It went up for a whopping $70 million at an auction.
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The vintage car collection realm has been steadily growing in recent years, with more Millennials indulging in classic rides and starting a collection of their own.
Even the pandemic cannot slow down the hunger for this hobby, as reported by Bloomberg.
“[The year 2020] was a strange year. There was a lot of appetite to buy [classic] cars,” says Brian Rabold, vice president of valuation services at Hagerty, a company that insures classic and collectible cars. Online auctions, he says, have helped people bid on their collectible of choice with just a click and without stepping foot outside the house.
But what specific classic cars do enthusiasts aim to own or dream of adding to their growing collection? Here’s a look at some of the rarest and most sought-after vintage vehicles among car collectors.
Bugatti Type 41 Royale Kellner Coupe
With only six models ever produced during the Great Depression, it’s no surprise that the Bugatti Type 41 Royales are car collector favorites. It’s unbodied chassis costing $30,000, already costly back in the day, as well as its 12.7-liter, straight-eight engine, make it even more special.
Only three have ever been recorded sold, with one selling for $9.7 million back in 1987. Today, that value is at $22 million.
1961 Ferrari 250 GT California SWB Spider
About 55 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California SWB Spider cars have ever been made, making it a sought-after Ferrari among collectors. It sold for $17.6 million at a 2016 auction.
1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
From one of the best coachbuilders in the world, Zagato, is the 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT. Only 19 have been produced. Though continuation models have been manufactured, there’s still nothing quite like the original. In an auction, one sold for $14.3 million.
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
Another Ferrari likely on a car collector’s bucket list is the 1957 250 Testa Rossa. Apart from its rarity, with only 34 models ever built, it is also famous for winning in races around the world in style. It’s so well-loved among collectors that an unrestored model sold for $40 million.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Though values are not set, with some putting it at $3 million while others at $10 million, there’s no disputing the fact that Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is a rare vintage vehicle. Only 18 have ever been produced and it almost never turns up at auctions. The Italy-made vehicle can run up to 160 mph, and zero to 60 mph in a matter of seconds.
1970 Porsche 917K
This vintage race car is one for the books, at least for Porsche, as it gave the carmaker its first overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971. It currently has a market value ranging from $10 million to $20 million, with prices going up or down depending on the model, race wins, and current condition. This model is also the most expensive Porsche in the world, especially the one driven by Steve McQueen in the movie Le Mans.
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
If there’s a holy grail in classic cars, it’s the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. Not only is it one of the carmaker’s most successful race cars, it is also rare, with only 39 ever built between 1962 to1964. At a 2018 auction, one of its models produced in 1963 became the most expensive car in the world, selling for $70 million.
1956 Aston Martin DBR1
At a time when Ferrari and Jaguar were ruling races, this particular Aston Martin model made the carmaker a contender. It’s the only model to win the overall Le Mans. It is also the most expensive British car ever sold for $22.6 million at a 2017 auction.
Banner Photo by Dan Stepinski on Unsplash
