Top 10 Most Expensive Cars That Were Auctioned This Week

Jason Siu
by Jason Siu

The 2017 Arizona Auctions saw 3,486 vehicles sold across seven days.

According to Hagerty, preliminary figures show the 2017 Arizona Auctions totaling $259.8-million, making it the second biggest week in the event’s long history. The increase in sales, however, came from the increased volume of cars crossing the auction block, since the average sale price did fall 11 percent compared to a year ago.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Most Intriguing and WTF Cars Up For Auction Soon

Still, there were several cars that sold in the million-dollar range and you can check out the top 10 most expensive cars auctioned off at the 2017 Arizona Auctions below.

10. 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider

Selling for $2,805,000 at the Bonhams auction, this 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 5th Series Supercharged Gran Sport Spider was owned for more than four decades by enthusiast Grant White of Salt Lake City, Utah, who acquired it in 1962. But when it was new, it was sold to Gustav Eisenmann of Biberist and as late as the 1950s, it featured his own Automobile Club of Switzerland plaque under the hood. After that, it went to Aldo Minoretti in Switzerland before heading to Paul Leuch in Zurich in 1955. Robert Hamil in California acquired it in 1959 before White took ownership in 1962. Now it’s off to its sixth owner.


9. 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series I Coupe

Sold by Gooding & Company for $2,915,000, this 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast features coachwork by Pininfarina. The Ferrari 500 Superfast originally made its debut at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show and was the last in a series of ultra-exclusive Ferrari road cars. It’s powered by a 5.0-liter V12 engine sporting 400 horsepower and a claimed top speed of 170 mph. Of its day, it was the most expensive Ferrari road car available and between March 1964 and August 1966, the Italian automaker built only 36 units, taking its time so that Pininfarina could custom tailor each car to the owner’s specifications. The one sold was one of only 28 originally built in left-hand drive and was originally shipped to the U.S. in 1965.


8. 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe

RM Sotheby’s played host to this 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe Aerodinamico by Pininfarina, fetching $3,080,000. With 340 hp from a 4.0-liter V12 engine and a four-speed manual gearbox, this exclusive classic Ferrari has won several awards including Platinum Awards at Cavallino Classic and FCA meets. It also scored 99 points at Pebble Beach and is one of only 17 SWB Pininfarina 400SA Coupe Aerodinamicos ever built. When the car was shown at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, it claimed third in its class. It followed that appearance at the 2015 Hillsborough Concours, where it won first in class and the Best Post-War Closed Car award.


7. 1995 Ferrari F50 Coupe

While it’s more modern than the rest of the cars on the list, this 1995 Ferrari F50 was no slouch at the 2017 Arizona Auctions, crossing RM Sotheby’s block and netting $3,135,000. Powered by a 4.7-liter V12 with 520 hp and a six-speed manual transmission, this particular unit is just one of four examples finished in Nero, and one of just two U.S.-production examples in Nero. Overall, it’s the 62nd of 349 F50s ever produced and one of only 55 U.S. units. RM Sotheby’s said it was without a doubt, the most special F50 it has ever offered.


6. 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Roadster

One of the most original Grand Prix Bugattis in existence, this 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix fetched $3,300,000 at the Gooding & Company auction. The Bugatti Type 35 was originally unveiled at the Grand Prix of Lyon in August 1924 and it was immediately considered an automotive marvel. It features a 2.0-liter eight-cylinder engine producing 95 hp, which at the time was a very impressive figure. This particular example has an original frame stamped number 83 as well as the original engine number 43 stamped on the lower crankcase, crankshaft and cambox. The aluminum bodywork is also all original and stamped with the correct number, 60, which is the lowest number found on a surviving Grand Prix Bugatti according to marque authority Pierre-Yves Laugier.


5. 1969 Ferrari 365 GTS Spider

Fetching $3,602,500 at the RM Sotheby’s auction is this 1969 Ferrari 365 GTS by Pininfarina. It is one of only 20 ever built, making it one of the rarest road-going Ferrari Spiders in existence. It’s powered by a 4.4-liter V12 engine with 320 hp mated to a five-speed manual transmission. According to the auction house, it had just six owners over 47 years and featches matching numbers throughout along with being Ferrari Classiche certified. Exceptional bumper to bumper, it’s a six-time FCA Platinum award winner and was featured in Forza magazine.


4. 1928 Mercedes-Benz Type S Sports Tourer

Who doesn’t love a classic Mercedes-Benz? This 1928 Type S Supercharged Sports Tourer sold for $4,812,500 at the Bonhams auction, sporting a 6.8-liter inline-six engine and a Roots supercharger that boosts power output from 120 to 180 hp for a few seconds. This example was one of the few that were delivered new to North America and was originally commissioned on February 13, 1928, and was shipped to Berlin to receive coachwork by Erdmann and Rossi, one of only a handful that featured the work. It was received on consignment at the Mercedes-Benz Company, New York, in January 1929 and by the end of April, it had found its first owner.


3. 1952 Ferrari 340 America Competizione Spider

Classic Ferrari sports cars are always a huge hit at auctions, and this 1952 Ferrari 340 America Spider Competizione was no exception. Selling for $6,380,000 at Bonhams, chassis-number 0196A was campaigned in the 1952 Mille Miglia, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Targa Florio and other prominent races. Inside, there’s exquisite coachwork design by Vignale and Giovanni Michelotti and is actually eligible for most prominent motoring events around the globe. It’s the 17th of 22 cars in numerical chassis sequence and one of just three Competizione examples. According to marque authority Marcel Massini, the Ferrari retains its original Lampredi V12, a specially tuned 4.1-liter engine with the competition carburetor profile.


2. 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster

The top-selling car at the RM Sotheby’s auction is this 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen, fetching $6,600,000. It’s a one-off, owner-commissioned 540K Special Roadster and was built for Rolf Horn of Berlin with a rare five-speed manual transmission paired to a 5.4-liter supercharged inline-eight-cylinder engine. As a freshly restored Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance award winner, the classic Mercedes has matching numbers and was widely considered a one-of-a-kind vehicle at the auction.


1. 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight

This year’s top seller at the 2017 Arizona Auctions wasn’t a classic Ferrari but rather a 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition. Featuring a 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine with 293 hp, it’s one of the absolute best and most original examples of the 12 Lightweight E-Types. It has had just three owners from new and notched less than 4,000 miles on the odometer so it’s little surprise it sold for $7,370,000 at the Bonhams auction. Sporting chassis number S850667, it’s the 10th example of the dozen E-Type Lightweights built and was the proud winner of the 1963 Australian GT Championship.

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Jason Siu
Jason Siu

Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.

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