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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Khris Bharath – April 04, 2026

Most Expensive Cars Sold At Auction

In the world of collector cars, the auction block has become a dramatic stage where automotive legends change hands for astounding sums. No longer confined to showroom floors, private collections, and museums, vintage and collector cars now surface at both private and public auctions. Given how collector cars have become an alternative investment asset class that can generate substantial returns for investors, they ignite serious bidding wars at auction with sale prices into the tens and even hundreds of millions. These cars are under the spotlight every time they hit the stage at a classic car auction. From Pebble Beach to the Monterey Car Week and Amelia Island to Paris, these high-stakes events have become headline generators showcasing the rarest examples of exquisite design, engineering excellence, and racing history. For wealthy collectors and institutions alike, owning such a vehicle is so much more than a matter of prestige, as these cars represent a piece of automotive history and elite lineage that includes names like Rudolf Uhlenhaut, Enzo Ferrari, and Peter Collins. Be it a Ferrari with Scuderia heritage or a Mercedes-Benz W 196R Stromlinienwagen driven by motorsport veterans like Sir Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio, every car to feature in this list has a story to tell. Speaking of motorsport, ever since the dawn of the automobile in the late 19th century, racing has been a form of advertisement for automakers. It has been a proving ground and a way to showcase performance, durability, and innovation. Victories on the racetrack translated to credibility on the road. Competition pedigree continues to dominate the upper reaches of the market, although Ferrari’s $40 million Luce charity result introduced an unprecedented modern outlier. Most of these machines have rightfully earned their stripes at races like Daytona, Mille Miglia, Nürburgring, Le Mans, Sebring, and the Targa Florio. So with that, here’s a look at what makes these cars some of the most highly sought-after automobiles on the planet. 10. 1957 Ferrari 335 S: $35,730,510 Auction Date: February 15, 2016 | Auctioneer: Artcurial Key player in Ferrari winning the WSC 1957 World Constructors' Title One of the last Ferraris that saw action in high-speed road racing in Italy Used as a reference in the film ‘Ferrari’ by Michael Mann When the hammer fell at Artcurial’s Retromobile sale in Paris, back in 2016, the 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport: chassis 0674 had just fetched $35.7 million. Driven by the likes of racing legends like Peter Collins at Sebring, Wolfgang Von Trips, who was able to secure a second-place finish in the Mille Miglia, and Mike Hawthorn at Le Mans, the Ferrari 335 Sport enjoys a rich racing history. It also secured a second win at the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix, with Stirling Moss and Masten Gregory at the wheel. This was also where Fangio was famously kidnapped. The car initially featured a 3.8-liter V12 that was later uprated to 4.1 liters for serious endurance duty. Despite the Ferrari 335 Sport’s connection to the tragic 1957 Mille Miglia accident involving Alfonso De Portago in the sister car, the car’s second-place finish and ownership history that includes a wealthy collector like Pierre Bardinon make it a highly desirable asset. Its auction premium and sale price demonstrate how valuable period-correct race cars with Ferrari’s racing pedigree can be. 1957 Ferrari 335 S specs Engine Displacement 245 cu in (4,023 cc) Engine Configuration V12 Horsepower 390 hp @ 7,400 rpm Torque - Weight 1,940 lbs Transmission 4-Speed Manual Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, RWD Top Speed 186 mph Serial Number (s/n) 0674 9. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM By Scaglietti: $36,344,960 Auction Date: February 5, 2025 | Auctioneer: RM Sotheby’s The only privateer-entered Ferrari to win at Le Mans Only Enzo-era Ferrari race car to compete in record six 24-hour races (3 Le Mans | 3 Daytona) The overall winner at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans More recently, in February 2025, a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, chassis: 5893, crossed the auction block at RM Sotheby’s in Paris, selling for $36.4 million. While not the brand’s first endurance race icon, the 250 LM was a pivotal sports car for Ferrari in the mid-engine V12 format. This particular example, like countless other Ferraris on this list, also boasts an extensive racing history, famously winning the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans under a renowned privateer, Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team (NART). Piloted by the likes of famous drivers like Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt, this car is one of 32 made and still retains the original engine. While most 250 LMs are now with private owners or in museums, making their appearance at classic car auctions rare, this particular example was offered by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum after 54 years. It is a significant development in recent times. As a car that represents Ferrari’s golden age and the only privateer-entered Ferrari to win at Le Mans, it highlights its unique status in the collector car world. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM By Scaglietti specs Engine Displacement 201 cu in (3,286 cc) Engine Configuration V12 Horsepower 315 hp @ 7,500 rpm Torque 231 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm Weight 1,808 lbs Transmission 5-speed manual Drivetrain Layout Mid-engine, RWD Top Speed 180 mph Serial Number (s/n) 5893 8. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta: $38,115,000 Auction Date: August 14, 2014 | Auctioneer: Bonhams The world's longest-held Ferrari 250 GTO (49 years) Previously part of the prestigious Maranello Rosso Collection Participated in more races than any other 250 GTO Moving on to the first of three Ferrari 250 GTOs to feature on this list. Over a decade ago, back in 2014, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis: 3851GT, became the most valuable car when it sold at a public auction for over $38.11 million, at Bonhams’ Quail Lodge Auction. Delivered new to French driver Jo Schlesser, the car saw extensive action in period racing history, which is well documented. It achieved a second-place finish at the 1962 Tour de France, 12 class victories, and 14 hill-climb races entered in 1963. Subsequently, the car was sold to private collector Fabrizio Violati in 1965. Given its achievements, auctioneer Bonhams highlighted it as an outstanding example to be offered at a public auction. While events like the annual Goodwood Revival and Pebble Beach Concours often showcase similar models, few have come close to matching this particular 250 GTO’s authenticity and racing history. However, this car’s record sale figure would eventually be surpassed by two more prancing horses in 2018 and 2023, respectively. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta By Scaglietti specs Engine Displacement 180 cu in (2,953 cc) Engine Configuration V12 Horsepower 296 hp @ 7,500 rpm Torque 217 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm Weight 1,940 lbs Transmission 5-Speed Manual Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, RWD Top Speed 174 mph Serial Number (s/n) 3851GT 7. