The 5 Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold at Auctions

1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R "Silver Arrow"

Price: $29,601,500
Auction: Bonhams’s 20th-Anniversary “Festival of Speed,” Goodwood, England 2013

F1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio won the World Championship of Drivers five times (which was the record for 46 years until  Michael Schumacher broke it). He's largely considered one of the greates F1 drivers ever. And this was one of the cars that he drove when he raced for Daimler Benz AG in '55 and '56. 

The car was Benz return to racing and brough some extremely high technology to the racing scene including fuel-injection in an F1 car for the first time. In 18 months, the car won two world titles, winning nine of its 12 races. 

Only 14 of these cars were built and 10 exist today. Six of those vehicles are in Mercedes-Benz possession and three are in museums. 

2. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spider

Price: $27.5 million
Auction: RM Auction, Monterey, Calif 2013

Poor NART. How do you think it felt to sell for roughly $10 million more than the third place car and not be atop the charts? The original estimation for the car was about $14M and $17M, but it hit $16 mill on the second bid, so it was clear early on that this was going to be a special auction.

NART stands for North American Racing Team, and only 10 of these beautiful specimens were built. The Spider popped up in The Thomas Crown Affair in 1968. Canadian buyer Lawrence Stroll played an instrumental role in creating Tommy Hilfiger. 

3. 1957 Ferrari Testarossa Prototype

Price: $16.39 million
Auction: Gooding & Company, Monterey, CA 2011

This 0666 TR is the first 250 Testarossa ever built. Unlike many other first models, however, this car has earned its worth. It boasts a very legit eight-year racing history at the world's most prestigious tracks and was piloted by the greatest names in motorsports. It must have been one hell of a bidding war, but this piece of automobile culture was worth every pretty penny. 

4. 1957 Ferrari Testarossa

Price: $12.2 million
Auction: RM Auctions, Maranello, Italy 2009

Another experienced prancing horse with an exceptional race record, this TR is one of only 22 pontoon-fendered race cars that were built in '57 and '58. After holding the number one spot as most expensive for two years, it was bumped off by it's super rare predecessor. It was sold at an RM Auction held at Ferrari's assembly facility in Maranello.

5. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder

Price: $10.9 million
Auction: RM Auctions, Maranello, Italy 2008

This classic Ferrari was formerly owned by Oscar winning actor, James Coburn. The highest bidder was UK radio personality Chris Evans. The California Spyder will forever be one of the most desirable Ferraris of all time. Though it might have one of the biggest price tags ever, this '61 masterpiece is priceless.