McLaren F1 sells for $19.8m at Monterey

► McLaren F1 sells for $19.8 million
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► Plus the most expensive cars sold at auction

A highly desirable 1994 McLaren F1 in LM specification sold for $19.8 million at the RM Sotheby's Monterey sale, nudging into the top 10 most expensive cars ever sold. 

With the high-downforce aerodynamic bodykit and an unrestricted 680bhp V12, this is a lovely example of Gordon Murray's masterpiece - and time only seems to make its analogue appeal blossom. Even so, Lot 261 failed to meet its $21-23m estimate and prices overall at the Californian sale were generally softer than in previous years.

It's been a lively week over in Monterey; the RM sale on Friday was rocked when a communication error briefly saw a bid for a Porsche Type 64 (below) skyrocket to $70m, after a member of staff misheard auctioneer Maaarten ten Holder say $17m. Bids were quickly corrected and the auction had to be suspended.

See our list of the most expensive cars sold at auction

What are the world’s most valuable cars?

Another GTO, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta, sold in 2014 for a record $38,115,000 (£22,528,626) at the prestigious Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction held during Monterey Car Week in 2014. That record has yet to be surpassed.

At a stroke, it became the most valuable car in the world, overtaking the 1954 Mercedes W196 R F1 Racer which sold for $30m at an auction at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed. 

Tellingly, 16 of the top 25 most expensive cars ever sold at auction were Ferraris (see our list below). Rare Aston Martins, Jaguars, Alfa Romeos, a McLaren and even a Ford GT40 are peppered throughout the most valuable cars.

The most expensive cars ever sold at auction

We've worked with our classic car sister titles and auctions experts to compile this list of the most expensive cars:

1. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta $38,115,000 (Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction 2014)
2. 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti $35,700,000 (Artcurial Paris 2016)
3. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 $29,605,000 (Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013)
4. 1956 Ferrari 290 MM $28,050,000 (RM Sotheby's, New York City 2015)
5. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spider $27,500,000 (RM Auctions, Monterey 2013)
6. 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti $26,400,000 (RM Sotheby's, Monterey 2014
7. 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 $22,550,000 (RM Sotheby's, Monterey 2017)
8. 1955 Jaguar D-type $21,780,000 (RM Sotheby's, Monterey 2016)
9. 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider by Touring $19,800,000 (RM Sotheby's, Monterey 2016)
10. 1994 McLaren F1 LM spec $19,800,000 (RM Sotheby's, Monterey 2019)
11. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider $18,500,000 (Arcturial, Paris 2015)
12. 1954 Ferrari 375-Plus Spider Competizione $18,400,177 (Bonhams, Goodwood Festival of Speed 2014)
13. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM $17,600,000 (RM Sotheby's, Monterey 2015)
14. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider $16,830,000 (Gooding & Co, Pebble Beach 2015)
15. 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale $16,500,000 (Gooding & Co, Pebble Beach 2015)
16. 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa prototype $16,390,000 (Gooding and co, Pebble Beach 2013)
17. 1995 McLaren F1 $15,620,000 (Bonhams, Quail 2017)
18. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider $15,180,000 (Gooding & Co, Pebble Beach 2014)
19. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM $14,300,000 (RM Sotheby's, New York 2013)
20. 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato $14,300,000 (RM Sotheby's, New York 2015)
21. 1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Competizione $12,745,500  (RM Auctions, Italy 2013)
22. 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa $12,402,500 (RM Auctions, Maranello 2009)
23. 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster $11,770,000 (Gooding and co, Pebble Beach 2012)
24. 1960 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione $11,275,000 (Gooding and co, Pebble Beach 2012)
25. 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf $11,000,000 (RM Auctions, Monterey 2012)
26. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider $10,894,000 (RM Auctions, Maranello 2008)

Classic car values boom - or bust?

Values of significant cars continue to rise and signs are that speculators are viewing rare and exalted cars as an investment vehicle. Could the boom years be back? And is it sustainable?

Be sure to sound off in our comments below!

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