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta: $38,500,000 Auction Date: January 2026 | Auctioneer: Mecum Auctions One-of-one example finished in Bianco Speciale from factory Right-hand-drive example delivered new to British racing team owner John Coombs Driven in period by Roy Salvadori, Graham Hill, and Mike Parkes At Mecum’s Kissimmee 2026 sale, chassis #3729GT, a right-hand-drive example finished in Bianco Speciale, sold for $38.5 million. The winning bid came from renowned California-based Ferrari collector David Lee, who secured the car via live video call, adding a one-off specification to a collection otherwise dominated by traditional Rosso Corsa examples. What sets #3729GT apart is its factory specification. Finished in a pearlescent white, it remains the only 250 GTO delivered new in Bianco Speciale, a deliberate departure from Ferrari’s traditional palette. On track, it proved just as capable, securing podium finishes at Brands Hatch and Goodwood while contributing to Ferrari’s continued dominance in GT racing. Its performance and engineering were studied closely by rivals, including Jaguar during the development of the Lightweight E-Type. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta specs Engine Displacement 180 cu in (2,953 cc) Engine Configuration V12 Horsepower 296 hp @ 7,500 rpm Torque 217 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm Weight 1,940 lbs Transmission 5-Speed Manual Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, RWD Top Speed 174 mph Serial Number (s/n) 3729GT 6. 2026 Ferrari Luce ‘Tailor Made’: $40,000,000 Auction Date: August 2026 | Auctioneer: RM Sotheby’s Most expensive new car ever sold at auction Chassis 0, the first production example of Ferrari’s Luce program Offered exclusively for charity, with Buyer’s Premium waived Ferrari delivered one of the most unconventional results ever to enter the upper reaches of the auction record books when the 2026 Ferrari Luce ‘Tailor Made,’ Chassis 0, sold for $40,000,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction. The result surpassed the previous benchmark for a new car at auction, set by a $26 million Ferrari Daytona SP3 Tailor Made at the same venue in 2025. The Luce was offered as a charity lot, with Buyer’s Premium waived and all proceeds directed to The Ferrari Foundation. Carrying a published estimate threshold of more than $1.1 million, the final result was over 36 times that figure. As the first production chassis of Ferrari’s Luce program and a one-off Tailor Made commission, the car represented an unusual combination of exclusivity, personalization, philanthropy, and access to a historically significant first example. Its structure makes the transaction difficult to compare directly with conventional collector-car sales, but the result nevertheless established a new benchmark for what a new automobile can achieve at public auction. 2026 Ferrari Luce ‘Tailor Made’ specs Engine Displacement N/A Engine Configuration Four Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Electric Motors Horsepower 1,035 hp Torque 730 lb-ft Weight 4,982 lbs Transmission Single-Speed Drivetrain Layout Quad-motor AWD Top Speed 193 mph Serial Number (s/n) ZFF21BUA8T0338000 5. 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe: $42,905,000 Auction Date: August 2026 | Auctioneer: Gooding Christie's View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gooding Christie’s (@goodingandcompany) Most expensive American car ever sold at auction Most valuable Shelby ever sold at auction Only Cobra Daytona Coupe personally owned by Carroll Shelby Monterey Car Week 2026 produced one of the most significant American collector-car results ever recorded when a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, chassis CSX2300, sold for $42,905,000 at Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions. The result surpassed the previous American-car auction record of $22 million, set by the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ at the same venue in 2018, and also became the highest price ever achieved by an automobile at Gooding Christie’s. One of only six Cobra Daytona Coupes built, CSX2300 was developed as part of Shelby American’s effort to challenge Ferrari’s 250 GTO in international GT racing. This example played a significant role in the 1965 FIA GT Championship season and later continued competing beyond Shelby American’s factory program. It is also the only Daytona Coupe personally owned by Carroll Shelby, who retained the car from 1975 to 1998. Its combination of rarity, competition history, and direct Shelby provenance pushed American racing machinery into a valuation tier traditionally dominated by Europe’s most important competition cars. 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe specs Engine Displacement 289 cu in (4,727 cc) Engine Configuration V8 Horsepower 385 hp @ 6,500 rpm Torque 340 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm Weight 2,300 lbs Transmission 4-Speed Borg-Warner T-10 Manual Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, RWD Top Speed 190 mph Serial Number (s/n) CSX2300 4. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO By Scaglietti: $48,405,000 Auction Date: August 26, 2018 | Auctioneer: RM Sotheby's Third of only 36 Ferrari GTOs ever built 1 of 4 upgraded by Scaglietti, and 1 of 7 with the more aggressive coachwork More than 15 class and overall wins between 1962-1965 The classic car auction at RM Sotheby’s during Monterey Car Week in August 2018 saw a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 3413, go under the hammer for $48.4 million. Originally a Series I model, this GTO was upgraded by Carrozzeria Scaglietti to Series II specifications. It is one of just four cars to feature this upgrade in this period, contributing to its unique status among collector cars. With the likes of Edoardo Lualdi-Gabardi’s massive success in the 1962 Italian GT championship, this particular example boasts a significant racing career. Its impressive racing pedigree also extends to the fact that it played a crucial role in Ferrari’s 1964 Championship victory for GT manufacturers, thanks to its class win at the Targa Florio. Preserved by wealthy collectors, this GTO with its original chassis and a lineage of respected private collectors. The high sale price is a reflection of its historical importance, and it remains a favourite at prestigious classic car events like Pebble Beach. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO By Scaglietti specs Engine Displacement 180 cu in (2,953 cc) Engine Configuration V12 Horsepower 296 hp @ 7,500 rpm Torque 217 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm Weight 1,940 lbs Transmission 5-Speed Manual Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, RWD Top Speed 174 mph Serial Number (s/n) 3413GT 3. 