The 15 Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold at Auctions

The energy and atmosphere at an automobile auction is unlike anything else. It's a room packed with the world's rarest and most desirable automobiles in existence, bustling with the world's wealthiest people as they engage in heated bidding wars, throwing theirs hands up in agreement to millions of dollars with their eyes on these prized collectibles. Not only are the prices outrageous, but the actual stories behind these one-of-a-kind machines are just as impressive. With the end of a summer that saw the two most expensive vehicles ever auctioned in the world, it's time for a recap. Watch the numbers climb with this list of the 15 Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold at Auctions.

15. 1959 Ferrari 250 LWB California Spider Competizione

Price: $7.2 million
Auction: Gooding & Company, Pebble Beach, CA 2010

This specific car is considered to be the most significant LWB California Spider ever built. Chassis #1603 GT, this highly regarded competition Ferrari features the highly developed 508 D chassis, covered headlights, and the most most powerful engine still fitted to the California, the Tipo 168.

14. 1904 Rolls-Royce 10hp Two-Seater

Price: $7.25 million
Auction: Bonhams, London 2007

First displayed at the Paris Auto Salon in 1904, the fancy Rolls was then displayed months later at London's Olympia show where it would return and be sold 102 years later. This classy antique is not only expensive pre-1905 automobile, but also the most expensive Rolls-Royce ever bought, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. Officially called a "veteran" car, this is the fourth Rolls-Royce ever built, and the oldest Rolls-Royce money can buy. It is basically a super luxe carriage minus the four-legged animal to carry it. Instead, a two-cylinder engine packs the power of 10 horses under the hood. Such a brilliant example of impeccable quality craftsmanship is worth all the money.

13. 1929 Mercedes-Benz 38/250 SSK

Price: $7.4 million
Auction: Bonhams Goodwood, UK 2004

This German roadster was built between 1928 and 1932. Classically beautiful but it was also a beast on the track, the Super Sport Kurz, German for "Super Sport Short"; got its name since it boasted a shorter wheelbase than the previous Mercedes-Benz SS. The list of victories at legendary Grand Prix's around the world is quite extensive, among them is the 1931 Mille Miglia. Notabaly, the SSK was the last car designed for Mercedes-Benz by Ferdinand Porsche before he left to found his own car company.

Supercharged with nearly 300 horsepower and top speed of 120, this was also the fastest car of its day. Aside from this famously expensive one sold at Bonhams, Ralph Lauren is also a proud owner of the prestigious SSK, his has one Best in Show at Pebble Beach.

12. 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe

Price: $7.9 million
Auction: Gooding & Company Pebble Beach, CA

The 1930's were a rough time to be producing outrageous luxury performance automobiles. Needless to say Bugatti sales suffered an extreme decrease from 1930 to 1933 and the factory was completely shut down in 1934. As the Bugatti family survived the turbulent '30s, it became apparent that the company needed to change their ways. Ettore's young and talented son came up with a solution to the problem: Instead of producing several different models that were hardly selling, they needed one single design to serve all purposes. Jean headed the new project as he oversaw the entire new design of the Type 57. Ettore left his son completely in charge of the new direction of his company, making it a total reflection of Jean's radical ideas and inherited creative talent.

Only in his early 20s, Jean came up with a completely new concept that strayed far away from the traditional Bugatti practice. It was so outlandish in fact, that his father told him to abandon the idea (of independent front suspension) immediately. But like every good headstrong son, he did not listen and continued to conceive his wild brainchild. The Type 57 possessed countless unique innovations that were completely unlike the past Bugattis, including putting the camshaft at the rear of the engine instead of the front, a single plate clutch instead of Ettore's favored multi-plate design, and a split front axle instead of the original solid front axle.

Production began in 1934 and continued until war was declared in 1939. As the brilliant new design had much success, multiple variations were created. The high-class clientele now called for a sports version which was answered with a dramatically revised 57S, and by 1935, Jean had created the ultimate Bugatti. Only 48 of the sophisticated Type 57S Bugatti's would be built, of which only 17 were bodied with the Atalante coupé style.

This specific Type 57S, chassis 57551 with engine number 30S, was completed on July 23, 1937 with an Atalante body finished in black and upholstered with pigskin inside. The body configuration, with its low headlight placement between the radiator and front fenders, was identical to the October 1937 Paris show car. It was delivered by the factory just a week later to its first owner, Jean Lévy of Strasbourg, Deputy Administrator of the family-owned “Grands Moulins de Strasbourg,” a successful grain milling company." The rest is incredibly well-documented history, including American casino owner William Harrah, who had a complete restoration done, bringing the landmark Bugatti back to all its original glory and present color scheme. This incredible creation of the Bugatti prodigy was not only an unbelievable example of his natural abilities, but would also immortalize Jean's legacy after he was killed at age 30 testing a Type 57 race car. The irony...

11. 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster

Price: $8.2 million
Auction: RM Auctions London 2007

Mercedes-Benz only built 406 of these exclusive models, and only 25 of them were the exceptional combination of luxury and power that the Spezial Roadsters possess. Cementing its importance in automobile culture, this is the first of two examples on the list.

10. 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe

Price: $8.3 million
Auction: Mecum Monterey, CA 2009

The Shelby Daytona makes history again as the highest-priced American car ever sold at public auction. "Selling this amazing piece of American race history at our first Monterey auction has been the crowning achievement of my career and Mecum Auction's 22 years of selling collector cars," said Dana Mecum, president of Mecum Auction. This coupe was one of six built by Carroll Shelby to compete against Ferrari in the GT class. It used an experimental coupe body and existing Cobra chassis. It made American history when it clinched the 1965 World Manufacturer's Championship with legend Bob Bondurant driving it to victory on July 4th in Reims, France. It is truly an American hero.

