car built to beat the 250 GTO, now worth nearly as much.

A 1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe sold for US$42,905,000 at Gooding Christie's in Monterey, California on August 14, 2026, the highest price on this list for an American car. The Daytona Coupe was built specifically to take on Ferrari and its 250 GTO in GT racing, and only six were made for racing between 1964 and 1965.

Best forThe most valuable American car sold at auction on this list

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Source: en.wikipedia.org › Shelby_Daytona

2026 Ferrari Luce "Tailor Made"

Ferrari · Sold August 16, 2026 · RM Sotheby's, Monterey · released 2026

$40,000,000

The most expensive new car ever sold at auction.

A 2026 Ferrari Luce "Tailor Made" sold for US$40,000,000 at RM Sotheby's in Monterey, California on August 16, 2026, the only brand-new car in the top 10. The Luce, unveiled in May 2026, is Ferrari's first fully electric car and its first five-seater and five-door liftback.

Best forThe record for a brand-new car

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Source: en.wikipedia.org › Ferrari_Luce

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (2026 sale)

Ferrari · Sold January 18, 2026 · Mecum, Kissimmee · released 1962

$38,500,000

A 2026 sale that kept the 250 GTO in eight figures.

Another 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for US$38,500,000 at Mecum in Kissimmee, Florida on January 18, 2026. It is one of four 250 GTO sales in this top 10.

Best forProof the 250 GTO keeps its value

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Source: en.wikipedia.org › Ferrari_250_GTO

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (2014 sale)

Ferrari · Sold August 14, 2014 · Bonhams, Carmel · released 1962

$38,115,000

The oldest sale still in the top 10.

A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for US$38,115,000 at Bonhams in Carmel, California on August 14, 2014. Like every price here, it is shown in the dollars paid at the time; the source lists its inflation-adjusted value at well over $50 million.

Best forThe 250 GTO that set the earlier record

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Source: en.wikipedia.org › Ferrari_250_GTO

1964 Ferrari 250 LM

Ferrari · Sold February 5, 2025 · RM Sotheby's, Paris · released 1964

$36,344,960

The top-selling mid-engined classic Ferrari.

A 1964 Ferrari 250 LM sold for US$36,344,960 at RM Sotheby's in Paris on February 5, 2025. Ferrari built the 250 LM from 1963 to 1966 as a closed berlinetta version of its 250 P prototype race car.

Best forCollectors of mid-engined Ferrari racers

Skip it ifYou want a front-engined GT

Source: en.wikipedia.org › Ferrari_250_LM

1957 Ferrari 335 S

Ferrari · Sold February 15, 2016 · Artcurial, Paris · released 1957

$35,730,510

A rare racer that rounds out the top 10.

A 1957 Ferrari 335 S sold for US$35,730,510 at Artcurial in Paris on February 15, 2016. Ferrari built just four 335 S sports racing cars in 1957 and 1958, as its answer to the 4.5-litre Maserati 450S.

Best forOne of only four ever built

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Source: en.wikipedia.org › Ferrari_335_S

Questions people ask

What is the most expensive car ever sold at auction?

A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, sold for US$143,000,000 at RM Sotheby's in Stuttgart on May 5, 2022.

What is the most expensive Ferrari sold at auction?

A 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO, sold for US$51,705,000 in New York City on November 13, 2023.

How many Ferrari 250 GTOs are in the top 10?

Four, including the 330 LM / 250 GTO.

Which auction house sold the most cars on this list?

RM Sotheby's, with six of the ten sales.

What is the most expensive new car sold at auction?

A 2026 Ferrari Luce "Tailor Made," sold for US$40,000,000 in Monterey on August 16, 2026.

How we ranked

The price paid at auction in US dollars at the time of the sale (not adjusted for inflation), as listed on Wikipedia's List of most expensive cars sold at auction. Every number on this page comes from the source linked under each pick, and every photo shows the actual product. Brands can't pay to be on this list.

List source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_expensive_cars_sold_at_auction · Updated 2026-11-11