Our regular Monterey Car Week auction preview lists no less than 113 cars with estimates exceeding US$1 million. Read on for pictures, links to auction descriptions and all the key info.
1956 Aston Martin DBR1
Estimate: No official estimate but likely to sell for $20 million plus.
The RM Sotheby's press release calls it "the most important Aston Martin ever produced." Only five were made, and between them they won the 24 Hour of Le Mans and the World Sportscar Championship in 1959. The Aston Martin DBR1 is headed for auction at Monterey and expectations are of a sale price in excess of $20 million. See our extensive feature on this car.
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 148
1995 McLaren F1
No Official Estimate but expect a price between $15 million and $20 million.
The McLaren F1 already began trashing established auction norms early in its life, and the price at auction has already climbed past the $10 million mark even though the car is just over 20 years old.
Only 64 road-legal F1s were ever built and this car is one of just seven F1s federalized by Ameritech for legal road use in the United States. Hence, it is expected to push the sale price beyond $15 million and maybe even past $20 million. If it goes beyond that price, it will threaten the auction record for the most expensive British car at auction (a Le-Mans-winning Jaguar D-Type that fetched $21,780,000).
The car is also expected to become the most expensive modern car at auction, beating the $13,750,000 paid for a 1998 McLaren F1 "LM-Specification" achieved during Monterey Car Week in 2015.
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 73
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A
No Official Estimate
Given the rise of the Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster, it seems likely that the Cabriolet A, B and C versions will follow a similar price trajectory to the much rarer Spezial Roadster.
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 257
1980 Ferrari 312 T5 Formula 1
No Official Estimate
Jody Scheckter's main car in the 1980 season following his 1979 title win. Didn't win a race despite carrying the number one plate.
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 45
1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodynamico
No Official Estimate but can be expected to top $3 million.
A rare car that was at the very pinnacle of Ferrari's offerings. One of 35 Ferrari 400 Superamericas built and one of just 35 Aerodynamicos built. An award-winning car that can be expected to push the model record of $4.4 million set at Amelia Island in 2016.
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 63
1958 Ferrari 250 GT "Tour De France"
No Official Estimate
But the model record stands at $13,200,000 (see the Top 100 most valuable cars of all time) and recent sales of the model include $7,862,554 in September, 2014, $7,273,054 in September, 2015 and $6,710,000 at Monterey in 2012.
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 85
1970 Porsche 917K
Estimate: $13,000,000 to $16,000,000
One of the stars of Monterey Car Week (August 11-17) auctions this year will be a rare and brutally powerful Porsche 917K endurance racer with an amazing provenance. It set the fastest lap in the pre-Le Mans tests of 1970, was once owned by racing legend Jo Siffert (the car led his funeral procession) and was used by Steve McQueen's production company as both a camera and star car in the 1970 movie Le Mans. It then disappeared for 25 years and subsequently became one of the biggest "barn finds" in history when discovered in a warehouse outside Paris in 2001.
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 044
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
Estimate: $12,000,000 to $16,000,000
One of 12 GTB/Cs produced and raced extensively in period with many class and outright wins. Fully restored with original chassis and body, and matching numbers. Pebble Beach Concours award winner. A 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale sold for $26,400,000 in 2014, and a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C sold for €5,712,000 ($7,860,622) in Monaco in 2014.
Official Auction Page: Gooding & CoLot 120
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
Estimate: $8,500,000 to $10,000,000
The hardtop version of the car that became the famed 250 GT California Spider, the model record stands at $11,439,774 (£7,392,000) while a Competizione variant sold for $13,500,000 by Gooding in 2016.
Official Auction Page: RM-SothebysLot 220
1959 Aston Martin DB4GT Prototype
Estimate: $6,000,000 to $8,000,000
The prototype of the world's fastest car at the time. Indeed, this prototype spawned the world's fastest car three times.
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 147
1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight
No Official Estimate
These cars are rare with only 12 having been produced by the Jaguar factory. The most recent example to reach auction was in January 2017 when an identical car sold for $7,370,000. This car retains its original aluminum coachwork and matching-numbers alloy engine, so it is as authentic and original as possible.
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 52
1955 Ferrari 121 LM Spider
Estimate: $6,500,000 to $7,500,000
The third of only four 121 LMs builtand raced by Scuderia Ferrari, with starts including the 1955 Mille Miglia and 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans (driven by Maurice Trintignant and Harry Shell), where it was timed at 181.15 mph.
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 140
1956 Maserati 300S
Estimate: $6,000,000 to $7,000,000
This car was purchased in 1978 for $13,700, though its history was not known at that time. Maserati works driver Stirling Moss described the 300S Maserati as "one of the easiest, nicest, best-balanced sports-racing cars ever made ..." which is high praise from a driver who raced nearly everything of note during the 1950s.
Moss started 13 races in a Maserati 300S and he took over the drive in three further races after having begun the race in different cars. From 16 races in the Maserati 300S he won nine times, placed second on three occasions plus a third and a fifth place and two retirements.
