It’s amazing how much some classic car collectors are willing to spend on a piece of vintage vehicle history. Today, we’re going to show you just how much people have been willing to pay by featuring some of the most expensive vintage cars sold at auction to date.
If you are a classic car enthusiast and are the proud owner of your own vintage model, Classic Auto has the insurance you need to protect your prized possession for years to come.
Most Expensive Rare Vintage Cars: 50s
Not surprisingly, some of the most expensive vintage cars come from the 1950s and 60s. Here are some that we think are worth noting:
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe – $143 Million
During a recent auction in 2022, this 1955 Mercedes-Benz model became the most expensive collector car in the world after selling for 135 million euros, which is $143 million at current exchange rates. The coupe came from Mercedes’ own collection and was purchased by an unknown collector.
The coupe model is named after its creator, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, who was the boss of Mercedes’ racing department in the years before WWII. With a top speed of 290 km/h, the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was the fastest road-legal race car during that time.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing – $6.8 Million
This Mercedes Gullwing model was the most expensive vintage car sold at the Scottdale auction week in 2022, with a final price of $6,825,000.
Formally known as the “Light Metal Version”, the Alloy Gullwing replaced the standard steel bodywork of most cars with aluminum in the 50s. The 3.0 liter inline-6 had a competition camshaft, a new throttle butterfly, a recalibrated fuel distributor, and a higher compression ratio, giving it an output of 215 horsepower.
The Alloy Gullwing was built with privateer racers in mind and only 29 cars were built in total between 1955 and 1956.
1957 Ferrari 335 S – $35.7 Million
This 1957 Ferrari is a world record runner-up, almost breaking the record at the time (2016) after selling for $35.7 at the Artcurial auction house.
The Ferrari 335 S was a sports racing car manufactured in 1957 and was a direct response to the Maserati 450S. The 335 S made its debut at the 1957 Mille Miglia with Alfonso De Portago behind the wheel. The car was lying in third when a tragic accident occurred, killing De Portago, his co-driver, and 14 spectators.
The 335 S model boasted a V12 engine with maximum power at 7400 RPM and a top speed of 300 km/h.
Expensive and Most Popular Cars From the 60s
Some of the most expensive and notable 60s models that sold include:
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO – $70 Million
In 2018, a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO became the world’s most expensive vintage car when it sold for $70 million. The model was originally listed at $80 M but was confirmed at $70,000,000 after being purchased by Chicago-based Weathertech founder, David MacNeil.
This GTO model featured a 4153GT chassis and was best known for winning the 1964 Tour de France with Lucien Bianchi and Georges Beger behind the wheel. It’s powered by a V12 engine with an output of 7500 RPM and a top speed of 174 mph.
1964 Ferrari 275 P – $40 Million
Another Ferrari model that attracted a high bid in 2018, making it another of the world’s most expensive cars sold at that time, is the 1964 Ferrari 275 P.
What makes this car so valuable is that it won the Le Mans on two separate occasions, first with Ludovico Scarfiotti and Lorenzo Bandini, and the second time with Jean Guichet and Nino Vaccarella.
The power on this Ferrari classic comes from a V12 engine with a max power of 7700 RPM and a top speed of 185 mph.
1963 Aston Martin DP215 – $21.5 Million
In 2018, RM Sotheby’s sold a 1963 Aston Martin Grand Touring Competition Prototype for $21,455,000, making it one of the most valuable British cars sold at auction.
This model was specially designed to compete in GT racing events and was considered the pinnacle achievement of Aston Martin’s racing program. In qualifying, the DP215 lapped faster than the Italians and became the first to exceed 300km/h.
The 1963 DP215 was built with an Aston Martin 3,996 cc Straight 6 with a 3 Weber 50 DCO, producing 6000 rpm with a top speed of 175 mph.
Protect Your Vintage Car with Classic Auto Insurance
If you’re the proud owner of your own piece of vintage car history, you’ll need the right kind of insurance to protect your classic car. At Classic Auto Insurance, we offer excellent coverage on classic, vintage, sport, and luxury cars and work with each client individually to determine the worth of their particular vehicle to find a plan best suited to their needs.
If you need insurance for your classic car, you can request a quote here today-888-901-1338.
