The 10 Rarest Cars on Earth — And What It Actually Costs To Own One
Any new car is expensive, but when you add a combination of rarity, history, provenance and desirability, those price tags will likely go through the roof.
Here's a look at the rarest and most expensive vehicles in the world, including some hypercars with just over a decade's worth of street under their tires. All of them are one of a kind or close to it, and as expensive as they are rare.
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1. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Estimated value or price: $51.7 million
Considered by many collectors to be the holy grail of classic cars, the 250 GTO was one of Ferrari's most successful race cars.
Luxury expert Simon Grannville, founder and CEO of Nero Line, said, “The Ferrari 250 GTO has 36 examples, all accounted for, with a public auction record above $50 million, and a significant portion of that premium lives in the paper trail: period service records, correct original components, traceable ownership from new. Strip one of those and the ceiling drops fast.”
Other honorable mentions for rare (and valuable) car models from Ferrari include:
1961 Ferrari 250 GT California SWB Spider: If this car seems familiar, it might be because it's similar to the one featured in the 1980s hit movie, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." It's coveted by collectors, as evidenced by the auction sale of one in 2016 for $17.16 million.
1964 Ford GT40: An American classic, the prototype for the 1964 Ford GT40 sold for $7 million in 2014, reported Motor1.
1994 Ferrari F40 LM: In 2015, one example sold at a Sotheby's auction for $3.3 million. However, another dealer listed his for $6 million.
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa: The 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is one of just 34 models ever built and is estimated to be worth between $27 million and $46 million
2. 1998 McLaren F1 LM
Estimated value or price: $13.75 million
In 2015, this car was auctioned off for nearly $14 million, making it a coveted vehicle indeed, as the LM was built to commemorate McLaren's '95 victory at Le Mans with the F1 GTR.
“The McLaren F1's 106 examples now trade well above $15 million. That kind of appreciation turns a build slot into a speculative instrument, which is why manufacturers at this level control allocation more tightly than demand would require,” said Grannville.
3. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe
Estimated value or price: $143 million
“Only two were ever produced, making it one of the rarest automobiles in existence. In 2022, one example reportedly sold for approximately $143 million, making it one of the most valuable cars ever sold. What makes it so special isn't just the production numbers. It's the engineering significance, racing heritage, and the fact that most people will never see one in person,” said Roger Bible, Director of Operations at ATC Driveway.
Other rare models worth noting for their price tag from the Mercedes luxury brand include:
1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing: It is one of the most iconic cars ever produced, with one selling for $6.8 million back in 2020.
1928 Mercedes-Benz S-Type 26/180 Sports Tourer: Of the 150 of these classic cars produced, only a handful survived to see the 21st century, making it one of the rarer cars on this list and worth an estimated $5.4 million.
4. 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Kellner Coupe
Estimated value or price: $9.8 million
Only three of the six Bugatti Type 41 Royales ever produced were sold, reported CarBuzz. However, because the unbodied chassis cost $30,000 when it was first made during the Great Depression, it's no surprise that sales were low.
In 1987, AP reported that one sold for $9.8 million, which at the time was the highest price ever paid for a car. That’s not the only Bugatti collectors fan out about, though. According to Bible, “From a modern perspective, vehicles like the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, a one-of-one creation… demonstrate that rarity still plays a major role in today's market. When a manufacturer announces only one, five, or ten examples worldwide, collectors immediately recognize the exclusivity.”
5. 1970 Porsche 917K
Estimated value or price: $16 million to $18.5 million
This is the car that put Porsche on the Le Mans pedestal in 1970 and 1971, so it has an impressive racing pedigree for collectors, said Dmitriy Shibarshin of West Coast Shipping, which specializes in the care and shipping of rare, classic and expensive cars.
Now, they are valued anywhere from $16 to $18.5 million, depending on the models, race wins and current condition.
6. 2013 Lamborghini Veneno
Estimated value or price: $11.1 million
Want to buy your dream car? Does it happen to be this Lamborghini? If so, you'd better start saving.
Named after a fighting bull from the 1900s, the Veneno was produced in honor of Lamborghini's 50th anniversary. In 2016, MotorTrend reported that one went on sale for $11.1 million, more than double the original $4.5 million price tag when it was new.
7. 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
Estimated value or price: $9.5 million to $14.3 million
Zagato is among the world's best-known coachbuilders. Since 1919, the company has created some of the most beautiful and memorable cars, said Shibarshin. And that includes the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato.
"Just 19 cars were [produced], and one example ... sold for $14.3 million," he said. More recently, in 2021, one sold for $9.5 million.
Another model worth noting is the 1956 Aston Martin DBR1, which is estimated to be worth about $22.5 million. Aston Martin rolled out only five of these purpose-built sports cars, and it holds the distinction of being the most expensive British car ever sold at auction.
8. 1957 Jaguar XKSS
Estimated value or price: $13.2 million to $18 million
Even if you're not a car enthusiast, you'll likely recognize the Jaguar brand. You might even remember that a few appeared in James Bond films.
But this particular model was popularized by Steve McQueen, whose Jaguar XKSS is estimated to be worth $30 million. In 2017, Wired estimated an especially rare version to be worth $18 million. More recently, in 2023, Sotheby's listed one for $13.2 million.
9. Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Estimated value or price: $10 million
This Italian beauty is tough to value because one rarely comes up for sale, and only 18 were made. In 2020, the world's only blue version -- which had long been missing -- reappeared, according to TopSpeed, which valued the mythical blue 33 at $10 million. The 33 Stradale has a top speed of 160 mph and can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds.
10. 2016 Icona Vulcano Titanium
Estimated value or price: $2.78 million
The Icona Vulcano Titanium is a one-off supercar with a body built from titanium and carbon fiber.
"The body was hammered by hand over the course of 1,000 hours," said Shibarshin. "I imagine someone, somewhere is willing [to pay] over that price just to own a titanium car," The supercar went on sale for $2.78 million, reported MotorAuthority.
Terence Loose, Jordan Rosenfeld, Laura Beck, Andrew Lisa and April Maguire contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.