He described the 300S as being "... strong and dependable, also quite like an Aston Martin DB3S in its general feel and responsiveness, but it was even better balanced and, in my experience, almost unburstable. Today, people rave about Ferrari's fantastic reliability. True, they used to spread it wider across the board amongst all their customers, but a decently-prepared 300S had a chassis which was infinitely superior to any front-engined sports Ferrari and although it lacked their wonderfully smooth and powerful V12 engines, its 6 cylinder was always man enough for the job..."
Stirling Moss wrote in his diary after a particularly challenging Buenos Aires 1,000 km race in Argentina in which he started in a 450 S Maserati but finished in a 300S when the 450S had mechanical failure: "It had been a wonderful race for me which I enjoyed enormously... This was my greatest drive. Car (300S) fabulous - 6,400 rpm and I braked at 250 meters, in 450S braking at 500 meters..."
This car was raced by "El Maestro," the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio, who used it to win the 1957 Grand Prix of Portugal and both heats of the 1957 Grand Prix of Brazil. Ex-Fangio race cars account for two of the four most valuable cars ever sold. That makes the estimate of $6,000,000 to $7,000,000 particularly relevant as it offers legendary provenance at a discount, plus race-winning performance and handling for classic racers.
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 38
1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet
Estimate: $5,000,000 to $7,000,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 036
1950 Ferrari 166 MM/212 Export "Uovo" by Fontana
Estimate: $5,000,000 to $7,000,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 152
1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series III Coupe
Estimate: $5,500,000 to $6,500,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 249
1928 Mercedes-Benz S-Type 26/180 Sports Tourer
Estimate: $5,000,000 to $6,000,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 154
1954 Ferrari 500/735 Mondial Spider
Estimate: $4,000,000 to $5,500,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 252
1930 Bentley 6½-Litre Speed Six Sportsman's Saloon by Corsica
Estimate: $3,500,000 to $5,500,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 133
1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta Zagato
Estimate: $4,000,000 to $5,000,000
The last of 21 Zagato Berlinettas built, delivered new to the United States and raced extensively in period.
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 027
2015 Ferrari LaFerrari
Estimate: $4,500,000 to $4,700,000
With a top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h), the LaFerrari contains a 949 hp hybrid power unit comprising the most powerful naturally-aspirated V12 in the world (6.3 liters producing 788 hp) plus a 161 hp electric motor for a total 949 hp, all transmitted via a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox with energy harvested via a HY-KERS Kinetic Energy Recovery System. This car has traveled just 209 miles from new.
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S80
1970 Porsche 908/03
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 256
1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 Type S Sports 4
Estimate: $3,500,000 to $4,000,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 121
2015 Ferrari LaFerrari
Estimate: $3,300,000 to $3,900,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 054
2015 Ferrari LaFerrari
Estimate: $3,300,000 to $3,800,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 227
2014 Ferrari LaFerrari
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S102
1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Series I
Estimate: $3,000,000 to $3,800,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 033
1956 Maserati A6G/54 Gran Sport Spider
Estimate: $3,200,000 to $3,600,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 61
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
Estimate: $3,000,000 to $3,500,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 041
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy
Estimate: $2,900,000 to $3,400,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 241
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
Estimate: $2,750,000 to $3,250,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 218
1969 Ferrari 365 GTS
Estimate: $2,800,000 to $3,200,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 245
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy Long Nose
Estimate: $2,700,000 to $3,000,000
Official Auction Description: Bonhams Lot 16
1972 Ferrari 365GTS/4 Daytona Spider
Estimate: $2,700,000 to $3,000,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 65
2003 Ferrari Enzo
Estimate: $2,700,000 to $3,000,000
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S120
2010 Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita
Estimate: $2,700,000 to $3,000,000
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S94
2015 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse
Estimate: $2,700,000 to $3,000,000
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S116
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
Estimate: $2,500,000 to $3,000,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 26
1935 Aston Martin Ulster Competition Sports
Estimate: $2,500,000 to $3,000,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 150
1952 Ferrari 342 America Cabriolet by Vignale
Estimate: $2,250,000 to $3,000,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 142
1974 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT
Estimate: $2,400,000 to $2,800,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 048
2014 Pagani Huayra Tempesta
Estimate: $2,200,000 to $2,800,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 229
1954 Ferrari 250 Europa GT Coupe
Estimate: $2,000,000 to $2,800,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 128
2016 Aston Martin Vulcan
Estimate: $2,000,000 to $2,700,000
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S108
2007 Maserati MC12 Corsa
Estimate: $2,300,000 to $2,500,000
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S85
2015 McLaren P1
Estimate: $2,200,000 to $2,500,000
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S97
2003 Ferrari Enzo
Estimate: $2,000,000 to $2,500,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 42
1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Series V Gran Sport
Estimate: $2,000,000 to $2,500,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 021
1958 BMW 507 Series II
Estimate: $2,000,000 to $2,500,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 157
1964 Lotus Type 34
Estimate: $1,800,000 to $2,500,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 82
2006 Lamborghini Concept S
Estimate:$1,800,000 to $2,500,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 233
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB
Estimate: $2,000,000 to $2,400,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 163
1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Berlinetta
Estimate: $1,800,000 to $2,400,000
Official Auction Description: Worldwide Auctioneers Lot 26
2015 McLaren P1
Estimate: $2,000,000 to $2,200,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 165
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose
Estimate: $1,900,000 to $2,200,000
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S78
1966 Ferrari 275 GTS
Estimate: $1,850,000 to $2,200,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 81
1937 Delahaye 135 M Coupe
Estimate: $1,700,000 to $2,100,000
Official Auction Description: Worldwide Auctioneers Lot 53
1966 Ferrari 275 GTS
Estimate: $1,700,000 to $2,000,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 014
1966 Shelby 427 Cobra
Estimate: $1,600,000 to $2,000,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 58
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider
Estimate: $1,600,000 to $2,000,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 234
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Cabriolet
Estimate: $1,500,000 to $2,000,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 143
1940 BMW 328 Roadster
Estimate: $1,500,000 to $2,000,000
Official Auction Description: Worldwide Auctioneers Lot 44
1958 Lister-Jaguar "Knobbly"
One of two identical cars delivered to Briggs Cunningham in 1958, the other car sold for $1,980,000 during Monterey Car Week 2013, then in May, 2014 in Monaco, it sold again for €1,176,000 million ($1,618,363).