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO By Scaglietti: $51,705,000 Auction Date: November 13, 2023 | Auctioneer: RM Sotheby's The only 1962 GTO Tipo, raced by Scuderia Ferrari Previously owned by the Chairman of the Ferrari Club of America, Fred Leydorf Multiple awards to its name: Cavallino Classic, Pebble Beach, Amelia Island Now, onto the most expensive Ferrari on this list. In late 2023, this 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO, chassis: 3765 LM, fetched an impressive $51.7 million at auction. The car represents a significant high point in Scuderia Ferrari’s racing history, having been driven by the likes of Mike Parkes and Lorenzo Bandini. Specifically built to compete in the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans, it was the only GTO raced by Ferrari’s factory team. The car’s debut at the 1000 km Nürburgring was historic, as it secured a class win and second place overall. While it qualified well at Le Mans, it eventually retired due to overheating. The car would eventually be converted to standard GTO specifications, and chassis 3765 saw multiple class victories in Italian races and finished second in the 1965 Sicilian Hillclimb Championship. After passing through several prominent private collectors, this 250 GTO remained a single-ownership Ferrari with an Ohio-based collector for 38 years. Since then, the car has been restored and is often displayed at prestigious events like Pebble Beach and Amelia Island. Its unique road race legacy and connection to Enzo Ferrari’s factory team have cemented its status as a highly collectible automobile. 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO specs Engine Displacement 242 cu in (3,967 cc) Engine Configuration V12 Horsepower 390 hp @ 7,500 rpm Torque 217 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm Weight 1,940 lbs Transmission 5-Speed Manual Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, RWD Top Speed 174 mph Serial Number (s/n) 3765LM 2. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen: $53,917,370 Auction Date: February 1, 2025 | Auctioneer: RM Sotheby's The most expensive F1 car sold at auction Only 4 examples feature Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner) bodywork Driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss in 1954, 1955 While Ferrari has dominated the top spots for some of the most expensive cars sold at auction for decades, historic racing models from the Mercedes-Benz brand have started to steal the show, selling for record-breaking sums of money. One such car is the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen, chassis: 00009/54, which sold for $53.9 million. This remarkable auction price made it the most expensive Formula 1 car to ever sell at auction. Driven by racing legends like Fangio and Moss, these cars dominated Grand Prix racing in the mid-1950s. Of the 14 chassis built, only four featured the streamlined Stromlinienwagen coachwork was made from Elektron magnesium alloy, weighing just 88 pounds. The car was designed for high-speed circuits like Monza and Riems. It famously won the Buenos Aires Grand Prix in 1955, with Fangio at the wheel. A creation of Mercedes' chief engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut, along with racing manager Alfred Neubauer, most surviving Stromlinienwagen models have been in museum collections, including this example seen here, which comes from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The car’s re-emergence and subsequent private ownership mark a significant shift in the collector car world, and this auction sale has firmly established its place as one of the most noteworthy and expensive auction sales for historically important racing cars to date. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen specs Engine Displacement 183 cu in (2,496 cc) Engine Configuration Inline-8 Horsepower 290 hp @ 8,500 rpm Torque 210 lb-ft @ 7,000 rpm Weight ~1,545 lbs Transmission 5-Speed Manual Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, RWD Top Speed 186 mph Serial Number (s/n) 00009/54 1. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe: $143,000,000 Auction Date: May 5, 2022 | Auctioneer: RM Sotheby's 1 of 2 prototypes ever built It was famously Uhlenhaut's daily driver Based on the championship-winning Mercedes Grand Prix car driven by Fangio Moving on to the car that takes the top spot on our list, which broke all previous records back in 2022. When the hammer finally fell at a special auction held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut coupe sold for a nine-figure auction price, surpassing the previous record back then by a staggering $90 million. The final price, $143 million, instantly made it the most valuable car sold at auction. Often referred to as the ‘Mona Lisa of Cars’, the 300 SLR is named after chief engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut. Based on the Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Grand Prix car driven by veteran racer Fangio, this car was one of only two prototypes ever built and was never intended for sale. Photo by: Dr. Mahesh Kumar Neelala Anand It was designed to close the gap between racing pedigree and road cars. The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut featured a magnesium alloy body and the iconic gullwing doors, which became synonymous with the 300 SL road car. The lightweight body and the 3.0-liter straight eight engine were capable of 180 mph, making it one of the fastest cars in the world at the time. The car’s tremendous auction price reflects its significance in automotive history, and the proceeds from the auction will benefit education and research. While Mercedes-Benz will continue to display the remaining 300 SLR at its museum, the new owner has also promised to occasionally display this example. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut specs Engine Displacement 182 cu in (2,982 cc) Engine Configuration Inline-8 Horsepower 310 hp @ 7,400 rpm Torque 229 lb-ft @ 5,950 rpm Weight 1,984 lbs Transmission 5-Speed Manual Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, RWD Top Speed 180 mph Serial Number (s/n) 196.110-00008/55 Sources: RM Sotheby's, Bonhams, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz FAQs 1. What is the most expensive car sold at an auction?A. The most expensive car ever sold at auction is the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, which fetched $143 million in a private sale conducted by RM Sotheby’s at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart in May 2022. 2. What was the most expensive car sold at Mecum auction 2025? A. The top sale at the Mecum Kissimmee 2025 auction was a 1966 Ford GT40 MkI Road Car (P/1034), which fetched $7,040,000. This particular GT40 was the first of 31 Mk I road cars sold to individual buyers. 3. What was the most expensive car sold at the Barrett Jackson auction? A. The highest-priced car ever sold at a Barrett-Jackson auction is the 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake, which achieved a sale price of $5.5 million in 2021. One of only two ever built, this rare vehicle is renowned for its exceptional performance and unique history. 4. Who owns the most expensive car in the world?A. The identity of the buyer of the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, sold for around $143 million, has not been publicly disclosed. The sale was conducted privately, and the new owner has chosen to remain anonymous. 5. Is there a car worth 1 billion dollars?A. No car today is valued at $1 billion. The most expensive new car, the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail at $28.2 million, is nowhere close to a billion dollars.6. What is the most expensive new car ever sold at auction?A. The 2026 Ferrari Luce Tailor Made, Chassis 0, sold for $40 million at RM Sotheby’s Monterey in August 2026. The charity lot was sold with Buyer’s Premium waived, with all proceeds benefiting The Ferrari Foundation.

