Owning a classic car goes beyond a hobby. It’s a passion that most people develop in their younger years and never lose. It’s also a passion that’s led to some astounding classic car sales at auctions over the years.

In providing auto transport to classic car owners for many years, the professionals at Direct Connect Auto Transport have had the honor of speaking with many classic car enthusiasts (the company is also located in a great state for car shows). 

They come from across the country, asking for transport from Florida to New York, Chicago to California, or wherever they plan to attend a car show or purchase a new home. Their cars are all different, but each owner has something in common: enjoyment of talking about classic cars, including some of the greatest cars of all time.

Classic Cars With Jaw-Dropping Price Tags

The following cars come from lists maintained by a variety of car magazines and websites. This list includes cars they all agree netted some of the highest prices at auction in recent years. These represent the cream of the crop when it comes to classic cars.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO

Originally $18,000, the Ferrari 250 GTO by Scaglietti chassis no. 3413 GT sold for $48.4 million in 2018 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey in California. It is the third of only 39 250 GTOs built by the Italian carmaker (although there is some disagreement, with some sources claiming only 36 were made). 

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta 

The Italian carmaker built the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta to compete in the 1963 FIA World GT Championships, which the car won. It sold for $38.1 million at Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction in 2014 in Carmel Valley, California.

1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti 

That’s all three top spots from Ferrari. The 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti sold for $35.7 million in 2016 at auction house Artcurial in Paris. With its curves and unique shape, it’s considered one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever made, and it’s also won a ton of races.

1954 Mercedes-Benz W196

This Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix car sold “as is” (or “authentic” in the world of car auctions), with visible blemishes and grime as if it just rolled into the auction from the track. It didn’t hurt the price. The car sold for $29.6 million in 2013 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed held on the grounds of the Goodwood House, West Sussex, England.

1956 Ferrari 290 MM

This 290 MM (chassis 0626) sold for $28 million in 2015 at RM Sotheby’s New York City in 2015, while a different 1956 Ferrari 290 MM got the same price in 2018. Ferrari built this car for five-time Formula 1 Champion, Juan Manuel Fangio, for the 1956 Mille Miglia (he finished fourth).

The rest of the Top 10 are as follows. Ferrari dominates this list, as well.

  • 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spider – $27.5 million in 2013 at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey
  • 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti – $26. 4 million in 2014 at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey
  • 1956 Aston Martin DBR1- $22.5 million in 2017 at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey
  • 1956 Ferrari 290 MM – $22 million in 2018 at RM Sotheby’s in Los Angeles
  • 1935 Duesenberg SSJ – $22 million in 2018 at Gooding & Company auction at Pebble Beach (there are only two SSJs in the world)

These are the classics among classics, a list that will only grow higher in value as the year’s pass. For classic car lovers, they are an endless source of fascination.