The top tier auto collectors from all over the world come to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, held every summer on the golf course of the Pebble Beach resort on the Monterey Peninsula in northern California. These millionaires congregate here to show off, socialize with, admire, and bitchily critique one another’s precious classic cars. The activities take place this year from August 16 to 20.
The sale of vintage cars is one of the most natural neighboring businesses drawn to this concentration of car-obsessed wealthy people. Not just any old automobiles will do, of course. The Monterey market is so exclusive that 19 of the 30 most expensive automobiles ever to be sold at auction have changed hands throughout the years during Car Week, according to the valuation specialists at Hagerty.
The auction listings for this year don’t provide much evidence that 2023 will break this pattern. In actuality, the exact opposite. During the ultra-luxury bacchanal, the peninsula will be selling prized iron valued at around $500 million. We searched through the listings from the largest and most prominent auction houses with a presence to choose this collection of automobiles that were predicted to fetch the highest prices.
11: 1960 Porsche RS60
Estimate: $5.5 million–$6.5 million
The twin-cam Spyder race cars from Porsche reached their peak with the RS60. These 718 variants may be traced back to the brand’s revolutionary 550 before that name was modified to apply to the modern Boxster/Cayman twins.
Only 17 of these incredibly unique examples were made, and with its excellent ownership and racing pedigree, it could be one of the best ones available.
10. Corsica’s 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer
Estimate: $5.5 million–$7 million
The Bugatti Type 57SC, which combines superb design, speed, rarity, and engineering, is one of the most sought-after rarities in the automotive world.
This particular specimen is representative of why top collectors keep buying Bugattis because of its one-of-two convertible Corsica body, factory supercharged upgrade, obvious lineage, and recent $700,000, 6000-hour repair.
9: The 1956 Porsche 550A Prototype “Le Mans Werks Coupe”
Estimate: $5.5 million–$7 million
Even though the 550s are uncommon, this one elevates German chocolate with its uniqueness. This specific model was created by the factory for the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it finished fifth overall, first in its class, and featured Porsche’s first tube-frame chassis. It also won its class.
The illustrious history of this Porsche adds authenticity to history since it was later raced by prominent drivers including John Edgar, Jack McAfee, and Ken Miles.
8: A Pinin Farina-designed 1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe.
Estimate: $5.8 million–$6.8 million
One of Ferrari’s and Pininfarina’s most adorable post-World War II grand tourers, the 410 served as a shining example of the beautiful and mutually beneficial engineering and design cooperation between the Italian companies.
Only 12 Series III vehicles were produced, and they are regarded as the pinnacle of the model due to their 400-hp Lampredi V-12, covered headlamps, and refined styling. This Concours-winning, fully-documented exemplar is not only flawless but also refreshingly not red.
7: A 2001 Ferrari 550 Maranello Prodrive
Estimate: $8 million–$9.5 million
Private teams were given the chance to create their own versions after factory teams lost the option to enter homologated cars in endurance competitions like Le Mans. One of the best examples is this one.
Factory 550 was built by Prodrive for Care Racing Development and shed almost 1100 pounds. Its 5.5-liter V-12 was bored out to a 6.0, and it received unique bodywork created by the same person who created the McLaren F1. In case the new owner blows up the V-12 in it, a backup is provided.
6: 1933 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster
Estimate: $8 million–$10 million
The Type 55’s credentials explain that it was regarded in its day as a road racer. It had a supercharged straight-eight engine, a four-speed transmission, and the chassis from the brand’s modern Grand Prix vehicle.
The creative descendant of the company’s namesake creator, Jean Bugatti, created the topless bodywork on this specific version. If that weren’t sufficient to support an eight-figure price, super-collector Ralph Lauren formerly had it.
5: 1962 Ferrari 250GT SWB Berlinetta
Estimate: $9 million–$11 million
With good cause, the Ferrari 250GT short-wheelbase Berlinetta routinely ranks highly on lists of the best vehicles ever made. Simply observe it. It captures Ferrari (and coachbuilder Scaglietti, designer Pininfarina, and the company at the pinnacle of its powers).
All 250GT SWBs are unique, but this one may be more so because it still has its original interior and glass.
4: Scaglietti 1960 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider
Estimate: $9.5 million–$11 million
A droptop model, the California Spider, was added to the magnificent 250GT in order to appeal to our sun- and fun-loving customers in the American market. Customers might drive the automobile home in a more leisurely manner that afternoon after racing it in the morning.
The second SWB California Spider manufactured, however, didn’t make it to the United States. It has been raced, most notably at the 1962 Targa Florio, but the engine, transmission, and livery are all original.
3: 1957 Jaguar XKSS
Estimate: $12 million–$14 million
The XKSS was a road vehicle that was created to service the American market, much like the California Spider, as a method to use up some D-type racing chassis that were left over when Jaguar stopped competing in 1956. The XKSS was a D-type racer for the streets, although one with a few minor creature comforts like a windshield and a passenger seat.
Only 16 of these seductively curved, powerful, and expensive Jaguars were produced, making them the most desirable Jaguars available. This particular specimen is a very nice, numbers-matching, well-kept example.
2: 1964 Ferrari 250LM by Scaglietti
Estimate: $18 million–$20 million
Considering that just 32 250 LMs (for Le Mans) were made, the arrival of even one is noteworthy. However, one that was raced at Le Mans and was driven by Mike Hailwood and Innes Ireland still has its original powertrain, has never been in a severe accident, was shown at Pebble Beach and the Enzo Ferrari Museum, and was certified and refurbished by Ferrari’s own shop,
Classiche? That results in one expensive prancing horse.
1: 1967 Ferrari 412 P Berlinetta
Estimate: $35 million–$40 million
Ferrari’s P4 vehicles, of which this swoopingly enticing racer is a superb example, were created to recapture the racing glory the brand had lost to Ford in a string of embarrassing defeats in the middle of the 1960s. In 1967, it had some success, defeating Ford to win at Daytona and winning the World Sports Car Championship. Additionally, it sold four P4 vehicles to independent racing teams. One of those is this. This automobile is for the very best collectors since it is incredibly rare, stunningly deadly, ready for the road, and flawlessly repaired. We hope whoever buys it lets us see and drives it frequently.
In relation to Ferraris, RM Sotheby’s is also offering for sale this collection of 20 Ferraris that were initially kept in a Florida barn in 1990. The automobiles, scarred by the storm damage, were moved to another storage facility in Indiana after the barn was damaged by a hurricane in 2005. Currently, they have been discovered and put up for auction, much like almost anything intriguing and priceless in the world. The individual automobiles might just be low-seven-figure cars, but if all the sales are combined, they might wind up in the top 11.
