Other than auto shows, what attracts car aficionados from the elite class all over the world are auctions. These auctions are popular worldwide and make for a perfect medium to sell-off used cars quickly and hassle-free. Auctions are primarily of two types, one for the dealers and the other for the general populace. While some bidders attend the auto auctions to find a diamond in the rough, other come looking for cheap vehicles. But then there are car enthusiasts who can afford to spend sumptuous amounts of seven or eight figures on plush vehicles. Below is the comprehensive description of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction.
Ferrari, the Italian sports car manufacturer, tops the list with maximum number of most pricey and upscale models ever sold at the auto auctions. To begin with, it's the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa that was sold for $16390000 at the Gooding & Company auction during the Pebble Beach collector car extravaganza. The car is commonly known to collectors as the "666 Testa Rossa”, as its has been given serial number 0666TR from the Ferrari factory. Interestingly, all of the subsequent Testa Rossas were based on this prototype. It struts of breakthrough "pontoon" bodywork and a 3.0-litre V12 engine.
Two other classics of the aforementioned brand that have been acquired by bidders at sky-high prices at Maranello, Italy are 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM Testa Rossa. Amounts paid for both these car were $12402500 and $9281250, respectively. These swanky vehicles are famed for the reason that drivers like Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien twice won the coveted 24 Hours of Le Mans race, in these cars. Another line-up catalogued in the list is 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder. This model of the sports car maker was bought by Oscar-winning actor James Coburn, bought and was owned by him until 1988. It was in 2008 that the English radio personality Chris Evans set a record at the time by bidding nearly $11 million for the car.
Bugatti is another sought-after name that is indexed in the list of most expensive cars ever sold at an auction. Built with the dream of manufacturing the biggest and most luxurious cars, 1931 Bugatti Royale Type 41 Kellner Coupe was meant for royal buyers. It was in November 1987 at London, England that this car was sold-off for $9800000. Another extremely well-preserved example of the Atalante road-going sports car designed by Jean Bugatti, Ettore's son, '1937 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Coupe' has also been auctioned. The company's renowned collector Dr. Peter Williamson owned this car initially, however post his death it was sold for nearly $8 million at the auction. Notably, the money from that sale went to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.
Lastly, its the car from German automobile manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz that is worth enlisting here. It includes 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster auctioned twice, once in October 2007 at London where it was sold for a huge amount of $8.252,000 and again in August 2011 at Monterey, California at $9680000. Collectors suggest there are only three existing examples of this design, which boast of longer rear bodywork and a tall beltline. This well-preserved and rare model of Mercedes-Benz has been owned by owners from Europe and Australia before it finally found came under the possession of popular East Coast collector Sam Mann.
