2015: Ten Most-Expensive Cars at Public Auction (Jan-July)

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider at Auction
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider © Artcurial

.Thus far in 2015, Ferraris dominate the list of the top-ten highest prices paid for a classic car at public auction. After the Scottsdale, Arizona auction week in mid-January, the Paris auctions in early February, the Amelia Island sales in mid-March, the Andrews Collection in early May, and Villa Erba late May, eight of the ten most-expensive cars in the world in 2015 have been Ferraris.  The most-expensive car sold at public auction thus far in 2015 is a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider that sold for $18.5 million at the Artcurial sale during the Paris Rétromobile week.

Ten Most-Expensive Cars Sold at Public Auction in 2015

The ten most-expensive cars sold at public auction thus far in 2015 are:

Year Car Price ($) Auction House Auction
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider 18,210,080 Artcurial Paris
1964 Ferrari 250 LM 9,625,000 RM Arizona
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione 9,405,000 Bonhams Scottsdale
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider 7,700,000 Gooding Scottsdale
1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet by Pininfarina 7,645,000 RM Sotheby’s Andrews
1952 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta by Touring 7,400,736 RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba
1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet 6,380,000 RM Amelia Island
1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake 5,115,000 Barrett Jackson Scottsdale
1935 Aston Martin Works Ulster LM19 Competition Sports Two-Seater 4,521,449 Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed
1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe by Dietrich 4,180,000 RM Sotheby’s Andrews

Note: The list is based on first results published after the auctions and may include post-hammer deals.

Top-Ten Auction Prices Paid for Classic Cars in 2015 (January to July)

Most-Expensive Ferraris in 2015

Ferraris are traditionally the most-expensive cars sold at public auction and thus far in 2015 that remains the case with seven of the top-ten cars coming from Maranello. The top-ten list include three Ferrari 250s and two Ferrari 400 Superamericas.

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Front 3/4 view
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider © Artcurial

The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider sold by Artcurial for $18.5 million set a new auction week record for the Paris classic car sales in early February. It also set a new auction record for a 250 GT SWB California Spider – the previous record was $15.2 million paid at the Gooding 2014 Pebble Beach sale. Only 37 short-wheel base Ferrari 250 GT California Spiders were made and this barn find is considered to be in the most original state (but will need significant work). It was part of the Baillon collection. The failure of a similar but in top condition 1961 Ferari 250 GT SWB California Spider to sell at Villa Erba despite a highest bid of over ten million euro, confirm that this Baillon Ferrari was bought very dear.

1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti Front, lights on
1964 Ferrari 250 LM – © 2015 Darin Schnabel, RM Auctions

The 1964 Ferrari 250 LM sold by RM Auctions for $9,625,000 set a new auction week record for the mid-January Scottsdale, Arizona classic car sales. In 2014, RM Auctions set the auction record with a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider at $8.8 million – the eighth most-expensive car in 2014. The 1964 Ferrari 250 LM was the 9th of only 32 produced and had quite a racing career, including a spell with a modified Porsche 906 Carrera 6 body. After the Porsche body was destroyed in 1970, the original engine and a correct Ferrari body were installed.

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione in Scuderia Filipinetti Livery
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione – © Bonhams

The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione sold by Bonhams for $9,405,000 at the 2015 Scottsdale auction held the auction week record for a day before being relegated to second place. The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione on offer was the eleventh of only twelve produced. It participated in Le Mans in three consecutive years: 1967, 1968 and 1969. In 1967, it won the Le Mans GT class for the Swiss Filipinetti racing team.

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider outdoors
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider – © Gooding & Co

Gooding’s top results thus far in 2015 were for a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider achieving $7,700,000 at the Scottsdale auction. Only 50 LWB California Spiders were produced and this unrestored example is believed to the only one still with its original interior intact.

© Tim Scott / RM Sotheby’s
© Tim Scott / RM Sotheby’s

The 1952 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta set a new model record when it sold for €6,720,000 ($7,400,736) at the RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba sale in Italy. It was the surprise top result at the auction when two Ferrari 250s failed to clear the high reserve margins. The 212 participated in the 1956 Mille Miglia and is thus eligible for many historic races.

1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet by Pininfarina
1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet – Darin Schnabel / RM Sotheby’s

The top result at the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection sale in early May was $7,645,000 for a 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet that broke the model record set earlier the year at the Amelia Island auctions. This Superamerica was the last of the seven short wheelbase versions built and the official show car in at the Geneva and New York auto shows.

Green 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet
1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet
Darin Schnabel ©2015 RM Auctions

RM Sotheby’s set a new model record when a 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet sold for $6,380,000 – the highest price paid at the 2015 Amelia Island auction week. The restored car kept is original color scheme of green over red.

 

Other Expensive Cars in 2015

1966 Shelby Cobra 427 “Super Snake” at Scotssdale 2015
1966 Shelby Cobra 427 “Super Snake” © Barrett Jackson

Only three non-Ferrari cars made it onto the top-ten list of most-expensive cars sold at auction in 2015. Both are American:

The most-expensive  car sold at public auction thus far in 2015 other than a Ferrari was a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake Barrett Jackson sold for $5,115,000 at its massive Scottsdale., Arizona auction extravaganza. This very special Cobra was the personal car of Carrol Shelby. Several further Cobras have been sold for well over a million dollar thus far this year.

1935 Aston Martin Works Ulster 'LM19'
© Bonhams

Aston Martins have been selling well at recent auctions but the 1935 Aston Martin Works Ulster ‘LM19’ Mille Miglia, RAC Tourist Trophy, French Grand Prix, Le Mans 24-Hours Competition Sports Two-Seater is a particularly valuable vehicle. It was one of four cars specifically built for the 1935 Le Mans 24 Hours race and the only one not currently in a major classic car collection. It sold for£2,913,500 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe by Dietrich
© Darin Schnabel / RM Sotheby’s

The 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe by Dietrich was the sensation at the Andrews Sale when it achieved $4,180,000 – well in excess of its pre-auction estimate of $2.4-$3 million. It is one of only five known survivors and in magnificently restored concours condition. It is the only pre-Second World War car currently amongst the top-ten most-expensive cars of the year.

Million-Dollar Cars Sold at Auction in 2015

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider – $7,700,000 © Gooding & Co

At least 125 cars have thus far in 2015 been sold for more than a million dollar each at public auctions. RM Sotheby’s is leading the battle of the auction houses with 62, followed byBonhams with 28, Gooding & Co with 18, Barrett Jackson with 9, Artcurial with 7, and Russo and Steel with one. (42 million dollar cars were sold at Scottsdale, 17 during the Paris auctions, 23 at Amelia Island, 6 at Stuttgart, 16 at Fort Worth, 11 at Villa Erba and 5 at Goodwood Festival of Speed.)

The top-ten list considers results from:

The next auctions likely to alter the list, and probably mostly rewrite it, are the Monterey classic car week in mid August – Bonhams, Gooding & RM Sotheby’s.