By duPont REGISTRY – February 06, 2026

duPont REGISTRY Group & Pininfarina Unveil Exclusive Award to Honor ‘Best of the Best’ at U.S. Exotic and Luxury Car Shows

duPont REGISTRY Group (DRG), the trailblazer in the luxury and exotic automotive ecosystem, proudly announces the launch of its exclusive duPont REGISTRY Award, a trophy designed by legendary Italian design house Pininfarina. This prestigious accolade will be presented to the standout vehicles deemed the “Best of the Best” across exotic and luxury car shows throughout the United States. Considerations for the award started at the recently held Cars on Fifth event in Naples, and will continue at the renowned Miami Concours on February 13-15. Additionally, upcoming cars will become eligible for the 2026 duPont REGISTRY Award across marquee events from duPont REGISTRY Group’s portfolio of top-tier collector car gatherings nationwide. Experts will nominate their finest exemplars of design, innovation, and craftsmanship, with the ultimate winner selected by a panel of automotive connoisseurs and duPont REGISTRY editors. The winner of the duPont REGISTRY Award will receive an exclusive feature story in duPont REGISTRY magazine and online, reaching its wide audience of high-net-worth enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. This dedicated story will highlight both the vehicle’s design heritage, technical innovation, and the story behind its current custodian – offering unparalleled editorial prestige and exposure. The centerpiece of this initiative is the award itself – a sculptural masterpiece born from the hands of Pininfarina, embodying the perfect blend of Italian elegance and American luxury. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the duPont REGISTRY Award represents not only automotive achievement but also the artistry and passion that define the collector-car world. “The duPont REGISTRY Award is more than a trophy – it is a tribute to the passion, culture, and craftsmanship that unite true car lovers. For Pininfarina, designing it was a way to celebrate extraordinary automobiles and, above all, the passion behind these masterpieces” said Paolo Trevisan, SVP Design of Pininfarina. Michael Chapin, President of duPont REGISTRY, added: “The duPont REGISTRY Award represents the pinnacle of luxury and exotic automotive excellence. Commissioning Pininfarina to design the trophy was intentional – this is an honor meant to carry weight, artistry, and legacy. It celebrates the vehicles and collectors who set the standard for what ‘best of the best’ truly means.” About duPont REGISTRY Group The heart of the Driven Lifestyle division, the duPont REGISTRY Group is the world’s leading luxury ecosystem, encapsulating the culture, community and commerce of the high-end automotive lifestyle. Built by some of the biggest names in the luxury automotive space, duPont REGISTRY Group represents a vibrant community of members worldwide nurtured over four decades. Its portfolio includes duPont Registry, Canossa Events, Cavallino, Supercar Owners Circle, Petrolicious, Retromobile New York, Cars on Fifth, Miami Concours, FerrariChat and Sotheby’s Motorsport. About Pininfarina A global icon of Italian style, Pininfarina is recognized for its unparalleled ability to create timeless beauty through its values of elegance, purity, and innovation. Founded in 1930, Pininfarina has evolved from an artisan concern to an international service Group, supreme expression of automotive styling and an established reality in industrial and experience design, architecture, nautical and mobility beyond automotive. A group employing 500 people, offices in Italy, Germany, China, and the United States and listed on the Stock Exchange since 1986. Over the course of nine decades Pininfarina has designed more than 1450 automotive and mobility projects and more than 750 product and architecture projects, receiving more than 90 international design awards in the past 10 years.

By duPont REGISTRY – January 11, 2026

Ferrari F40 Records Set To Be Smashed?

Mecum Auctions has consigned the Phil & Martha Bachman collection, inclusive of 46 Ferraris, for their annual Kissimmee sale. Near the top of the list are two F40 examples. It’s quite atypical for two F40s to appear at the same auction, but the Bachmans owned two, and this atypical auction will offer around 4,500 cars. The record for a Ferrari F40 at public auction is $3.97m USD in 2022, which inflates to $4.35m in today’s dollars. So why is that record’s time likely nearly up? First, a bit of context… Ferrari launched the F40 in 1987 to celebrate its 40th anniversary, claiming it would build 400 units. Due to massive demand, the manufacturer built around 1,315. By the time the car reached US shores for model year 1990, the MSRP was $399k, or $1.02m today. The F40 is the second member of the ‘Big Six’ flagship supercars from Ferrari. Today, the market for F40s is hotter than ever. That 2022 record was the first time an F40 crossed the $3m threshold in a public sale. Since then, 18 further offerings have followed suit. Nine occurred in 2025 alone! The F40s coming to Mecum at no reserve present promising cases to be the top two sales ever. The Bachman collection is long known to the community, and most of their Ferraris show very low mileage. The F40s carry only 456 and 865 miles, a small fraction of the 8,766 miles that the average example comes to market with. This ranks them as the second and fifth-lowest-mileage F40s to come to auction of 73 offerings in the last five years. Furthermore, they rank as the two lowest-mileage US-specification offerings. What makes US-spec cars different, and perhaps even special? The F40 arrived at a time when there were heavy differences in crash and emissions regulations between the US and Europe (even more so than today), and as a result, Ferrari had to tweak the car significantly to sell it stateside. By the time the US version arrived, a few years after theEuropean debut, it brought numerous changes to the exterior, interior, and mechanicals: 211 of the 1,315 F40s were built in US specification by the end of production in 1992. For years, US cars have traded at higher prices than their European counterparts. This gap is partially attributable to U.S. cars appearing for sale with fewer miles on average (7,000 miles vs. 11,054 miles/17,790 km for European cars). What helps explain the rest of the difference is that US cars are rarer (211 vs. 1,104) and contain a number of unique details. Some are debatably improvements, but oftentimes the collector market values rarity for its own sake. US cars do feature a power bump typically quoted at 25-40 more hp over the European cars, although this offsets an extra ~160 lbs. of weight. The value delta has been shifting recently. Of the 19 F40s to have publicly sold for at least $3m, the first six to do so were all US-specification examples – as were 11 of the first 15. But each of the last four were European-specification example, and recently the average prices for each specification have been converging. According to my data, the price advantage for US cars currently stands at 8.3%. The Bachman F40s are extremely low-mileage, US-specification examples and thus stand primed to set new benchmarks, as long as their conditions are commensurate with their odometers. They will be informative indicators of whether US cars maintain their market supremacy over European cars after a recent spate of incredible offerings from each specification. Collectors who prefer the European version have a few more factors to consider, as the model evolved throughout its five-year run. Near the middle of production, European F40s started being fitted with catalytic converters, matching the new US version. Around the same time, Ferrari also began offering an adjustable suspension option – only for European cars. Catalytic converters mildly stifled power and added weight. The adjustable suspension is often regarded as finicky; some feel it disrupts handling, and it too added weight. F40s from the first few years of European production are consequently referred to as ‘non-cat, non-adjust’ examples, and these are typically the most desirable to collectors. The top seven European-specification sales have all involved non-cat, non-adjust cars. A further consideration is that the first 16 F40s came from the factory with racecar-style, sliding windows made from Lexan. Quickly, the factory moved to traditional glass wind-ups, but they left the sliders as an option for European-specification cars. Very few buyers chose this option, and by the end of production, only 95 of the 1,104 European cars featured Lexan sliding windows. Today, these examples are sought after and rarely come up for sale. The last time one came to auction was February 2020. We previously wrote about the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing' and how it stands at the top of the collector car market. As I noted then, its closest competition is the Ferrari F40, a model that has been gaining over the last decade while the 300 SL softened. It’s possible the F40 is the next holder of the mantle, and if so, the Bachman collection salecould be a milestone in getting there. View All Ferrari F40s For Sale On duPont REGISTRY Image Source: Mecum Auctions

