It’s been a record-breaking week, one filled with drives along one of the world’s best public roads, a torpedo-shaped prewar marvel claiming Best of Show and a plethora of classics, supercars and future classics all fetching impressive figures as the hammers fell around Monterey Car Week. Auction fever really does spread like wildfire during this automotive-filled week of madness, and this year’s sales from Broad Arrow Auctions, Gooding Christies’ and RM Sotheby’s had an incredible variety of machines to suit all manner of collectors. Nine out of the ten cars featured below once rolled out of Maranello, making it a truly special time for Ferrari sellers and collectors around the world. Aside of the sea of Ferraris, a vibrant Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster from 1935 enjoyed success, and narrowly missing the top ten was a Maserati MC12 Stradale, achieving a record sale price of $4,725,000!
Here are the top 10 most spectacular results from Monterey Car Week:
2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 - $26,000,000
Topping the monetary charts at Monterey this year wasn’t a golden-era classic, but a freshly finished stallion from Maranello’s stables. Of the 599 Ferrari Daytona SP3, this Tailor Made example was in fact an additional car added to the sold-out allocation, and was entered into RM Sotheby’s sale as a charity lot for The Ferrari Foundation, selling for a staggering $26,000,000.
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione - $25,305,000
While the Daytona SP3 fetched an incredible amount for charity, over $25.3 Million was the final hammer price for a one-of-two 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competitizione, which was acquired by our friends at Weekend Heroes for a very lucky client of theirs.
1993 Ferrari F40 LM by Michelotto - $11,005,000
With a body woven from carbon fibre and kevlar and a twin-turbocharged V8 producing a mighty 478 horsepower, its racing pedigree was undeniable, and the F40 LM was the ultimate iteration. One of just 19 LMs ever produced, there was plenty of hype around whether it would reach its eight-figure estimate, and comfortably surpassed it, making history along the way!
1995 Ferrari F50 - $9,245,000
Once owned by fashion powerhouse and avid classic car collector Ralph Lauren, this one-of-two US-specified Ferrari F50s was another highlight of RM Sotheby's Monterey Sale, fetching over $9,000,000 and once again cementing the views that 1990s cars are firmly in the line of sight for the next generation of car collectors.
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione Series III - $8,145,000
Perhaps one of the most famous Ferraris to ever wear a roundel and number, this 365 GTB/4 Daytona boasted a well-documented provenance with just two private owners since 1983 and a recent restoration, all helping it achieve over $8,000,000 as the hammer fell. With multiple period Le Mans entries under its belt, who knows what this Daytona's next adventure will be.
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider - $7,550,000
A star of the silver screen and owned by multiple celebrities over its storied life, this golden Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider certainly brightened up the gloomy skies which appeared for a brief moment over Monterey Car Week. Bidding for this hugely original example was frantic, but the hammer eventually fell for over $7,500,000.
1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Prototipo - $7,265,000
The short wheel base came and conquered, and the extended version certainly wasn't going to be left behind. A true piece of Maranello's history, this Prototipo was the original car photographed to launch the model, and stands as a cornerstone of one of the world's best looking cars.
2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta - $6,715,000
The first of two LaFerrari's in our top ten, this 70th anniversary flagship hypercar has all the hallmarks of a future classic, and easily surpassed the six million Dollar mark as the auction room buzzed with excitement. This example is made even more special, thanks to its carbon fibre exterior package and a removable carbon fiber hardtop, making for one glorious soundtrack from its 6.3-litre V12!
1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen - $5,340,000
The only Three-Pointed Star in our line up, but boy is it a good one. Best of Show winner at the 1982 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and remaining with the same owner since 1988, this incredible prewar delight went to a loving new home, bringing over $5,000,000 as the hammer fell. Believed to be one of just seven examples ever made, this is surely one of Mercedes-Benz's best pre-Gullwing creations.
2015 Ferrari LaFerrari - $5,230,000
Arguably the best choice in the holy trinity of mid-2010s hypercars, this 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari proved its worth during RM Sotheby's jam-packed sale. We urge you to remember this car, as we expect to see it again in ten to twenty years, where it may even top a list like this one, or at least reach far more than its $5.2 Million sale price this year, thanks to it remaining in “time capsule” condition, showing just 54 miles from new!
