The World's Most Expensive Cars

Collectible car enthusiasts have always been intrigued by classic sports cars for years, and they can pay any amount just to own them. These vehicles are sold in private and public auctions all over Europe and the United States. Although collectible sports cars have been sold for an even higher price, Ferrari 250GTO is the most expensive car sold in a public auction. Mercedes-Benz W196R held the record of the most valuable sports car in the world until Ferrari 250GTO broke the record in 2014. Some of the most expensive collectible automobiles include:

10. Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider (1961) - $18,500,000

The 250-GT-SWB was launched in 1960 by Scaglietti at Geneva, and its bodywork pulled way more rigidly on the reduced chassis (from 2,600mm to 2,400mm). The 250 GT-SWB was equipped with a 3 litre V12 engine with 276hp. Ferrari fitted this sports car with the 185VR15 Pirelli-Cinturato tires. The fiberglass-bodied replica of the 1961 250GT was featured in an MG movie in 1986. Artcurial sold a 259 GT-SWB on February 20, 2016 in Paris for $18,500,000.

9. Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider (1939) - $19,800,000

Manufactured by Alfa Romeo in 1939, the 8C-2900B came equipped with an inline 8-cylinder engine with dual-roots-type superchargers and overhead cams, plus a 4-speed manual transmission. This race car had a 2905cc engine which produced a maximum of 180 bhp at 5200 rpm. Alfa produced 322900Bs which included 23 in 1938 and 10 in 1937 plus another one which they assembled in 1941. An Alfa Romeo 8c 2900 was sold on August 20, 2016, by RM Sotheby for $19,800,000 which makes it the most expensive Alfa Romeo in the world.

8. Jaguar D-Type (1955) - $21,780,000

The D-type is a beautiful racing sports car from Jaguar Ltd which was manufactured from 1954 to 1957. As much as the D-type shares numerous characteristics with the C-type, its aviation-industry influence structure is different. The car’s monocoque structure plus aerodynamic efficiency introduced aviation technology to sports car designs. The 1st D-type had a 3.4 liter engine which was increased to 3.8 liters before being reduced to 3.0litres in 1958. The D-type won the 24hour race Le Mans race in three consecutive years, from 1956 to 1957. The D-type production included 16XKSS-version, 53 customer cars, and 18 team cars. RM Sotheby sold the D-type on August 20, 2016, in Monterey, California for $21,780,000.

7. Aston Martin DBR1 (1956) - $22,550,000

The DBR1 was a sports car designed by Aston Martin in 1956 for the Sportscar championship among other competitions at that time. DBR1 is the most famous Aston model for winning the 24hours of Le-Mans in 1959. The DBR1 is one of the three sports cars to win both the Le-Mans 24hours and the world championship in the same year during the 1950s. On August 19, 2017, the DBR1 was sold for $22,550,000.

6. Ferrari 290 MM (1956) - $25,050,000

The 290MM was the Ferrari race car which was produced to compete in the 1956 Mille Miglia. The 290MM has a 4.5 litre V12 engine with a maximum power of 320HP at 7200rpm and a maximum speed of 170 mph. Driven by Eugenio Castelloti, the 290 MM won the 1956 Mille Miglia, while another 290 MM driven by Juan Fangio finished 4th in the same race. The car was sold for $25,050,000 on December 10, 2015, in New York City.

5. Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale (1964) - $26,400,000

In 1964, Ferrari produced four lightweight 275GTB for the1965 season. The 275GBT collection included three models equipped with 250LM engines. Pininfarina designed the bodywork while Scaglietti worked on the coachwork. The design of 275 GTB incorporated a 10% reduction in size and smaller chassis, plus Ferrari used magnesium for the engine which resulted in FIA refusing to homologate it as a GT-contender, but they agreed after Enzo threatened to pull-out of the motorsport. On August 16, 2014, RM-auctions sold a 275GTB for $26,400,000 in Monterey, California.

4. Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S NART Spider (1967) - $27,500,000

The 275 series is a two-seat- front-engine V12 powered sports car which was produced in the roadster, GT and spyder form by Ferrari from 1964 to 1968. Enzo and Sergio built the 275 GTB/4 series for Luigi Chinetti, an American dealer who bought them for approximately $8,000. Chinetti had requested 25 units, but due to low sales, Ferrari produced only ten units. RM Auctions sold Ferrari 275 in Monterey California on August 17, 2013, for $27,500,000.

3. Mercedes-Benz W196 (1954) - $28,600,000

W196 is a formula-1 racing car which was manufactured by Mercedes-Benz from 1854 to 1955. In the hands of Stirling Mossand Juan Fangio, the W196 won nine of the twelve races it entered plus it won the two championships the car competed in. The 3 liter Sport-Leicht-Renne engine was derived from the W196 for the 1955 World Sports Car season, and its crash ended the w196 series and its dominance in the WSC-championship in 1955. The W196 was auctioned in Goodwood, in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2015, and the winning bid was $28,600,000.

2. Ferrari 335S (1957) - $35,711,359

The Ferrari 335S is a beautiful sports car which was produced by Ferrari from 1957 to 1958. The Ferrari 335S was an evolution of the 315S and it came with a V12 engine with a maximum 390 HP at 7400 rpm and a maximum speed of 190mph. The Italian manufacturer produced this car to respond to the Maserati-450S which had 4.5 liter engine and threatened the 315S. Ferrari only built four 335Ss, and on February 5, 2016, this car was auctioned at $35,711,359 in Paris. Currently, the new owner of the 335S is Lionel Messi.

1. Ferrari 250 GTO (1962) - $38,115,000

Ferrari produced the 250 GTO from 1962 to 1964, for the approval process into the Group three Grand touring vehicle categories of the Federation Internationale-de I’Automobile (FIA). Ferrari produced only 39 250GTOs, and this included the thirty-three from 1962 to 1963 (series I), with the three series II manufactured in 1964 which had similar bodywork plus the three 330 GTO with a bigger engine. In 1964, Ferrari updated four of the older series I cars with series II bodyworks. When produced, the car was valued at $18,000 and Enzo Ferrari and Luigi Chinetti personally approved the buyers. On August 14, 2014, a collector purchased this car in an auction held in Carmel, California for $38,115,000 thus making it the most expensive car in the world.