Manufacturers of ultra-luxury and high-performance cars sell their offerings for crores upon crores of rupees, but the realm of classic cars is something entirely different. Classic car auctions are where history, rarity, and prestige converge to fetch stratospheric sums to the tune of hundreds of crores.
To that end, we’ve put together a list of the 10 most expensive cars ever sold at public auctions, ranked by price and in ascending order. Do note that the sale prices have been converted to INR accurate to their respective time periods, so the rankings may vary when converted to other currencies.
10. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196
Price: Rs 158.38 crore
Sold: July 12, 2013 by Bonhams
Kicking things off is the Mercedes-Benz W 196, which brought Juan Manuel Fangio his second F1 World Championship at the 1954 Swiss Grand Prix. This specific example sold at Bonham’s also won the 1954 German and European Grand Prix, making it the most successful surviving W196.
It’s also the only example of the W196 that’s privately owned, with all others having been relegated to museums or in Mercedes’ hands.
9. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM
Price: Rs 187.37 crore
Sold: December 10, 2015 by RM Sotheby’s
Built for the 1956 World Sportscar Championship, the Ferrari 290 MM is one of only four examples ever produced. This particular car was designed for and driven by five-time F1 champion Juan Manuel Fangio to a fourth-place finish at the Mille Miglia, a result that allowed Ferrari to clinch the championship in 1956.
The blue-and-yellow-nosed 290 MM’s rarity and racing history made it one of the most valuable Ferraris to have been auctioned off by RM Sotheby’s.
8. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (3851GT)
Price: Rs 232.50 crore
Sold: August 14, 2014 by Bonhams
Arguably the most iconic Ferrari of all time, the V12-powered 250 GTO spanned a production run of just 36 units, of which this example (chassis number 3851GT) was the 19th.
It was owned by eminent Ferrari collector and historic racer Fabrizio Violati for a staggering 49 years, and achieved a second-place finish at the 1962 Tour de France and later competed in various hill climbs. This 250 GTO also benefited from a full factory rebuild and was exceptionally well-preserved.
7. 1957 Ferrari 335 S
Price: Rs 242.74 crore
Sold: February 5, 2016 by Artcurial
The 335 S is one of Ferrari’s most accomplished endurance racers. Not only did the 335 S bring home the 1957 Constructor’s World Championship, it also finished second at the Mille Miglia that year and won the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix too.
Moreover, the 335 S was driven by legends like Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, Peter Collins, and Wolfgang von Trips during its career, further bolstering the open-top Ferrari’s value as a coveted piece of racing history.
6. 1967 Ferrari 412 P Berlinetta
Price: Rs 251.42 crore
Sold: August 18, 2023 by Bonhams
With only two examples in the wild, the 412 P Berlinetta is one of the rarest race cars Ferrari has ever built. Historic motorsport enthusiasts may find the 412 P rather familiar-looking, and that’s because it’s essentially a tamer, customer-focused derivative of the iconic 330 P3 and P4 racers.
The 412 P scored wins at the 1968 Nuremberg 200km, Solituderennen at Hockenheim, and Swedish Grand Prix, and after a nine-year restoration, the Ferrari was in pristine condition when it went under the hammer.
5. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM
Price: Rs 316.54 crore
Sold: February 5, 2025 by RM Sotheby’s
This 250 LM example is the only privateer-entered car to have won the fearsome 24 Hours of Le Mans, achieving victory in 1965 with the North American Racing Team. It also competed in six 24-hour endurance races before being retired from motorsport in 1970.
For over five decades, this 250 LM was displayed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, and finally found a new home off the RM Sotheby’s auction lot earlier this year.
4. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (3413GT)
Price: Rs 338.84 crore
Sold: August 26, 2018 by RM Sotheby’s
The reason why this 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (chassis number 3413GT) sold for over Rs 100 crore more than the identical example lower down on this list is that it’s one of only four upgraded to the Series II bodywork by Scaglietti.
Tested by F1 champion Phil Hill, this 250 GTO example went on to win the Italian National GT Championship in 1962, as well as the 1963 and 1964 Targa Florio races.
3. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (3765LM)
Price: Rs 429.67 crore
Sold: November 14, 2023 by RM Sotheby’s
As the only version of the 250 GTO raced by Scuderia Ferrari itself, it’s no wonder that this example (chassis number 3765LM) is the most expensive Ferrari ever sold at an auction.
This 250 GTO also has one of the most distinguished racing pedigrees, having secured a class win and second overall at the 1962 Nurburgring 1000km. It also competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans the same year, in addition to finishing second in class at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
2. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen
Price: Rs 460.24 crore
Sold: February 1, 2025 by RM Sotheby’s
This unique Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen (or Streamliner) is the only one of its kind ever offered to private buyers. Juan Manuel Fangio drove the W 196 R to victory at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, while Stirling Moss set the fastest lap at Monza with it during the 1955 Italian Grand Prix.
After being retired from motorsport, the W 196 R spent 60 years under the care of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum before heading to the auction lot.
1. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe
Price: Rs 1,108 crore
Sold: May 5, 2022 by RM Sotheby’s
Finally, we come to the most expensive car ever sold at an auction: the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe. One of only two prototypes ever made, the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut is named after its chief engineer – Rudolf Uhlenhaut – and was based on the W196 Formula 1 racer.
However, the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut was equipped with a bigger 3.0-litre straight-six engine and capable of speeds of up to 288kph, which must’ve been ludicrous for a road-legal car in 1955. Rather astoundingly, the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut also stands among the top 10 most expensive items ever sold at an auction.
Also see:
Most expensive limousines on sale in India
Top 10 most expensive SUVs in India
