The Ten Most Expensive Classic Cars And Their Prices

If you thought collecting classic cars is a Western lifestyle Nigerians don’t care about, people like former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose and oil tycoon Ayiri Emami beg to differ. For example, a Nigerian automotive website reported that Kunle Afolayan’s collection includes a 1965 – 1972 Mercedes Benz SE W108/109 (the late Brazilian soccer legend Pele had one), a 1979 Jaguar XJ Series III, and a 1965 Ford Thunderbird. Afolayan is a famous Nigerian film producer and actor, almost like Jay Leno, one of the world’s most avid automobile collectors, is also in the entertainment business. 

In any case, classic cars are more than your average vehicle. They are works of art that have withstood the test of time. What exactly makes a classic car varies not only between demographics but also across countries, insurers (particularly), states, and even classic car collector circles. As such, there’s hardly any hard and fast rule about how old a car has got to be to get considered a classic. 

So, the term is often used interchangeably with antiques and vintages. However, traditional collectors agree that classics are symbols of a bygone era when cars were built with meticulous care and attention to detail. These cars are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts, and their prices have skyrocketed over the years. In this article, we will take a look at the 10 most expensive classic cars ever made. 

10. Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe – Price: $7.7 Million

Carroll Shelby himself built each of the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe by hand in the 1960s.  It was designed specifically for racing, with several major motorsport victories in its belt during its time, including Bob Bondurant's famous win at the 1965 World Manufacturers Championship GT class. Bondurant won the race astride a Daytona CSX2601, the car that helped Shelby and his team eventually humiliate the defending champion, Ferrari.

Only six of these classics were ever produced, and they are highly sought after by collectors today. A 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe fetched a record $7.25 million at a 2009 Mecum auction, effectively making it the most valuable American car sold at auction. 

9. Talbot-Lago T150C SS – Price: $7.15 Million

Produced in the 1930s, the Talbot-Lago T150C SS classic car is now valued at $7.15 million. The British-French automaker designed the Talbot-Lago T150C SS as a touring car, famous for its speed and elegance. Only 16 of these cars were ever produced, and they are highly sought after by collectors. A coveted T150-C-SS Teardrop Coupe, with chassis No. 90107, sold for a record-breaking $13.4 million at Gooding & Company's live auction at Florida's Omni Amelia Island Resort on March 4, 2022. 

8. Aston Martin DBR1 – Price: $22.6 Million

The first-ever DBR1 crossed the auction block and came away with a $22.550 million price on its head during a 2017 RM Sotheby's Monterey auction, effectively making it the most expensive British car ever. Aston Martin produced the DBR1 classic car in the 1950s and 1960s. It was designed specifically for racing and went on to win several major races during its time. Only five DBR1 race cars were ever produced, all highly sought after by collectors. The Sotheby's auction was at that time considered one of the most important in the broker's history. 

7. Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale – Price: $14.3 Million

Before the Uhlenhaut came along and knocked all sales records to pieces in 2022, a 2017 Bloomberg report estimated that the Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale in the late racer and entrepreneur Preston Henn’s collection could fetch as much as $100 million. That would make it the single most valuable car in the world, with oligarchs and sheiks jostling to be the prize winner. 

However, a 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti was valued at $26.4 million at an RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2014 auction. The Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale is a rare classic car produced in the 1960s. It was designed specifically for racing, and only three of these cars were ever produced. Valued at $14.3 million, the 275 GTB/C Speciale is considered one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever made. 

6. Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B – Price: $19.8 Million

A 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider fetched $19,800,000 at an RM Sotheby's Monterey 2016 auction, making it the most expensive prewar car ever. The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B is a classic car produced in the 1930s. It was designed specifically for racing and won several major races during its time. Only 33 of these cars were ever produced, and they are highly sought after by collectors. 

