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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 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

Eight yellow Ferrari sports cars with white and blue racing stripes, part of exclusive Ferrari Collections, are arranged in a semicircle on a gravel surface, with trees and grass in the background.

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 29, 2025

One of the World's Most Recognized Ferrari Collections is...

Among car collectors worldwide, preferences run deep. Some dedicate their garage spaces to Italian supercars, while others curate their lineup by the smallest detail, sometimes even just by color. While Phil and Martha Bachman’s collection checks those boxes with more than 40 yellow Ferraris and other four-wheel Italian icons, there’s one other keen detail that Phil took into consideration when adding another car to his fleet. As if owning bespoke, one-of-one Ferrari specs wasn’t enough to scratch that exclusive itch, the Bachmans often opted to secure the last chassis of the vehicle’s production life as an extra touch of prominence. After collecting cars for more than 40 years and building one of the most recognized Ferrari collections in the world, The Bachman Ferrari Collection is joining Mecum Auctions as a No Reserve headliner for its Kissimmee 2026 event from January 6th to 18th. Spanning nearly half a century of Ferrari history, the 48-car lineup includes some of Maranello’s most celebrated creations: the track-only Ferrari FXX, the hybrid-powered LaFerrari and LaFerrari Aperta, the legendary Enzo, and the rest of its iconic lineage – the F50, F40, and 288 GTO. Even among front-engine V12 icons, examples like the F12tdf and 599 SA Aperta showcase the other side of engineering and performance that defines Ferrari. These cars represent the evolution of one of the most admired brands in the world, with each example chosen for its significance, originality, and timelessness. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is presented in collaboration with Mecum Auctions, Christopher Miele, and Prancing Horse of Nashville. Many of the Ferraris remain in exceptionally original, low-mileage condition, some as final-production examples or rare factory specs. The Bachmans’ philosophy was never about volume or speculation; it was about finding the perfect car and keeping it perfect. The result is a time capsule that traces Ferrari’s design DNA from sculpted classics to modern-day performance. For the collector car world, the Bachman’s Ferraris entering public auction is an event in itself. It’s not often that well-preserved and privately held cars become available. Mecum Kissimmee has long been a destination for important automotive moments, and this feels like one, marking the end of an era for one family and the beginning of another chapter for collectors. Mecum Kissimmee 2026 Info Source: Mecum Auctions

By Khris Bharath – December 20, 2025

Broad Arrow Records Over $624M Across Auctions, Private S...

Broad Arrow reported $624 million in total transactions in 2025, representing 97 percent year over year growth. The figure combines live auctions, private sales, and financing activity across the global collector car market. Now in its fourth year, Broad Arrow, a Hagerty company, generated $257 million in total auction sales. The year began with the one-off Academy of Art University Collection sale and expanded into Europe with three inaugural auctions: Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, Zoute Concours, and Zurich. These events established immediate traction, with multiple record prices and strong bidder participation. Over the course of the year, we touched on several key events from the auction house, including the Jet Center Auction, the inaugural Zoute Concours Auction, the Las Vegas Auction led by a record-setting Bugatti Veyron, the Air|Water Auction, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Auction, the Amelia Auction, and the Audrain Auction. Several were on our list of top auctions to watch in 2025. Broad Arrow Auction Highlights of 2025: 1. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione – $9,465,000 (The Amelia Auction 2025) 2. 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa by Ansaloni – €7.543.750 (The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Auction 2025) 3. 1956 Jaguar D-Type – CHF 5'181'250 (The Zurich Auction 2025) 4. 2005 Maserati MC12 Stradale– $5,202,500 (Monterey Jet Center 2025) 5. 1989 RUF CTR Yellowbird – $4,680,000 (The Porsche Air|Water Auction 2025) 6. 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV – $4,460,000 (The Amelia Auction 2025) 7. 1954 Jaguar D-Type "OKV 2" Works Competition – $4,295,000 (The Amelia Auction 2025) 8. 1938 Talbot-Lago T150 C Lago Spéciale Teardrop Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi - €3.606.250 (The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Auction 2025) 9. 2018 Pagani Huayra Roadster – $3,415,000 (The Amelia Auction 2025) 10. 1991 Ferrari F40 – Sold After Auction (Monterey Jet Center 2025) Private sales accounted for more than $281 million across 190 closed transactions. Highlights included a highly original 1995 McLaren F1 and a 2019 Ferrari FXX-K Evo, reinforcing demand for discreet, off-auction transactions. Broad Arrow Capital underwrote over $85 million in new financing, offering acquisition loans, equity release, consignor advances, and bidder financing. This addressed gaps left by traditional lenders and supported transactions at every stage of ownership. Broad Arrow plans to expand further in 2026 with The Audrain Auction in partnership with Audrain Concours, extending its U.S. auction footprint. View All Broad Arrow Inventory Images: Broad Arrow Auctions

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

A dark blue Ferrari convertible sports car is shown in a studio with its roof down, viewed from the rear three-quarter angle.