A dark blue Corvette Restomod classic Chevrolet sports car is parked on a paved road with trees and grass in the background, as seen at Mecum Kissimmee supporting Curing Kids Cancer.

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 05, 2026

World Class Corvette Restomod Being Auctioned

Passionate gearhead David Freeman, is offering something rarely seen in the collector car world: a deeply personal build with a purpose that extends far beyond the garage. His one-of-one 1969 Chevrolet Corvette restomod will cross the block at the Mecum Kissimmee Auction on January 16, 2026, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Curing Kids Cancer, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating pediatric cancer research. The Corvette itself represents a five-year vision brought carefully to life. Freeman set out to create a refined interpretation of a 1969 Corvette—one that retained the soul and silhouette of the original while delivering modern supercar-level performance, reliability, and build quality. Subtle design details distinguish it from typical restomods, with every modification executed to enhance the car without overwhelming its heritage. Under the hood sits a GM LT4 engine topped with a Magnuson 2650 supercharger, producing 589 horsepower and 670 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels, all while fitting beneath the stock hood to preserve the car’s original appearance. What began as a lifelong passion project took on a new meaning as the build reached completion. Around the same time the car was finished, Freeman was navigating his own prostate cancer diagnosis—a moment that reshaped his perspective. Through his daughter, a pediatric oncology nurse, David gained firsthand insight into how critically underfunded childhood cancer research remains. The contrast between cutting-edge automotive engineering and the limited resources available to children battling cancer was impossible to ignore. The Corvette, once intended as a car to keep forever, suddenly felt capable of serving a greater purpose. Key Details: GM LT4 engine with Magnuson 2650 supercharger 589 HP/670 lbs-ft of torque at the rear wheels Bowler 4L80E automatic transmission rated to 800 HP Streetshop C7 chassis with QA-1 double adjustable coilovers Brembo GT brakes (15”) Ferrari Cuoio full leather interior with Mercedes velour carpet Custom designed and fabricated carbon fiber interior trim and rocker trim Custom Forgeline wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires That realization led Freeman to search for a way the car could make a tangible difference. Conversations with Mecum Auctions revealed a long-standing partnership with Curing Kids Cancer, prompting Freeman to connect directly with the organization’s founder, Grainne Owen. Her story—turning the loss of her son Killian to leukemia into a mission to fund lifesaving research—cemented the decision. Curing Kids Cancer directs every dollar raised toward accelerating treatments from the laboratory to the clinic, giving children access to better outcomes sooner. With that clarity, David Freeman committed to auctioning the Corvette in its entirety for charity. If the sale of this car can help advance research and offer even one child more time with their family, the decision to part with it becomes an easy one. What remains is not just a remarkable car, but a powerful reminder that passion projects can carry meaning far beyond horsepower figures and auction results. View Auction Listing

A white sports car with black wheels displayed indoors under bright lights, photographed from a low front angle—Feature Exclusive: $25.3M McLaren F1 leads RM Sotheby's Abu Dhabi Auction.

By Khris Bharath – December 06, 2025

Feature Exclusive: $25.3M McLaren F1 Leads RM Sotheby's A...

