What really is the most expensive car in the world?
What really is the most expensive car in the world? The Ferrari 250 GTO? Or one of the extremely rare Bugattis from the 57 SC Atlantic series? Or maybe a Mercedes racing car?
In today’s new car market, the most expensive cars can exceed three million euros from brands like Bugatti, Koenigsegg or Pagani. The Bugatti La Car Noire, a unique example unveiled by the Alsatian manufacturer two years ago, has even been bought for more than sixteen million euros.
But you have to look in the cars of the past to find the most expensive cars. Because in the world of the automobile collection, sixteen million euros is hardly enough to buy one of the least priced copies of the McLaren F1, this legendary supercar marketed by the Woking firm in the mid-90s. The absolute record goes much higher than that: in 2018, an example of the Ferrari 250 GTO from 1963 sold for 70 million euros. Considered the ultimate automotive grail by some collectors, will the Italian manage to keep this record until the end of time? Not sure.
Currently the most expensive car in the world, it’s her: the Ferrari 250 GTO
Bugatti’s revenge?
Because for this record to be broken, a copy of one of the most coveted cars would have to change owners. Imagine, for example, that Ralph Lauren suddenly decides to sell his Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic. Impossible to know the exact value of such a car. But knowing that the only three examples of this car are among the most coveted items in the world today, the possibility of its value exceeding that of the Ferrari 250 GTO is arguably nothing far-fetched. In 2010, one of these three Type 57 SCs was sold for a sum of between 30 and 40 million euros. Since then, the collection market has grown significantly.
Ralph Lauren says hi behind his priceless Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic
There are also a handful of Mercedes whose value could reach record highs if a copy is resold: the 540 K Special Roadster from 1937, or the famous W196R in which Juan-Manuel Fangio won one of his five titles. world champion in 1954. It should also be noted that a Bugatti Royale, one of the other legendary models of the Molsheim brand, has just changed owners for a price of between 22 and 24 million euros.
