Top 10 Prices Paid for Cars Sold at Auction – Update

With the Monterey Week auctions once again in the rear view mirror, we thought it was appropriate to update the ranking of the Top 10 prices paid for cars sold at auction.

While there were several big sellers in Monterey, inclusion into the Top 10 requires a very steep number and only one made the cut – the 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe that Mecum Auction sold for $7,685,000. It is worth noting that the Shelby now owns the record for an American car sold at auction.

Many thought the 1939 Auto Union D-Type V12 Grand Prix Racing Car that Bonhams offered would make the required amount, but bidding stalled at a paltry $6,000,000 and it went unsold.

We failed to update the rankings after RM Auctions sold the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa for $12,402,500 in May 2009, so that is new to our list as well. And at the top.

Top 10 Prices Paid for Cars Sold at Auction

1. 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, RM Auctions, May 2009, $12,402,500
2. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Spyder, RM Auctions, May 2008, $10,894,000
3. 1931 Bugatti Royale Type 41, Christie’s, November 1987, $9,800,000
4. 1962 Ferrari 330 TR/LM, RM Auctions, May 2007, $9,821,250
5. 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, RM Auctions, October 2007, $8,252,201
6. 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe, Gooding, August 2008, $7,920,000
7. 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe, Mecum Auction, August 2009, $7,685,000
8. 1929 Mercedes-Benz 38/250 SSK, Bonhams, September 2004, $7,443,070
9. 1904 Rolls-Royce 10hp, Bonhams, December 2007, $7,254,290
10. 1962 Ferrari 250 LM, RM Auctions, May 2008, $6,979,000

[Prices are inclusive of buyer premiums]