RM Sotheby’s wrapped up its landmark Abu Dhabi sale on Friday (December 5th, 2025), marking one of the region’s most significant collector car auctions to date. Held seaside in an open-air setting on the grounds of the picturesque St. Regis, Saadiyat Island Resort, the atmosphere was electric, with the city already buzzing from the ongoing Formula One weekend at Yas Marina, the final race on the F1 calendar. Our October coverage introduced this sale as part of Abu Dhabi’s inaugural Collector’s Week, establishing the Emirati capital as a serious node in the prestigious global auction calendar. In our previous breakdown of the lineup, we highlighted the mix of modern hypercars, factory specials, and competition-grade machinery set to cross the block. Originally, 32 lots were consigned, though the Aston Martin One-77 (Lot 421) was later withdrawn, leaving just over 30 cars in the docket. An exclusive pre-auction preview at dusk gave us an up-close look at the cars being offered for sale, building anticipation ahead of the big night. McLaren and Ferrari emerged as the dominant marques, both in presence and final numbers on the board. Bidding was fierce, on the web, by phone, and on-site, with the sell-through rate of 83 percent and $84.7 US million turnover. The defining moment of the evening came when a 1994 McLaren F1, with Brunei Royal provenance and equipped with the highly desirable High Downforce Kit (HDK that mimics the rare LM-spec cars) installed at the factory in 2007, finally crossed the block for $25.3 million (hammer price: $22.5 million). Chassis #014 of the 64 road-legal Mclaren F1s ever built, was not only the highest sale of the auction, but also one of the most significant automotive transactions seen this year in the collector car world. Another highlight was the Triple Crown offering from McLaren seen here. For those unaware, Triple Crown is with reference to winning the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. McLaren has the distinction of being the only manufacturer to have achieved this feat to date and CEO, Zack Brown aspires to do it again, this time in a single calendar year. This is the very first time that threefuture competition cars from the British marque went under the hammer. The 2026 Arrow McLaren IndyCar DW12 (Lot 428) that Pato O' Ward will drive, achieved $848,750. The 2026 MCL40A McLaren Formula 1 chassis (Lot 429), destined for either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri next season, went for $11.48 million. It was followed by the 2027 McLaren United WEC LMDh Hypercar (Lot 430) that hit $7.59 million. At McLaren, we are proud of our motorsport history, and we are the only team who have ever won the Triple Crown. - Mark Norris, Director of Trackside Operations, McLaren Racing Other noteworthy sales included a Pagani Zonda Riviera (Lot 417) that went for $10.13 million. Originally a Zonda F, it was transformed inside and out, by Pagani with several noteworthy additions including a roof scoop, carbon fiber embellishments, a rear wing and an exquisitely finished Riviera-inspired pearl-white paint with blue accents. Marking one of the earliest public sales of the GMA T.50 (Lot 431), saw a closing price of $5.63 million. This is a car that follows Gordon Murray’s seven cor principles and is a spiritual successor to the McLaren F1. Ferrari had a powerful showing throughout the event. An Ex- Alain Prost 1990 F40 (Lot 418) closed at $3.88 million, a 2014 LaFerrari (Lot 418) achieved $3.38 million, while a Monza SP2 (Lot 409), part of Ferrari’s Icona Series, reached $2.53 million. Strong figures continued for other recent Ferraris such as the F12tdf, 812 Competizione, and 458 Speciale A, each confirming that limited-series exotics with a prancing horse badge, remain among the most liquid modern collectibles. Beyond Maranello, a Porsche 918 Weissach Spyder (Lot 419) returned $1.71 million. We previously saw this very example, just a few weeks ago at this year’s 2025 Icons of Porsche over in Dubai. A 1-of-80 2011 Ferrari SA Aperta (Lot 407) that hit $1.56 million, rounded out the top 10 sales of the evening. McLaren’s Triple Crown sale signals a growing appetite for motorsport assets tied to future grid eligibility rather than historical provenance alone. Adding emotional weight was the presence of the legendary three-time Formula 1 world champion, Ayrton Senna’s Brazilian GP-winning 1991 McLaren Honda MP4/6/1, at the entrance to the auction venue. Finished in the iconic white and red Marlboro livery, it reminded everyone of the Woking-based team’s motorsport legacy is one that goes back decades and is being offered as part of the Sealed - Forever, Senna sale that closes in five days. Collector cars are rapidly becoming a lucrative alternative asset class for high-net-worth portfolios, something that we covered comprehensively in the Boston Consulting Group study, carried out in collaboration with the duPont REGISTRY Group. But if there was one key takeaway from Abu Dhabi, it is that collectors are increasingly moving towards modern icons, low-production hypercars, and cultural halo models from the nineties and 2000s. Seven-figure bidding these days, is now as common for contemporary exotics as it once was for pre-war vintage beauties and 1950s/‘60s blue-chip classics. This is a trend that we’ve witnessed throughout the year from Villa d’este, Goodwood and Monterey, where the top sale was a Giallo Ferrari Daytona SP3, that sold for $26 million. Also, this sale says a lot about the entire GCC region, not as an emerging market but as a comparable player in valuation scale, auction depth, and global buyer engagement. Duccio Lopresto, Managing Director MENA, RM Sotheby’s, touched on this at length, last week during the 1000 Miglia Experience, UAE 2025’s Opening Day. Abu Dhabi’s growing influence in the luxury and auction segments is further supported by a historic $1 billion investment in Sotheby’s. Those watching the auction, from the front rows included Emirati royals, prominent automotive collectors, and CEOs, turning the evening into both a historic sale and a social gathering . View All RM Sotheby's Inventory Images: Khris Bharath

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 04, 2025

Record-Breaking Bugatti Veyron Leads Broad Arrow's $13.7M...

Big sales in Sin City. Broad Arrow’s inaugural Las Vegas Auction this past weekend, at Wynn Las Vegas provided a clear picture of what buyers are paying attention to today in the collector car world. Held alongside the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas, the auction event showcased a mix of classic and modern cars, bringing together buyers and enthusiasts for a carefully curated, single-day sale. By the end of it all, 82% of lots had sold, and the auction totaled $13.7 million in sales. Eli Rodriguez kept the pace steady, moving through the catalog efficiently while giving each lot its moment to shine on stage for all to see. The room had the deliberate, attentive, and competitive energy you’d expect from serious collectors going head-to-head for some of the most desirable cars on the market. The top lot was a 2010 Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 Coupe, low mileage and freshly serviced, which sold for $2,205,000. That number set a record for a standard Veyron at auction, but what stood out more was the quiet respect for the car’s legacy as a pioneer and timeless icon in the hypercar world. In addition, a 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster went for $1.83 million, and a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage closed at $1.116 million, proving that classic cars remain strong contenders even alongside the latest and greatest supercars. Top Ten Sales 2010 Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 Coupe – $2,205,000 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster – $1,831,000 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage – $1,116,000 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S – $885,000 2017 Ferrari F12berlinetta 70th Anniversary Edition “The Ingrid” – $665,000 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Coupe by MSO – $610,000 2022 Ferrari SF90 Spider – $502,750 1963 Maserati 3500 GTI Vignale Spyder Prototype – $500,000 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC – $450,500 2023 Ferrari 296 GTS Assetto Fiorano – $412,000 For a first event, Broad Arrow seemed to hit the right notes with solid sales, engaged bidders, and benchmark prices that reflect where the market stands as a whole. With momentum from this debut, Broad Arrow is turning its attention to the 2026 global calendar, where there’s likely more events and a few more records waiting to be set. All Broad Arrow Inventory View this post on Instagram A post shared by Broad Arrow Auctions (@broadarrow_auctions) Source: Broad Arrow Auctions

A factory white Ferrari 250 GTO with the number 10 on the door is parked on a rural road, surrounded by grass and trees under a clear sky—a stunning sight reminiscent of a Mecum Kissimmee Auction classic.

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 06, 2025

The ONLY Factory White Ferrari 250 GTO Set to Headline Me...

