Whilst the collector car market has faced its fair share of headwinds in 2024 off the back of significant elections in the UK and US combining with economic fragility it's easy to think it's been a tricky year.
In many ways, it has been.
It's also been a year for many multi-million vehicles to go under the hammer.
Here are the top 10 most expensive vehicles to sell at auction in 2024.
10. 1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight - $7,865,000 (£6,174,025)
This GT40 is one of just 10 factory competition lightweights ever produced, including the iconic Gulf Team cars.
It stands as the most sophisticated and successful MkI specification example, powered by its factory-original 289/440 HP Gurney Weslake engine.
Retaining its original body, chassis, and ZF 5-speed manual transaxle, the car has been meticulously rebuilt and restored to its 1969 factory specifications, even featuring original date-coded Firestone race tires.
Authenticated by GT40 expert Ronnie Spain, this extraordinary example was proudly displayed at the prestigious Quail Motorsports Gathering in 2023 and sold a year later for $7,865,000.
Auction House: Mecum
Auction Location: Monterey, United States
9. 1979 Ferrari 312 T4 - €7,655,000 (£6,545,025)
When Jody Sheckter looked to sell his collection he turned to Simon Drabble and RM Sotheby's.
RM offered the collection in a special sale at Monaco. The jewel in the crown of said sale was the 312 T4 - the very car that secured Enzo Ferrari’s final Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship title.
It carried Jody Scheckter to all three of his victories in 1979, including the Belgian, Monaco, and Italian Grands Prix, and was the championship-winning chassis that triumphed at Monza to claim both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles.
Purchased by Scheckter directly from Ferrari in 1982, the car remains entirely original, including its worn seatbelts and numbered components.
Driven exclusively by Scheckter during its nine 1979 races and since, it even returned to Monza for the 2019 Grand Prix weekend. It returned to the auction arena when it sold for €7,655,000 in May.
Auction House: RM Sotheby's
Auction Location: Monaco
8. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Alloy' Gullwing - $9,355,000 (£7,343,675)
In perhaps the most-talked about sale of the year, this finished top of the billing.
This alloy-bodied Gullwing was the 26th of only 29 ever produced and the only one originally finished in Black over Red leather.
Reportedly ordered new by Ferrari importer and Le Mans champion Luigi Chinetti, the car was acquired directly from him by Rudi Klein in 1976 and has remained within the Klein “yard” ever since, never driven outside its confines for nearly 50 years.
Although not in its original colours the Klein Gullwing is one of the most thrilling post-war Mercedes-Benzes to come to market in decades when it sold for
Auction House: RM Sotheby's
Auction Location: California, United States
7. 2014 Pagani Zonda LM Roadster - $11,086,250 (£8,558,585)
For many, Pagani's greatest creation is the Zonda.
This LM Roadster seeks to be the greatest evolution of Pagani's greatest creation.
Whether it achieves such a thing is for you to decide.
The buyer on the day decided it would set a new World Record for a Pagani selling for $11,086,250 in Dubai.
Auction House: RM Sotheby's
Auction Location: Dubai, UAE
6. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione - €10,158,125 (£8,718,008)
This SWB achieved 5th in class during its race debut at the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring and secured 14 podium finishes across more than 20 races.
It's equipped with the more powerful Tipo 168 B engine, a specification granted to only a limited number of 1960 alloy SWB Berlinettas.
Certified by Ferrari Classiche with its matching-numbers chassis, engine, and rear axle, the car underwent a meticulous concours-level restoration by Wayne Obry’s Motion Products, with final touches by Toni Auto in Maranello, at a cost nearing $1 million.
Auction House: RM Sotheby's
Auction Location: Paris, France
5. 1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP 'Roi des Belges' - $12,105,000 (£9,711,951)
"Brass-era cars are done" - hold tight, amigo.
This incredible automobile laid to rest that argument for another day when Gooding offered this 60 HP Mercedes - one of only five known to survive.
It was a 'regular' sight in England having completed multiple London-to-Brighton Runs and having been exhibited at Beaulieu for more than six decades.
This time it was seen for sale in the United States having been offered from 121 years of single family ownership. I'm sure the family were pleased when it smashed through its estimate of "In Excess of $10,000,000" to sell for $12,105,000.
Auction House: Gooding & Co
Auction Location: Amelia Island, United States
4. 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider - $12,985,000 (£10,193,225)
The 410 S is limited to start with - Ferrari only made four.
This 410 Sport Speciale is unique as this was transformed into a racing car for its privateer owner, Tony Parravano.
It possessed a longer tail than normal, the oval grill was larger, as was the bonnet air intake.
Interestingly the car left Parrvano's possession due to him having to flee Mexico in 1957 due to tax evasion.
When it sold this time around it did so for just shy of $13,000,000. Amazingly, another 410 Sport Spider had sold in 2022 for $22,000,000...
Auction House: RM Sotheby's
Auction Location: Monterey, United States
3. 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider - $14,030,000
Roughly 40 8C 2900's were produced, only five long-chassis 8C 2900B Touring Spiders in existence.
Interestingly, in July 2022 it got pinched from a Holiday Inn Express car park. The theft ended up getting investigated by the FBI and a year and a half later the car was found.
Fortunately for the owner, the insurer had paid out a reported $23,000,000.
The car came to auction with an estimate of $16,000,000 - $20,000,000 and sold for $14,030,000 inclusive of premium. Quite the delta from the insurance company payout.
Auction House: Gooding & Co
Auction Location: Amelia Island, United States
2. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider - $17,055,000 (£13,388,175)
This is the very first 250 GT SWB California Spider built.
It's the car Ferrari chose to showcase at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show.
Classiche certified and presented with its factory equipped competition-specification engine, covered headlights, factory removable hardtop and in its delivery colours.
Coming from long-term ownership this vehicle had never publicly been offered for sale.
That didn't stop it on its way to breaking $17,000,000. Perhaps it would've taken our number one spot had any potential US-based buyer not had to pay the import duty of 2.5%.
Auction House: RM Sotheby's
Auction Location: Monterey, United States
1. 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder - $17,875,000 (£14,341,274)
Chassis no. 4137GT represents the final Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder ever built, one of only 55 examples produced between 1960 and 1963.
Finished in desirable covered-headlight form it was imported to the US by Luigi Chinetti and delivered new to Charles Rezzaghi Motors in San Francisco.
It retains its original chassis, body, and matching-numbers 3.0L/276 HP Colombo V-12 engine with a 4-speed gearbox.
Restored by Patrick Ottis in Berkeley, California, this car boasts Ferrari Classiche Certification, a Marcel Massini report, and a well-documented ownership history since new.
All factors that helped it on its way to claim top spot in the biggest sales of the year at ¢$17,875,000.
Auction House: Mecum
Auction Location: United States
There we have it - the top 10 most expensive cars sold at auction in 2024.
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