Like any other high-profile auction, European sports cars and American muscle cars were prominent at the event. Below are the 10 most expensive classic cars sold, listed from lowest to highest.
10. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 – $522,500
Photo: Mecum Auctions
This Corvette may be the last car on my list, but it’s by no means affordable: One of just 199 Z06s built in 1963, this Sebring Silver Coupe found a new home for just over $500,000.
Equipped with a numbers-matching drivetrain and all of the correct parts from a Z06, this Corvette was stored for over 30 years before being restored in 2019. It is now a pristine classic car that is Bloomington Gold Certified and has won several awards, making it the sixth most expensive 1963 Z06 ever sold at auction.
9. 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra – $1.21 million
Photo: Mecum Auctions
The ninth entry on my list ventures into million-dollar territory: this beautiful Cobra is one of only 260 factory-built 427 Cobras that left Carroll’s shop in 1966. It’s also one of 56 finished in Acrylic Green.
Powered by a 1967 Holman-Moody-built 427 cubic inch (7.0 liter) side-oiler V8 engine, the Cobra had a block replaced during restoration; all Holman-Moody components remain intact. The car was auctioned with extensive documentation, including a Heritage Certificate from AC Cars Ltd. and a complete ownership history.
8. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster – $1.23 million
Photo: Mecum Auctions
The first European classic on our list is one of 618 300SL Roadsters built as a model for 1957. Finished in a cool ivory and red color combination, this first-year 300SL Roadster was restored in 2010 and unveiled at the 2012 Amelia Concours d’Elegance.
The car is equipped with a numbers-matching 3.0-liter inline-six engine and a four-speed manual gearbox, and its price of $1.23 million is well below the record set by the 300SL Roadster ($3 million), but remains one of the most expensive for a 1957 model.
7. 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Boat Tail Runabout – $1.37 million
Photo: Mecum Auctions
The oldest car on the list, a 1930 Packard 734, is also the rarest. Only 19 Speedsters are known to exist, making it perhaps the finest of the bunch. It retains most of its original features, including the engine, and was previously owned by well-known collectors William Harrah and General Lion.
The Packard has been restored twice, once in 1964 and once in 2011. Under the long red hood is a 145 horsepower inline-8 engine that spins the rear wheels via a four-speed manual.
6. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible – $2.31 million
Photo: Mecum Auctions
Described as “one of the most historically significant L88s in existence,” this Corvette has a lot to brag about: It’s one of only 20 made, the first Corvette L88 produced, and the only convertible finished in Tuxedo Black.
Unlike most of its siblings, this L88 was raced frequently in its early days. Restored by the Naber brothers, it was the first 1967 Corvette to receive the Zora Arkus-Duntov Mark of Excellence award. Surprisingly, this is not the most expensive L88 to ever come up for auction.
5. 1970 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda Convertible – $2.53 million
Photo: Mecum Auctions
Now in its second year of sale, this Hemi ‘Cuda has set a new record for a 1970 Barracuda in three consecutive years. In January, it sold for $2.14 million, breaking the previous record of $1.98 million. Just seven months later, the drop-top sold for $2.53 million.
Featuring a stunning rotisserie restoration inside and out, this HEMI-powered Mopar is one of only 14 convertibles with this engine and one of only nine built with an automatic transmission in 1970. It’s also one of only three HEMI ‘Cudas sold in Canada, and its color combo makes it a one-of-a-kind classic.
4. 1967 Ferrari 330GTS – $2.53 million
Photo: Mecum Auctions
No high-profile auction is complete without a classic Ferrari, right? This 1967 330 GTS is one of two Maranello-built sports cars on my list. Selling for $2.53 million, the open-top car is one of only 99 ever made and one of only 30 Ferraris sold to Bill Harrah’s Modern Classic Motors of Reno, Nevada, through Luigi Chinetti Motors.
Previously owned by Australian tennis player John Alexander (1974-1981), the 330 GTS underwent a cosmetic refresh in 2015 and a mechanical restoration the following year. It is a numbers-matching car with Ferrari Classiche and Red Book certification.
3. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 – $3.08 million
Photo: Mecum Auctions
Also built in 1967, this 275 GTB/4 came with a price tag of over $3 million. Sold in the United States since 1969, this Ferrari was restored in 2017, which included recreating the car’s bespoke Rosso Chiaro paintwork.
It is equipped with a rare factory power window option and is powered by a numbers-matching 3.3-liter V12 engine and a 5-speed manual gearbox. Ferrari produced 330 of these between 1966 and 1968.
2. 1969 Plymouth HEMI Charger Daytona – $3.3 million
Photo: Mecum Auctions
Perhaps the most spectacular sale of Monterey 2024, this 1969 Plymouth HEMI Daytona smashed the previous auction record by more than $1 million. What prompted collectors to bid into the $3 million region for this “Winged Warrior”? Because it’s the most optioned car in existence.
Additionally, this car is one of only 22 HEMI cars equipped with a 4-speed manual and features a unique green-on-green color combo. All numbers match and the car is in mint condition inside and out. It will likely be a while before a Daytona sells for this much.
1. 1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight – $7.86 million
Photo: Mecum Auctions
Ferrari always tops the list of classic car auction events, but this time the most expensive lot was a Ford GT40. Selling for $7.86 million, the GT40 is one of only ten factory competition lightweight cars ever made and was originally purchased by Portuguese driver AF Pires. The car was raced extensively between 1970 and 1972, and the body, chassis, engine and transaxle remain intact.
Restored to concours-quality condition, the GT40 is powered by a 440-horsepower 289 cubic inch (4.7 liter) V8 engine and comes in a factory-correct Cirrus White finish. This sticker makes it the most expensive GT40 ever sold at auction, regardless of model year.
Top 10 Unsold Classic Cars
In addition to the vehicles mentioned above, the auction also saw a number of classic cars leave the stage unsold, despite receiving millions of dollars in bids. These vehicles are now in “bidding ongoing” status, which essentially means Mecum will negotiate with bidders and other potential buyers to ultimately sell the vehicle. Here are the top 10:
1. 1959 Porsche 718 RSK Center Seat – $3.2 million
2. 1971 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider – $2.7 million
3. 1936 Delahaye Type 135 Court Teardrop Coupe – $2.7 million
4. 1992 Schuppan-Porsche 962CR – $2 million
5. 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S – $1.8 million
6. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing – $1.7 million
7. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing – $1.4 million
8. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster – $1.3 million
9. 1959 BMW 507 Roadster – $1.25 million
10. 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS – $1.1 million
–. 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 – $1.1 million
–. 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster – $1.1 million
