In conjunction with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, six auction companies will put about seven hundred cars on the block from August 15th to August 17th. Last year, the combined sales were almost $135 million selling 519 automobiles - Gooding & Company bringing in $61 million of that number. What we’ll be watching for is the car that brings in the highest bid, and will it be high enough to make the distinguished list of the “Ten Most Expensive Cars”. The favorites for top dollar could be Bonhams & Butterfields’ 1960 Jaguar E2A Prototype - The “missing link” between the factory’s D-Type and E-Type, RM Auction’s 1958 Chrysler concept car – The Diablo Convertible Coupe or Gooding and Company’s 1914 Stutz Series E Bearcat.
Each of these cars have an impressive pedigree, but they better polish up their tailpipes if they want to make it onto this list of top sellers:
1 - 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder.
Price: $10.9 million
Taking the highest bid ever is the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder formerly owned by Oscar winning actor, James Coburn. U.K. radio personality Chris Evans won with the bid at the RM Auction “Ferrari Leggenda e Passione” in Maranello, Italy on May 18, 2008.
2 - 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe
Price: $9.7 million
This fifteen foot Bugatti Royale is one of only six that were built. Its huge 12.7-litre engine was originally meant for use in aircraft, and it is one of the largest ever fitted into a car. This example was sold in 1987 during a Christie’s auction at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
3 - 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM Testa Rossa
Price $9.2 million
The particular model is the last Ferrari race car to have its engine in the front, and it was driven by Phil Hil and Oliver Glendebien at the Le Mans in 1962. It was sold in 2007 at an RM Auction held at Ferrari’s assembly facility in Maranello, Italy.
4 - 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster Price: $8.2 million
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone’s Mercedes Special Roadster is the world’s finest example of the 5.4-litre sports car. It sold at RM Auctions in Battersea Park, London in 2007.
5 - 1929 Mercedes-Benz 38/250 SSK
Price: $7.4 million
This Mercedes-Benz SSK was one of thirty three built and was sold at a Bonhams auction in Sussex in 2004.
6 - Rolls-Royce 10hp Two-Seater
Price: $7.25 million
This price makes the veteran vehicle not only the most ever paid for a pre-1905 car, but also the most for a Rolls-Royce. The hammer dropped at this record breaking price at Bonhams’ annual Olympia Motoring Sale in London on December 3rd, 2007
7 - 1931 Bugatti Royale Berline de Voyager
Price: $6.5 million
The second Bugatti Royale in the list belonged to Bill Harrah – the owner of a 1,400 strong car collection. It was sold in 1986 in Reno, USA during an event called “Evening Royale”.
8 - 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Price: $6.2 million
This beautiful Ferrari was sold at a Las Vegas car auction in 1991 and marks the last time a Ferrari GTO was offered for sale.
9 - 1953 Ferrari 340/375 M Berlinetta Competizione
Price: $5.8 million
The Ferrari 340/375 is a pure racing car and this particular example won the 1954 Le Mans 24-hour endurance race. It was sold in 2007 at an RM Auction held at Ferrari’s assembly facility in Maranello, Italy.
10 - 1930 Bentley Speed Six
Price: $5.1 million
During the 1920s Bentley was hugely successful at Le Mans, winning in 1924 and from 1927 to 1930. This factory racing car is seen as the best surviving example of these cars, and it was sold at Christie’s Le Mans Classic auction in 2004.