Official Auction Description: MecumLot F75
1996 Porsche 911 GT2
Estimate: $1,600,000 to $1,900,000
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S68
1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS
Estimate: $1,500,000 to $1,800,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 129
1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe
Estimate: $1,500,000 to $1,800,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 152
1953 Fiat 8V Berlinetta Elaborata
Estimate: $1,400,000 to $1,800,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 149
1977 Porsche 935 Factory Race Car
Estimate: $1,600,000 to $1,750,000
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S90
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy
Estimate: $1,400,000 to $1,700,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 248
1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona
Estimate: $1,265,000 to $1,650,000
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S111
1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe
Estimate: $1,300,000 to $1,600,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 168
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
Estimate: $1,200,000 to $1,600,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 230
2017 Ferrari F12 TDF
Estimate: $1,350,000 to $1,500,000
Official Auction Description: MecumLot S79
1991 Ferrari F40
Estimate: $1,300,000 to $1,500,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 222
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Estimate: $1,250,000 to $1,500,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 116
1963 Porsche 356 B Carrera 2 Cabriolet
Estimate: $1,250,000 to $1,500,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 134
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Estimate: $1,250,000 to $1,500,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 239
1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Estimate: $1,250,000 to $1,500,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 251
1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America
Estimate: $1,200,000 to $1,500,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 54
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Estimate: $1,200,000 to $1,500,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 160
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet
Estimate: $1,200,000 to $1,500,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 123
1965 Shelby 289 Cobra
Estimate: $1,200,000 to $1,400,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 024
1988 Porsche 959 Komfort
Estimate: $1,200,000 to $1,400,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 046
1964 Shelby 289 "Lindauer Cobra"
Estimate: $1,200,000 to $1,400,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 154
1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Offener Tourenwagen
This 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Offener Tourenwagen sold for $1,430,000 in 2014, and has subsequently had a full restoration. The rare and elegant touring car version of the famed 500 K, just four Tourenwagens are known to survive and the quality of the restoration was attested by a class award at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Could surprise with a multiple of the figure for which it last sold.
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 246
1965 Aston Martin DB5
Estimate: $1,200,000 to $1,400,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 156
1988 Porsche 959 Komfort
Estimate: $1,200,000 to $1,400,000
Official Auction Description: Mecum Lot S113
1956 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta
Estimate: $1,100,000 to $1,400,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 77Ω
1964 Maserati 5000 GT Coupe by Michelotti
Estimate: $1,100,000 to $1,400,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 117
1995 Porsche 911 GT2
Estimate: $1,100,000 to $1,400,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 137
1937 Maserati 6CM
Estimate: $1,000,000 to $1,400,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 136
1925 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix
Estimate: $1,100,000 to $1,300,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 243
1949 Aston Martin 2-Liter Sports "DB1" Le Mans
Estimate: $1,050,000 to $1,300,000
Official Auction Description: RM-SothebysLot 149
1990 Ferrari F40
Estimate: $1,000,000 to $1,300,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 87
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Estimate: $1,000,000 to $1,300,000
Official Auction Description: Gooding & CoLot 018
1941 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet B
Estimate: $900,000 to $1,300,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 29
1964 Shelby Cobra 289
Estimate: $1,050,000 to $1,250,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 24
1968 Chevrolet Corvette L-88 Sunray-DX Race Car
Estimate: $950,000 to $1,250,000
Official Auction Description: Worldwide Auctioneers Lot 59
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Estimate: $1,000,000 to $1,200,000
Official Auction Description: BonhamsLot 21
2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Estimate: $1,000,000 to $1,200,000
Official Auction Description: Mecum Lot S72
2012 McLaren MP4-12C High Sport
Estimate: $950,000 to $1,200,000
Official Auction Description: Mecum Lot S128