The Five Most Expensive Cars Auctioned in 2014

With the global economy enjoying a few good years of growth following the 2008 economic crisis, the classic car market seems to be healthy and growing extremely well in 2014 too.

According to a recent report, classic car markets posted returns of 25% over 12 months, whereas the hot favourite, art posted a mere 5%. Over a longer time horizon of 10 years, classic cars posted a staggering 469% gain, compared to 226% for art.

However, the biggest gains in the classic car market are enjoyed only by a concentrated selection of cars, consisting of Ferraris, Mercedes-Benzes, and Bugattis.

Below, we have a lsit of the five most expensive cars auctioned this year, some of them breaking previous records. And has anyone noticed that all of them are Ferraris?

Will we see more record breaking classic car auctions in 2015? Watch this space.

Interestingly, this 250 LM was never raced under the ownership of its first owner, unlike most other 250 LM’s of the time, but instead used as a personal run-about. This is the 19th car of all 32 built, which makes it rarer than the famed Ferrari 250 GTO.

During its time with its later owner in 1969, after winning second in class for a concours event, the car was involved in an accident that burnt the aluminium skin, and was then sold on. A later owner parted the engine from the car and sold them separately. After years of being apart and swapping a handful of owners it was only in 2011, during a full-on restoration, that the car was reunited with its orginal engine.

It was sold in August at RM’s Monterrey auction for a staggering US$11,550,000.

Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach auction saw the sale of a remarkably beautiful and concours-winning 250 GT SWB California Spider. This 250 GT was previously owned by Barbara Hershey, sporting the plate 'HUNNY'. However, the car was stolen during her ownership, and was sold shortly after being recovered. Later on, the car went on to win many conours events and took part in rallies under its later owners.

While a similar car was sold in 2012 for US$8.58m, this went to its new owner for $15,180,000.

The first of only five cars built, this car has a rich racing history, having taken part in prestigous events such as the Mille Miglia, Silverstone, and Le Mans. The car also features an interesting ownership history too.

In 1989 the car, missing its engine and body panels, was stolen from its owner. The thieves then sold the car to a Belgian collector who did not know that the car was stolen, and then went on to restore it in Modena. Despite the recovery of the stolen car years later, it was never returned.

Following this, many years of legal battles ensued, however Bonhams managed to reach a settlement between both parties who agreed to sell the car. The 375, along with its original engine and parts that the thieves left out, went under the hammer for a record-breaking £10.75m.

The Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale was built specifically for FIA homologation and factory racing development. Only three were built, and each featured a lighter chassis and 70 more horsepower than the standard 275 GTB. It raked in an amazing US$26,400,000 at RM’s Monterey auction.

One of just 39 made, the Ferrari 250 GTO is perhaps the most desirable and greatest Ferrari of all time. This 250 GTO comes with quite a story too.

While it was still new, it suffered a tragic fate. After clinching a 2nd placing at the 1962 Tour de France Automobile, the car sustained heavy damage following a race accident, also killing its driver. The car received a complete rebuild at the factory and continued to race under its new owners.

In 1965 the GTO, now old and no longer competitive enough, was initially destined to be scrapped. Fortunately, it was rescued by its last owner. The young man bought the car without his parents' consent, and only drove it at night initially to avoid being found out, and the relationship with the car remained with him until his death in 2010.

In August 2014, this amazing car was auctioned and fetched a princely sum of $38,115,000 at the auction floor, smashing the record for the most expensive car sold at an auction.

Credits: Shirong