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 24, 2025

The Top Auctions This Week On duPont REGISTRY Live

These incredible cars are going fast. Buying a car at auction is one of the most exciting ways to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Competing against other bidders to take your dream car home is an exhilarating process, and duPont REGISTRY Live makes it easier than ever. With dR Live, you can bid online for luxury and exotic cars, and enjoy peace of mind for buyers and sellers, with a 14-day return policy and a 100% sell-through rate. Whether you’re buying or selling a car via duPont REGISTRY Live, you’ll get white glove, world-class luxury service as part of your experience, and that comes along with some of the most desirable and exclusive luxury and exotic cars in the automotive world available for auction. This week, three very special cars are currently up for auction on duPont REGISTRY Live, with bidding ending for all of them this week. Keep reading to see some of our favorite cars available for auction now on duPont REGISTRY Live and bid online now. If you want to have one in your garage, act fast, because bidding is ending on these cars soon. View All Vehicles For Auction 2021 Ferrari 812 GTS One of Ferrari’s greatest modern masterpieces, the Ferrari 812 GTS is a front-engined grand touring convertible with a powerful 6.5-liter V12 engine under the hood. Sending power to the rear wheels, it’s the result of the perfect formula for a Ferrari enthusiast’s dream, and this example up for auction now is finished in an elegant Blu Pozzi exterior with an interior upholstered with Cioccolato leather. With 17,422 miles, it’s ready to continue being driven and enjoyed as a Ferrari masterpiece. Bid Now 2021 Ferrari F8 Spider Ferrari’s twin-turbo V8, mid-engine supercar is the kind of thrilling driving masterpiece that Ferrari is well known for making. The F8 Spider is the open-top variant of the F8, and this example, available for auction now on duPont REGISTRY Live for online bidding, is finished in Argento Nürburgring with a black leather interior, showing just 2,709 miles on its odometer. Bid Now 2025 BMW M5 For a new era of BMW, the M5, the manufacturer’s iconic luxury performance sedan, is more powerful and innovative than ever. With a powertrain that combines a twin-turbocharged V8 engine with a hybrid system, the newest generation of the BMW M5 is mighty, efficient, and futuristic. This example features Dark Graphite Metallic exterior paint, a Red Extended Merino Leather interior, and 4,936 miles on its odometer. Bid Now

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 21, 2025

1-of-1 Pink 2015 Dodge Viper GTC Listed For Auction On dR...

The Dodge Viper is already a unique performance car, this one takes it up a notch. With a massive V10 engine under the hood, and a look throughout its generations that has made it one of the most iconic and recognizable American performance cars in existence, the Dodge Viper is a unique statement of automotive performance. Since its discontinuation, nothing has emerged that is quite like it, and it remains one of the world’s most desirable and unique examples of American Muscle. While its fifth generation was in production, Dodge introduced the “1 of 1” Viper Color Collection program, through which customers could choose virtually any visual aspect of their car to make it a truly unique one-off, and one of those cars, this 2015 Dodge Viper GTC, is up for auction on duPont REGISTRY LIVE right now. It’s finished in a unique pink exterior, with a black leather interior, Harman Kardon audio, and plenty of other desirable features. Of course, an 8.4-liter V10 engine lies under the long hood, and it sends 645 horsepower to the rear wheels. With 17,454 miles on its odometer, this incredible V10 American performance machine is one of the last examples of one of the most iconic performance cars ever, and one of the most unique Dodge Vipers ever made. If you’re interested in owning this one-off pink 2015 Dodge Viper, bidding online on duPont REGISTRY LIVE ends in five days. Click below to view more details about this incredible American performance machine and bid now. View Listing & Bid Now

A blue Ford GT sports car is displayed indoors at a classic car show, parked in front of a sign that reads "GAA Classic Cars.

