ANALYSIS: Top 10 Most Expensive Cars To Sell At Monterey Car Week 2023
Updated: Aug 23
As the last hammer falls and the flocks head back to the airport, they may sneak a look at their bank account to check in on proceedings. For those who bought one of these 10 cars below, their bank account will be missing a just a bit of change.
Time to earn it back again, before next year.
Here are the top 10 most expensive cars to sell at Monterey Car Week 2023.
10 - 1912 Simplex 50hp Toy-Tonneau
This car remarkably was offered from single family ownership where it had resided for 111 years. A remarkable moment for the family and for Gooding to consign the car. They made it count too when it sneaked beyond its upper estimate when selling for $4,075,000 - that makes it the most expensive Simplex to ever sell publicly.
9 - 1995 Ferrari F50
This European spec F50 retains its matching numbers original engine and with only 7,150 miles on the clock and the tool, luggage, and flight case still with the car it presented an opportunity to acquire it from Japan where it had lived for c. 25 years. The bidders took the chance and the F50 sold for $4,240,000, making it the fifth most expensive F50 to ever sell publicly.
8 - 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Cabriolet
This 8C 2300 with its Castagna open coachwork is pure class. The judges at the Pebble Beach agreed when they awarded it first in class. The bidders in the room agree with Gooding & Co when it reached right to the middle of its estimate, selling for $4,515,000.
7 - 1914 Mercer Type 35 - J Runabout
As old antique automobiles go this is up there with the best, and it delivered the highest ever price seen for a Mercer when it smashed through its estimate of $3,000,000 - $4,000,000 and sold for $4,790,000 with Gooding & Co.
6 - 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer by Corsica
This is one of only two 57S chassis' provided new with four-seat open tourer bodies by Corsica and was recently restored by RM Auto Restoration with 6,000 man-hours spent on the vehicle. Side note: RM Auto Restoration won the Concours at Pebble Beach this year, they also won it last year - no mean feat. This 57S didn't quite meet its estimate but still sold for $5,395,000
5 - 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 by Scaglietti
Originally owned by the King of Cool, Steve McQueen, this was no standard 275 GTB/4. And the price reflected it when it sold for $5,395,000 (that's about a $2,000,000 Steve McQueen premium over a regular 275 GTB/4).
4 - 1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe Series III
This 410 Superamerica had an awards list as long at its arm with wins at the 2021 Cavallino Classic, class-win at the 2020 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, and best of show-winner at the 2023 Cavallino Modena and the 2023 Concours d’Elegance Suisse. It was the fourth of 12 Series III examples built and sold towards the top end of its $5,750,000 - $6,750,000 estimate at $6,605,000.
3 - 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
165 SWB's were built between 1960 and 1963 and this car, chassis 3507 GT, has never been offered for public sale before. In the first 18 months of ownership the initial owner put a superb 15,000 km on the car. That didn't damage its value too much when it sold with Gooding & Co for $9,465,000.
2 - 1957 Jaguar XKSS
This XKSS was only the second XKSS to come to auction in recent history. The previous car failed to sell but reached a high bid of $11,900,000 in 2017. RM Sotheby's placed an estimate on the car of $12,000,000 - $14,000,000 and the car placed slap bang in the middle, selling (including premium) for $13,205,000. The result makes it the second most expensive Jaguar to sell in history.
1 - 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta
The headline lot of the week may have missed its estimate by c. $10,000,000 but despite that it tops the billing after a single bid secured this 412P and brought it to its English owner for the princely sum of $30,255,000 - making it the most expensive car sold at Monterey Car Week 2023. It's also the most expensive car sold to date this year and comes in at number 5 on the all-time most expensive cars publicly sold.
This list just contains those cars that sold, a handful of cars reached the $5,000,000 barrier but didn't meet reserve. These include:
1964 Ferrari 250 LM - High Bid of $17,000,000
2001 Ferrari 550 GT1 Maranello Prodrive - High Bid of $7,400,000
1933 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster - High Bid of $7,200,000
1956 Porsche 550 A Prototype 'Le Mans' Werks Coupe - High Bid of $5,000,000
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Till next year...