This one-of-a-Kind 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is set to make history. Few Ferraris carry the weight of legend like the 250 GTO, and none are as even remotely memorable as Chassis 3729GT, affectionately celebrated as Bianco Speciale. Built between 1962 and 1964, this is one of only 36 ever made, but it's the only example finished in a factory-optioned Bianco Speciale livery. That single shade alone glorifies it as a standout in Ferrari history. Rather than undergo a nut-and-bolt restoration, the car has been meticulously maintained, repaired, and refinished over the decades, preserving as much original fabric as possible. Collectors consider it the most desirable Ferrari of all time, and this GTO's status cements its place at the absolute top of its league. Chassis 3729GT's racing résumé reads like a who's who of 1960s motorsport. In its debut at Brands Hatch during the Peco Trophy on August 6, 1962, Roy Salvadori drove it to a second-place finish. Two weeks later, at Goodwood's RAC Tourist Trophy, Graham Hill jumped in and also landed second, helping Ferrari secure the GT Manufacturers' crown for 1962. In 1963, Mike MacDowel took the wheel twice, including at the Whitsun Trophy and British Grand Prix GT race, and Jack Sears delivered the car's first GT class victory in August. Driven by racing heroes like Salvadori, Hill, MacDowel, Salmon, and Sears, Bianco Speciale made its mark without a single class win, which was its only flaw. Despite its aggressive debut in racing circles, the GTO also holds a softer side, retaining every unpolished characteristic that defines its original Italian spirit. John Coombs, the owner who commissioned it in 1962, sent the car to Scaglietti and requested the unthinkable: a pearly white paint finish. At the time, Ferrari insisted on reds, but Coombs pulled strings, working through Alfredo Reali to deliver a genuine exception. That rare stroke of influence turned Bianco Speciale into an automotive anomaly, with its livery forever separating it from its ruby-red siblings. Even its influence went beyond Ferrari. Coombs eventually loaned Bianco Speciale to Jaguar engineers for reverse engineering, helping inspire the Lightweight E-type. In racing seasons that followed, Coombs raced both cars at key events, almost like a head-to-head test in public. While E-Types scored wins locally, the GTO's raw performance and sharp handling proved harder to beat on the biggest stages. Even after changing hands, the car stayed in race-ready condition, earning its Ferrari Classiche Red Book in 2008 and maintaining many original Coombs-era pieces. Now ready for its next chapter at Mecum Kissimmee 2026, this Ferrari 250 GTO is living history. The car even comes with a spare GTO-spec engine for vintage racing use, and keeps its original shoestring build quality where possible. When someone takes ownership of Bianco Speciale, they join the most elite car club on earth. This is a one-of-one masterpiece that never demanded restoration, because it was already perfect. View All Mecum Auction Inventory " width="680"> Source: Mecum Auctions

A red Ferrari F40, one of the ultimate '90s Icons, is parked indoors on a light floor with a black background.

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 19, 2025

Broad Arrow Brings ’90s Icons and Modern Hypercars to Its...

This will be an auction to remember. In the collector car world, certain hotbed destinations draw auction houses, collectors, and enthusiasts together to witness history as the most significant and valuable cars cross the block. Whether it's the prestigious charm of Pebble Beach and a pre-war Bentley, or the bright lights of Las Vegas and a multi-million dollar Bugatti Veyron, these auction meccas have earned their reputations with years of success. This year, the auction specialists at Broad Arrow Auctions are expanding their global reach with the upcoming inaugural debut of the Zoute Concours Auction in October. 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort (Credit – Courtesy of Broad Arrow Auctions) The auction event aims to make a big statement as it will showcase seven coveted cars from The Aleggria Collection, featuring everything from hypercars owned by former F1 drivers to iconic 90s supercars you've seen on posters. Held on October 10, 2025, during the prestigious Zoute Grand Prix Car Week in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, the sale will bring together some of the rarest and most desirable cars ever created. With over 75 cars set to cross the block, including an impressive number offered without reserve, it's the kind of auction where buyers will be tuning in both in-person and virtually from around the world. 1992 Bugatti EB110 GT (Credit – Courtesy of Broad Arrow Auctions) At the center of the action is The Aleggria Collection, a carefully curated group of seven remarkable supercars. Highlights include a Classiche-certified 1990 Ferrari F40 in desirable "non-cat, non-adjust" spec, a rare Graphite Metallic Porsche 959 Komfort, and a Bugatti EB110 GT with barely 8,000 kilometers from new. Joining these 90s legends are a McLaren 675LT Spider, Porsche 911 Speedster Heritage Design Package, and Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 S Roadster. Daniel Ricciardo’s Aston Martin Valkyrie (Credit – Rich Pearce/Courtesy of Broad Arrow Auctions) Star lots include Daniel Ricciardo's personally commissioned Aston Martin Valkyrie, the futuristic Lamborghini Pregunta concept, and the one-off Transformers Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. Motorsport fans will also be treated to legends like the Spa-winning BMW 3.0 CSL and a factory-backed Lancia Stratos HF. On the more classic side, a Ferrari 275 GTB/4 in rare Verde Pino, a patina-rich Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, and a Porsche Carrera GT in Seal Grey round out the blue-chip offerings. Between rarity and the sheer spectacle of these cars crossing the block, the Zoute Concours Auction is already a must-watch event on the international collector car calendar. Broad Arrow Auctions Inventory Source: Broad Arrow Auctions

A yellow and black Ferrari Daytona SP3, worth $26 million, is displayed on an outdoor platform at a car show, drawing the attention of billionaire car enthusiasts amid people and lights in the background.

By Charles Bradley – August 25, 2025

Revealed: The Enigmatic Billionaire Who Bought One-Off Fe...

