BIG MONEY
Seven of the most expensive cars EVER sold at auction including £9m Ferrari, ‘holy grail’ of Mercs & VERY royal Bugatti
A stunning classic was once owned by a very famous king
SEVEN of the most expensive cars ever to have been sold at auction have been revealed including some iconic motors.
The classic car market is never short of funds and eagle-eyed buyers desperate to add to their luxury collection.
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Ferrari 250GT SWB
This stunning classic was sold by H&H Classics for an eyewatering £9,033,889 in October 2015, as reported by Autocar.
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It had been owned by famous Ferrari collector Richard Colton before his death.
He wished for two of his luxury motors to be auctioned off in aid of charity.
Funds from the 250 GT SWB went to the British sea rescue organisation RNLI.
The other gem in his collection, a 275 GTB, also went under the hammer and proceeds were donated for a new lifeboat.
Ferrari 250LM
This equally beautiful Ferrari 250LM was sold by RM Sotheby’s for a whopping £9,119,981 in August 2014.
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It was originally designed for motor racing, however this model was used as a road car - making it rarer.
It was debuted at the Paris Motor Show in October 1963.
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There were only 32 ever made, and it was the luxury manufacturer's first mid-engine vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster
The classic car fetched £9,293,696 in August 2012 after Gooding & Co found a new owner.
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It only had three previous homes and came with a full paper trail history.
The lavish pre-war Mercedes was even awarded gongs at Pebble Beach, California.
It was the German firm's grand touring car between 1936 and 1940.
Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza
The Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza raked in a hefty sum after being sold by Gooding & Co in August 2016.
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It went for an incredible £9,467,409 and proved to be a hit with collectors.
The motor was raced from 1933 to 1950 and came with matching numbers.
It was part of the Alfa Romeo road, race and sports range of cars in the 1930s.
Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
The red racer was snapped up at RM Sotheby’s for £9,793,912 in May 2009.
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When it went under the hammer, it was the most expensive car ever sold at auction at that time.
There were only ever 22 made which saw desperate buyers drive the price up higher with each bid.
The racing car was built from 1957 to 1961 and introduced at the end of the 1957 racing season.
It came after rule changes that meant motors in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and World Sports Car Championship races had a maximum engine displacement of 3 litres.
1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports
This incredible 1934 Bugatti, sold by Gooding & Company, went for £9,981,089 in September 2020.
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Previous owners included King Leopold III of Belgium.
It was dubbed the Ultimate Bugatti Grand Prix Car and raced in the 1934-35 seasons.
The classic motor was then turned into a sports car and raced in 1937.
1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta 'Competizione'
The breathtaking Ferrari made £10,117,099 when sold by RM Sotheby’s in May 2013.
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It is the only works race car to have been driven in the World Sports Car Championship by three World Champions.
They were Alberto Ascari, Dr Nino Farina, and Mike Hawthorn.
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The beautiful restoration and well-documented history made it a popular choice for bidders.
It is also one of the three original factory competition cars that ran at the 1953 Le Mans.