Pricey Vehicles Sold at Monterey Car Week: Ranging from a 1935 Mercedes-Benz to a 2025 Ferrari, the Most Costly Automobiles
Record-Breaking Sales at Monterey Peninsula Auction Events
The Monterey Car Week, a celebrated event in the automotive world, saw some extraordinary sales in August 2021. With a total of $432.8 million in sales, it marked the second-highest Car Week result of all time.
Ferrari continued to be the gold standard for collectors, as eight of the top 10 cars sold came from Maranello. RM Sotheby's, a leading name in the auction world, represented all but four of these coveted vehicles.
One of the most significant sales was the 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 'Tailor Made', which fetched an impressive $26 Million. This amount was earmarked for the Ferrari Foundation. The SP3, a testament to Ferrari's Tailor Made customization division, showcases a split personality in its color scheme, with one side in Giallo Modena and the other dressed in exposed carbon fiber.
Another standout sale was the 1995 Ferrari F50, originally owned by fashion icon Ralph Lauren. With a total of 3,300 miles on it, the car had been with the consigning couple since 2003 and was last seen publicly in 2009. RM Sotheby's sold this rare piece for $9.245 Million.
The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Competizione Alloy Spider, with the number 2383 GT, was another high-value sale. Purchased by an anonymous buyer at the Gooding & Company auction, this car was initially owned and raced by businessman Ernst Lautenschlager, who competed with it throughout Germany. Since 1968, it has been "in three major Ferrari collections."
The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, initially the prototype for the Ferrari 250 GT California Spider, was sold by Gooding Christie's for $25.305 Million. This car, which has been in three major Ferrari collections since 1968, was raced extensively in Germany.
The 1993 Ferrari F40 LM GTC, the 14th of 19 made, was another notable sale. First sold to collector Walter Hagmann in Switzerland, this car has changed hands numerous times. RM Sotheby's sold it for $11.005 Million.
The 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione, which won the Tour de France outright in 1972 and took first in class at Le Mans from 1972 to 1974, was another high-value sale. Gooding Christie's sold it for $8.145 million.
The 2020 Bugatti Divo, previously showcased in the "Hypercars: The Allure of the Extreme" exhibition at the Petersen Automotive Museum from December 2021 until May 2023, was sold by Bonhams for $8,557,500.
Lastly, the 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari was sold for $5.23 million, and the 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta was sold for $6.715 million, both by RM Sotheby's.
These sales underscore the enduring appeal of classic and rare cars, with Ferrari maintaining its status as a sought-after brand among collectors.