One of the most coveted modern Ferraris ever built, which sold for $26 million during RM Sotheby’s Monterey Car Week sale to make it the most expensive contemporary car ever auctioned, was bought by a self-made American billionaire renowned for making shrewd investments and his generous philanthropy. His record-breaking bid will go to the Ferrari Foundation, funding education and rebuilding projects. The man behind the purchase? Herbert ‘Herbie’ Wertheim, whose life story reads like an American epic. Known to friends as “Dr. Herbie,” Wertheim – who always wears a bright-red fedora – is an optometrist, inventor, philanthropist, and investing legend estimated to be worth up to $5 billion, depending on his charitable donations. Part of Ferrari’s exclusive Icona Series, the Daytona SP3 was limited to 599 examples worldwide, but this one-off ‘Tailor Made’ commission stunned the automotive world – chassis ‘599+1,’ finished in a striking two-tone carbon-fiber and Giallo Modena livery. With delivery mileage and an unprecedented level of personalization, the car commanded a price higher than many seven-figure classics. From Troubled Youth to Visionary Inventor Born in Philadelphia at the end of the Great Depression, Wertheim ran away from home as a teenager, working odd jobs like picking oranges in Florida and even living with Seminole Indians in the Everglades. At 16, he stood before a judge on truancy charges and was given a choice: State reformatory or military service. He chose the U.S. Navy at 17, a decision that reshaped his life. While serving in naval aviation during the Cold War, Wertheim began investing. His first stock purchase, Lear Jet, came from his Navy stipend, and he went on to meet aviation pioneer Bill Lear in person. That early exposure to technology and industry ignited a lifelong passion. After the Navy, Wertheim studied physics and chemistry, worked as a NASA engineer at Cape Canaveral, and eventually earned a scholarship to study optometry. In 1969, he invented an eyeglass tint for plastic lenses that filtered harmful UV rays, helping prevent cataracts. By 1970, he founded Brain Power Inc. (BPI), which went on to hold more than 100 patents and copyrights in optical technology. A Billionaire Who Played the Long Game " width="680"> Unlike Silicon Valley moguls or Wall Street icons, Wertheim’s fortune didn’t come from a single IPO windfall. Instead, he built it patiently through decades of disciplined investing. He bought and held shares of companies like Apple, Microsoft, GE, Google, BP, and Bank of America long before they became household names, according to Forbes. His single greatest investment remains Heico, an aerospace parts manufacturer. Wertheim purchased a stake in 1992, worth about $5 million at the time. Today, his position exceeds $800 million, making him Heico’s largest individual shareholder. A Life of Luxury, Purpose, and Giving Wertheim’s portfolio afforded him an enviable lifestyle, and he has been described as one of the most successful individual investors of his generation. Yet his wealth is balanced by philanthropy. Having donated more than $100 million to Florida’s public universities, Wertheim also signed Bill Gates and Warren Buffett’s ‘Giving Pledge’, committing to donate at least half his fortune – most of it toward education. The Ferrari Collector’s Dream The purchase of the Ferrari Daytona SP3 ‘599+1’ is more than just a collector’s trophy for Wertheim. It represents the same vision that defined his investments: spotting timeless innovation and believing in the value of rarity and craftsmanship, and donating his wealth to education and rebuilding projects. Like his stock portfolio, the Ferrari is built on the principle that some creations – whether a transformative technology or a bespoke supercar – transcend market cycles. For collectors, it is yet another reminder that at Monterey Car Week, history isn’t just celebrated – it’s bought and driven home. View All Ferraris For Sale on duPont REGISTRY Images Source: RM Sotheby's, Ferrari

By Khris Bharath – August 21, 2025

10 Most Expensive Cars To Sell At 2025 Monterey Car Week ...

If you want to understand the state of the collector-car market today, you don’t just look at classifieds or dealer lots anymore; you look at events like Monterey Car Week. Alongside Villa d’Este and Goodwood, Monterey remains one of the highlights of the annual automotive calendar. With traditional auto shows losing steam, several automakers are now turning to places like the Quail to unveil their most-anticipated models and evocative concept cars. But coming to auctions specifically, we knew this year’s showing was going to be spectacular. As early as April, we highlighted some of the biggest players heading to the West Coast including RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Company, Bonhams, and Mecum; all already part our list of the top 10 auctions to watch in 2025. Each arrived with a docket made up of several multimillion-dollar consignments, and between August 13 through 17, Northern California’s Monterey Peninsula once again became the world’s most concentrated showcase of collector-car wealth, breaking multiple records along the way. If you’ve been following along, we’ve already broken down each auction house’s top results in detail, where we witnessed fierce bidding both online and on site. Bonhams Cars staged one of its strongest Monterey outings in years, bringing in $44.7 million at The Quail Auction with a 96 percent sell-through rate. Mostly made up of no-reserve modern hypercars, the top sale came from a 2020 Bugatti Divo that went for $8.6 million. Mecum contributed $39.5 million in sales with strong results for classics and American muscle, while Broad Arrow impressed, bringing a Maserati MC12 Stradale to $5.2 million and a Koenigsegg CCXR to $3.2 million at the Jet Center auction. Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach sale reached $128 million, led by a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione at $25.3 million. But by far, RM Sotheby’s was the highlight of the weekend, wrapping up two action- packed evenings at $165.3 million, an 87 percent sell through rate, moving 47 cars past the $1 million mark, with seven exceeding $5 million and the top two breaking $10 million including a one-off Ferrari Daytona SP3 “Tailor Made” that stunned bidders at $26 million. In total, Monterey 2025 achieved a staggering $432.8 million in sales according to Hagerty across five major houses and four days, the second-highest Car Week total ever, narrowly behind the $471.2 million of 2022. Ferrari continues to dominate, claiming eight of the top 10 lots, but the era spread of automobiles is broader than ever. While the top 10 most expensive cars ever sold at auction are dominated by vintage and classic cars, it appears that buyers aren’t just chasing prewar exotica or 1960s icons anymore. Folks are now writing eight-figure checks for cars that defined the 1980s, 1990s, and even modern supercars. This indicates a generational handoff in car collecting tastes. Yes, cars with racing history, matching numbers, or unique editions command premium bids. But Monterey this year has proven that there’s a growing interest for newer metal amongst a younger demographic of buyers and collectors. With that, here are the 10 most expensive cars that crossed the block from Monterey Car Week 2025. View All Cars For Sale on duPont REGISTRY 10. 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari: RM Sotheby’s $5.23 Million 9. 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster: RM Sotheby’s $5.34 Million 8. 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta: Gooding Christie’s $6.71 Million 7. 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Prototiporari: Gooding Christie’s $7.26 Million 6. 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione: Gooding Christie’s $8.14 Million 5. 2020 Bugatti Divo: Bonhams Cars $8.55 Million 4. 1995 Ferrari F50: RM Sotheby’s $9.24 Million 3. 1993 Ferrari F40 LM GTC: RM Sotheby’s $11.05 Million 2. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Competizione Alloy Spider: Gooding Christie’s $25.30 Million 1. 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 ‘Tailor Made’: RM Sotheby’s $26 Million Images: RM Sotheby's, Gooding Christie's, Bonhams Cars

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