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 21, 2025

GAA Classic Cars Recaps Successful November Sale

GAA Classic Cars celebrates a successful November auction. Auction houses across the country see classic cars and collector-worthy masterpieces crossing the block, with the gavel often announcing impressive values for cars that are cherished by their owners, and with an exciting setting for them to change hands during auction sales. One of those is GAA Cars, and with its November sale coming to a close, the auction house is celebrating the many successes that took place during the auction, including the sales of supercars, classics, and muscle heroes. A 78-percent sell-through rate included a 2018 Ford GT, which was the top seller at $918,000. It’s finished in Liquid Blue, with just eleven miles on its odometer. Following behind was a cherished classic: a 1970 Plymouth Superbird, which sold for $459,000, and a 1968 Shelby GT500KR in Acapulco Blue, which sold for $334,800. Other highlights from the auction other Shelby masterpieces, like a 1966 GT350H with a high bid of $190,000, a 1967 GT500 which sold for $237,600, a 1969 GT350 selling for $141,480, and a 1970 GT500 for $156,600. In addition to that, a modern American performance pinnacle also sold at the auction, a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 with only 323 miles. Part of the Wilkerson No Reserve Collection and finished in Blade Silver, it sold for $280,000. A group of four cars from 1967 was included in the top ten sellers at the GAA Classic Cars November Auction this year, two Corvettes selling for $172,800 and $167,400, and two Mustangs selling for $237,600 and $162,000. The auction raised $180,000 for charity, as well, giving added meaning and purpose to an exciting sale of classic and collector-worthy cars. With some desirable sellers crossing the block and cause supported along with that, the November 2025 sale from GAA Classic Cars was one to remember. View All Luxury & Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: GAA Classic Cars

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

By Khris Bharath – October 27, 2025

RM Sotheby’s to Highlight Record-Setting Lineup at Abu Dh...

Sotheby’s is set to stage its inaugural Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi between December 2-5, 2025. Backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the event will combine multimillion-dollar auctions and curated exhibitions at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. Saadiyat Island is already home to the Louvre, Abu Dhabi, and the soon-to-open Guggenheim. It’s the first event of its kind in the region; the auctions will span high jewelry, rare timepieces, and luxury real estate through Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions and RM Sotheby’s. Car collectors can look forward to a standout docket featuring 15 lots of rare and desirable automobiles. RM Sotheby’s and McLaren Racing are teaming up for a one-of-a-kind “Triple Crown” auction featuring three future competition cars, including a 2026 Formula 1 chassis, a 2027 World Endurance Hypercar racer, and a 2026 Arrow McLaren IndyCar entry. Each will also be bundled with VIP experiences, including factory tours and future car access. Staying with McLaren, the lineup also includes a 2019 McLaren Senna ($850k-$1.2 million) and two of Gordon Murray’s most significant creations, a 1994 McLaren F1 (~$21 million) and a 2025 GMA T.50 (~$5.0million). Other highlights include a 2017 Pagani Zonda Riviera ($9.5-$10.5 million), a 1990 Ferrari F40 ($3.2-$3.7 million), and a 2010 Aston Martin One-77 ($1.3-$1.6 million). Collectors’ Week also coincides with one of Abu Dhabi’s busiest times of the year, with several international events coming to town, including the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit 2025, Abu Dhabi Finance Week, Bitcoin MENA, and the annual Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina, the final race on the calendar. The event is timed to draw the same high-net-worth crowd already in town for these global events. This initiative cements Abu Dhabi’s growing influence in the luxury and auction sectors and follows the Emirate’s recent $1 billion investment in Sotheby’s, led by ADQ, the region’s third-largest sovereign wealth fund. The move marks the first major Arab minority stake in the 281-year-old auction house and signals Sotheby’s long-term expansion in the GCC region. View All RM Sotheby's Inventory 1994 McLaren F1 $21,000,000+ View Listing 2026 McLaren Formula 1 Team MCL40A $10,000,000 - $12,000,000 View Listing 2017 Pagani Zonda Riviera $9,500,000 - $10,500,000 View Listing 2027 McLaren United Autosport WEC Hypercar Team LMDh $6,000,000 - $8,000,000 View Listing 2025 Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 $5,000,000+ View Listing 1990 Ferrari F40 $5,000,000+ View Listing 2011 Ferrari SA Aperta ~$1,500,000 - $1,800,000 View Listing 2010 Aston Martin One-77 $1,300,000 - $1,600,000 View Listing 2021 Bentley Bacalar $900,000 - $1,300,000 View Listing 2019 McLaren Senna $850,000 - $1,200,000 View Listing 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO $850,000 - $950,000 View Listing 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A $750,000 - $950,000 View Listing 2026 Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team Dallara-Chevrolet DW12 $500,000 - $700,000 View Listing 2006 Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster $500,000 - $600,000 View Listing 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera RS $370,000 - $450,000 View Listing

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