The 10 Most Expensive Cars Sold at Auction in 2025: Year in Review

Giles Gunning
2 days ago
4 min read

2025 was a year of significant rebalancing for the collector car market, yet the top tier remained active with several eight-figure sales. While broader market trends showed a decline in median values, highly sought-after vehicles continued to attract consistent interest from global collectors.

Here is the breakdown of the 10 most expensive cars sold at public auction in 2025.

10. 1993 Ferrari F40 LM by Michelotto

Price: $11,005,000

Sold by: RM Sotheby’s
Date: 16th August 2025
Location: United States
Description: This was the 14th of 19 examples prepared to “GTC” specifications by Michelotto. It featured a 760 hp engine and received Ferrari Classiche certification in 2009. The car was documented with factory build sheets and a history report by Marcel Massini. It practically doubled the previous public world record for a F40 LM.

9. 2026 McLaren Formula 1 Team MCL40A

Price: $11,480,000

Sold by: RM Sotheby’s
Date: 5th December 2025
Location: United Arab Emirates
Description: Offered directly by the McLaren Formula 1 Team, this sale concerned a future chassis from the 2026 season. It includes a 2026-spec engine, access to McLaren facilities, and VIP experiences. The chassis was scheduled for delivery at the end of the first quarter of 2028.

8. 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II

Price: $13,205,000

Sold by: RM Sotheby’s
Date: 16th August 2025
Location: United States
Description: This was one of eight Ford GT40 Mk IIs built and finished 2nd overall at the 1966 12 Hours of Sebring. It served as a test car for Ford at the Kingman and Riverside tracks before being entered in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1968 and underwent a restoration completed in 2011. It set a new world record for the model.

7. 2001 Ferrari F2001 'The Schumacher Crown Jewel'

Price: €15,980,000 ($18,041,420)

Sold by: RM Sotheby’s
Date: 24th May 2025
Location: Monaco
Description: This chassis was used by Michael Schumacher to win the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix and the 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix. These victories contributed to Schumacher securing the Drivers' Championship and Ferrari securing the Constructors' Championship that season. The car featured a V-10 engine and was sold during the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix weekend.

6. Gordon Murray Special Vehicles S1 LM

Price: $20,630,000

Sold by: RM Sotheby’s
Date: 21st November 2025
Location: United States
Description: This vehicle was developed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the McLaren F1 GTR’s 1995 victory at Le Mans. It featured a 4.3-liter V-12 engine developed with Cosworth, designed to produce over 700 horsepower. The car was engineered with a central driving position and a six-speed manual gearbox. One of five S1 LMs to be produced.

5. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione

Price: $25,305,000

Sold by: Gooding & Company
Date: 16th August 2025
Location: United States
Description: This 250 GT Short Wheelbase (SWB) California Spider was built to "Competizione" specifications. It featured the open-top coachwork designed by Scaglietti and has the desirable covered headlights.

4. 1994 McLaren F1

Price: $25,317,500

Sold by: RM Sotheby’s
Date: 5th December 2025
Location: United Arab Emirates
Description: This was the 14th of 64 road-specification McLaren F1s produced. Originally delivered to the Brunei Royal Family in Titanium Yellow, it was returned to McLaren in 2007 for a rebuild. During that time, it was refinished in Ibis White and fitted with a High-Downforce Kit and an LM-specification interior. It's the most expensive McLaren F1 (of any variant) we've seen sell at public auction.

3. 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 'Tailor Made'

Price: $26,000,000

Sold by: RM Sotheby’s
Date: 16th August 2025
Location: United States
Description: This car was an additional unit produced beyond the original 599-car production run of the Daytona SP3. It was created through Ferrari’s Tailor Made program and featured a two-tone exterior of exposed carbon fiber and Giallo Modena. All proceeds from the sale were designated for the Ferrari Foundation, as such it sold for about four times more than a standard SP3.

2. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti

Price: €34,880,000 ($36,170,560)

Sold by: RM Sotheby’s
Date: 5th February 2025
Location: France
Description: This vehicle won the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans overall, driven by Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt for the North American Racing Team (NART). It participated in six 24-hour races in total, including three appearances at Le Mans and three at Daytona. It was acquired by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1970 and retained its matching-numbers engine and gearbox. Given the Le Mans history, the car sold for over double the previous 250 LM auction world record.

1. 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen

Price: €51,155,000 ($53,047,735)

Sold by: RM Sotheby’s
Date: 1st February 2025
Location: Germany
Description: This was one of four complete examples featuring factory-built enclosed-fender Stromlinienwagen (Streamliner) coachwork. It was driven to victory by Juan Manuel Fangio at the 1955 Buenos Aires Grand Prix and used by Sir Stirling Moss at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix. It was donated by Mercedes-Benz to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 1965, where it remained for 59 years. At the time of sale it became the second most expensive car to ever sell at public auction.