9. 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM Testarossa

Price: $9.2 million
Auction: RM Auction, Maranello, Italy 2007

This is the most sought-after redhead of them all. It was driven by racing legends Phil Hill and Oliver Glendebien, as they lead every lap and captured their epic three-peat overall win at Le Mans in 1962. RM Auctions called it "the is the most famous series of sports-racing cars ever built, and said that this model is "the ultimate Ferrari Testarossa." It was the last front-engined Ferrari sports-racer and the last front-engined car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Salute a legend.

8. 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster

Price: $9.68 million
Auction: RM Auction, Monterey, CA 2011

Of the 25 540 K Spezial Roadsters ever produced, only three of them had a spare tire mounted on the rear, making it the most attractive of the models that were built during their 1936-1938 period. This high-speed touring car is powered by a 5.4-liter supercharged, in-line, eight-cylinder engine developing 180 horsepower coupled to an unsynchronized four-speed manual transmission. It has a top speed of 105 mph and is capable of 0-60 MPH in 16.4 seconds. The K stands for compressor which means supercharger in German.

It was the fastest production vehicle of its era and was advertised as "enormous speed combined with exeptional elegance." This particular car has traveled from it's homeland in Germany to Argentina to the U.S. to Australia then back to Germany and finally back to the U.S. The only thing more rare than the car itself is seeing the car on the public auction block.

7. 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe

Price: $9.7 million
Auction: Christie's, London 1987

This car was sold over two decades ago and still holds weight on this list. That's likely due to the fact that this 15-foot masterpiece is one of only six ever built. Ettore Bugatti originally planned to build 25 of these impressive machines and sell them to royalty, hence the regal name, but even European royalty wasn't trying to blow money during the Great Depression Era. As a result, none of the the six Royales were ever sold to any royals. This particular car is straight out of Ettore's personal collection, as it was preserved in a garage on his estate, surviving WWII behind a protective wall.

It's massive front-end makes room for an enormous 12.7-liter engine originally meant for an aircraft. To this day, it's one of the largest engines ever fitted for a car, making this one of the biggest and most highly sought after automobiles ever created. All of the remaining Royale engines were later used for high-speed Bugatti railcars. Maybe Ross and Diddy should get their weight up and look into one these real street machines. You ain't a true Bugatti Boy until you cop the Royale, like this dude in Japan did when he took the highest bid back in '87.

6. 1931 Duesenberg Model J Long-Wheelbase Coupe

Price: $10.34 million
Auction: Gooding & Company, Monterey, CA 2011

In 1928 the prestigious car company sought to design "the world's finest motor car," and that they did. There were less than 500 ever built from 1928 through 1936, catering to a very exclusive clientele. This particular Duesie was built specially for an elusive man by the name of Mr. George Whittell Jr., who's one-of-a-kind Duesenberg cost a cool $17,000 back in 1931. That was the price of over 50 Model A Fords!

Among the endless list of intricate features is the heavy-handed use of chrome and brushed aluminum. This Depression Era magnum opus has only had five documented owners since Whittell and, to this day, only shows 12,500 easy miles on the shiny dash. The tender care shows, as it still flashes every original detail like the day it was delivered. Withstanding the test of time, this car would certainly be the crown jewel of any collection.

5. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder

Price: $10.9 million
Auction: RM Auctions, Maranello, Italy 2008

This classic Ferrari was formerly owned by Oscar winning actor, James Coburn. The highest bidder was UK radio personality Chris Evans. The California Spyder will forever be one of the most desirable Ferraris of all time. Though it might have one of the biggest price tags ever, this '61 masterpiece is priceless.

4. 1957 Ferrari Testarossa

Price: $12.2 million
Auction: RM Auctions, Maranello, Italy 2009

Another experienced prancing horse with an exceptional race record, this TR is one of only 22 pontoon-fendered race cars that were built in '57 and '58. After holding the number one spot as most expensive for two years, it was bumped off by it's super rare predecessor. It was sold at an RM Auction held at Ferrari's assembly facility in Maranello.

3. 1957 Ferrari Testarossa Prototype

Price: $16.39 million
Auction: Gooding & Company, Monterey, CA 2011

This 0666 TR is the first 250 Testarossa ever built. Unlike many other first models, however, this car has earned its worth. It boasts a very legit eight-year racing history at the world's most prestigious tracks and was piloted by the greatest names in motorsports. It must have been one hell of a bidding war, but this piece of automobile culture was worth every pretty penny.

2. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spider

Price: $27.5 million
Auction: RM Auction, Monterey, Calif 2013

Poor NART. How do you think it felt to sell for roughly $10 million more than the third place car and not be atop the charts? The original estimation for the car was about $14M and $17M, but it hit $16 mill on the second bid, so it was clear early on that this was going to be a special auction.

NART stands for North American Racing Team, and only 10 of these beautiful specimens were built. The Spider popped up in The Thomas Crown Affair in 1968. Canadian buyer Lawrence Stroll played an instrumental role in creating Tommy Hilfiger.

1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R "Silver Arrow"

Price: $29,601,500
Auction: Bonhams’s 20th-Anniversary “Festival of Speed,” Goodwood, England 2013

F1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio won the World Championship of Drivers five times (which was the record for 46 years until Michael Schumacher broke it). He's largely considered one of the greates F1 drivers ever. And this was one of the cars that he drove when he raced for Daimler Benz AG in '55 and '56.

The car was Benz return to racing and brough some extremely high technology to the racing scene including fuel-injection in an F1 car for the first time. In 18 months, the car won two world titles, winning nine of its 12 races.

Only 14 of these cars were built and 10 exist today. Six of those vehicles are in Mercedes-Benz possession and three are in museums.