Vintage cars are much more than a fancy way to get around, you're owning a piece of motoring history. We take a look at some of the most expensive classic cars through the years.
• New research displays the most expensive car sales of all time
• Ferraris top the list with the 2014 sale of a 250 GTO at a value of $38 115 000
• Other sales include the Mercedes Benz W196 and the original Batmobile
London - As all car lovers know, purchasing a classic car is about much more than getting around in style. It’s owning a piece of motoring history – and getting to hear the sound of a vintage engine rumbling into life.
Classic car auction: Elton John's 1972 Ferrari sells for R9.6-million
As well as being a piece of art, buying a vintage car can be a good investment. That’s why MoneySuperMarket have put together a list of some of the most valuable car sales yet.
Research has shown that classic cars are the best investment for returns, with as much as a 28% return over 12 months – and 467% over 10 years. Car buyers have, accordingly, been willing to put a lot of money behind some truly iconic cars.
Driving a hard bargain
While the top prices are primarily dominated by some valuable, vintage Ferraris, these were the top models from each manufacturer when it came to auction sales:
1. Ferrari 250 GTO
Built in 1962, only 36 were made (excluding the “330 GTO” specials built with the 250 GTO chassis and body). This one, made specifically for Formula 1 racer Sir Stirling Moss, sold for a stunning $38 115 000 in 2012.
2. Mercedes Benz W196
A former Formula 1 frequenter, the 1954 W196 won 9 of the 12 races it entered, and justly earned its seller $29,600,000 in 2013.
3. Jaguar D-Type
A conqueror of Le Mans in 1955, 56, and 57, the Jaguar D-Type would be hard to miss on the road even without the eye-watering price tag of $21,780,000, recorded at auction in August 2016.
4. Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe
The Royale Kellner Coupe is a stately vehicle, but under its hood it packs one of the largest engines to ever feature in a car. It’s worth its weight in cash, though, as it sold for $9,800,000 in 1987, which would be about $20,659,000 today.
5. Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider
With a production date of 1939, this car racked up $19,800,000 in 2016, making it the highest price ever paid for pre-Second World War car at public auction.
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Sales through the years
As well as the top sellers, the piece includes a detailed graph showing how the sales are distributed across the years – showing a peak in high sales most recently, with the most expensive cars having been developed around 1960.
Prices to drive a person 'Batty'
Additionally included in the research was the sale of the original Adam West Batmobile. The story goes that the Lincoln Futura Concept car, having been produced for $250 000, was sold to auto customiser George Barris for only $1.
Years later, when he was asked to design the Batmobile, the car became an investment – and an icon for Batman lovers everywhere. When it was sold as a collector piece in 2013, it proved a good deal more valuable than $1 – at $4 620 000.