5. Bugatti Type 41 Royale – Price: $20 Million

Introduced in 1926, the French marque described the Bugatti Type 41 Royale as “the strongest, largest and most luxurious automobile in the world, characterized by unimaginable power and opulent equipment.” Consider that the Royale is roughly 20% longer and over 25% heavier than the 2003–2017 Rolls-Royce Phantom VII. According to the automaker, Ettore Bugatti developed the Type 41 Royale as the ultimate culmination of his creation.  

Bugatti produced the Type 41 Royale in the 1920s and 1930s, designing it as the most luxurious car in the world. Only six of these cars were ever made. Imagine commanding the equivalent of $712,976 in the 1920s and '30s, roughly ₦330 million. That money got you the chassis with the drive and grille. It was meant for royalties, although none eventually got one. A 1931 Kellner Coupe model of the Royale fetched $9.7 million (the equivalent of around $20 million in today's money) in a 1987 auction. 

4. Ferrari 290 MM Scaglietti – Price: $22 Million

The Ferrari 290 MM Scaglietti is one of the rarest collectible classic cars ever made. On December 2015, a 290 MM Scaglietti, owned by race car driver Juan Manuel Fangio, changed hands at an RM Sotheby's auction for a mouth-watering, record-shattering $28 million. 

This was the same Scaglietti that Fangio raced during the 1956 Mille Miglia open-road endurance racing. In 2018, another example changed hands at a lower price of $22 million. Like the Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti, the 290 MM Scaglietti was built specifically for motorsport, with just four examples ever produced. The car was driven by some of the greatest racing drivers of all time, including Juan Manuel Fangio and Phil Hill. 

3. Mercedes-Benz W196 – Price: $29.6 Million

The Mercedes-Benz W196 is another highly sought-after classic car. In 2013, a copy belonging to Argentine F1 race car driver Juan Manuel Fangio broke sales records to become the most expensive car ever sold at auctions after fetching $29.6 million at a Bonhams Goodwood sale by auctioneer Robert Brooks. The Mercedes-Benz W196 was built in the 1950s. It was designed specifically for Formula One racing. The legendary Juan Manuel Fangio himself won two World Championships astride this historical classic car. 

2. Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti – Price: $36 Million

The Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti is one of the most expensive classic cars ever made, with a value tag of $35.7 million. That’s how much the car fetched in the Artcurial Motorcars auction in Paris in December 2015. With just four examples ever produced, the Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti is essentially one of the rarest Ferraris on the planet. 

The Prancing Horse built the 335 Sport Scaglietti specifically for racing. If you think those aren’t enough to drive this car’s sky-high collectible value, consider that the 335 Sport Scaglietti race cars got driven by some of the greatest racing drivers of all time, including Mike Hawthorn and Stirling Moss. 

1. Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé – Price: $143 million

The 1965 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé shattered all sales records for classic cars in 2022 to become the most expensive car ever sold after going to a private collector for a staggering $143 million (₦65,838,630,000.00). The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe is a rare and highly collectible sports car built by Mercedes-Benz in the 1950s. Named after its designer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, who was also the head of Mercedes-Benz's racing division at the time, the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe was based on the 300 SLR race car. 

Only two examples of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe were ever built, and they were never intended for public sale. Instead, the German marque developed them as test cars for company engineers and some Mercedes-Benz executives and used them for high-speed testing on public roads. 

Its motivation came from a 302-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-six engine mated to a four-speed manual transmission. The car also features a lightweight aluminum body, independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes. Today, the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe is the most valuable and exclusive Mercedes-Benz car in existence. 

Summarily, classic cars are more than just vehicles.  They are works of art that have captured the hearts and imaginations of enthusiasts and collectors around the world. With their timeless designs, meticulous craftsmanship, and rich histories, classic cars are highly sought after and command some of the highest prices in the automotive world. The 10 most expensive classic cars ever made range from rare and iconic Ferraris to luxurious and elegant Mercedes-Benzes. Automotive enthusiasts always look forward to exploring these exquisite machines and the stories behind them.