What can we say about the top 10 most valuable cars sold at auction in 2018? Well, all but two (the Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato and the Alfa Romeo Tipo B) were sold Stateside, indicative of the USA’s increased two-thirds stronghold on the market. Collectively, they represent the ‘best of the best’, that tiny segment of the market that has, against the common grain, exceeded expectations in 2018 and not fallen by the wayside. Deservedly so – each is a truly exceptional motorcar, demonstrating exceptional rarity, unquestionable provenance, and, more often than not, period racing history. And of course, special recognition must go to RM Sotheby’s, which achieved the simply stunning sum of 48.4m dollars for Greg Whitten’s 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. It’s a public World Record we wonder how long we’ll have to wait to be broken.

Number 10

A 1985 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar sold at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Atlanta sale for 5.945m dollars. 

Number 9

An ex-Scuderia Ferrari 1932 Alfa Romeo Tipo B Grand Prix Monoposto sold at Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018 sale for 6.068m dollars. 

Number 8

A single-louvre 1958 Ferrari 250 GT ‘Tour de France’ sold at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach 2018 for 6.6m dollars. 

Number 7

Battista Pininfarina’s 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale sold at Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale 2018 sale for 8.085m dollars. 

Number 6

The ex-Holman & Moody 1966 Ford GT40 MKII, chassis P/1016, sold at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2018 sale for 9.795m dollars. 

Number 5 

The 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato ‘2 VEV’ sold at Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018 sale for 13.516m dollars.

Number 4 

The ex-Works 1963 Aston Martin DP215 sold at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2018 sale for 21.455m dollars. 

Number 3 

A 1935 Duesenberg SSJ sold at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach 2018 sale for 22m dollars, making it the most expensive American car ever sold at auction.

Number 2 

An ex-Fangio 1956 Ferrari 290 MM sold at the RM Sotheby’s Los Angeles sale for 22m dollars. 

Number 1 

A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis #3413, sold at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2018 sale for 48.4m dollars – a world record price for a car sold at auction. 

Photos: Stefan Bauer for Classic Driver, RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Company, Rémi Dargegen, Bonhams