Remember when buying a car was considered a terrible investment?

"It loses value the moment you drive it off the lot," they said.

Well, tell that to the people who bought these cars when they were new.

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Pagani Zonda LM Roadster 2014 very rare auction - RM Sotheby's at Emirates Golf Club Dubai

I watched a Zonda sell for $11M today. It has more titanium bolts than my car has horsepower.

These machines aren't just transportation anymore - they're four-wheeled gold bars that happen to have engines.

And speaking of valuable things with engines, Ferrari appears on this list more times than an Italian grandmother says "mangia!" at dinner.

The prancing horse dominates these astronomical sales figures, proving that Enzo knew exactly what he was doing when he said he'd always build one less car than the market demanded.

First GT40 Road Car Delivered to US, 1966 Ford GT40 MKI, at Monterey

12. 1966 Ford GT40 MkI Road Car

$6,930,000 (€6,325,000 / £5,478,000 / AED 25,450,000)

Made: 1966

Among the holy trinity of 1960s racing cars (alongside the Ferrari P3/4 and Porsche 917), the GT40 stands out as the only one that came with a warranty. This particular example is one of just 30 road cars built, making it rarer than most modern limited-edition hypercars.

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An exclusive auctoin featureing mnay supercars by RM Sotheby's at the lawns of the Emirates Golf Club Dubai

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Restored by RUF Automobiles during its 30-year single ownership, this GT40 is essentially the automotive equivalent of finding an original Picasso that's been perfectly preserved. It's never been crashed, which for a GT40 is about as rare as finding a Ferrari owner who doesn't mention their car in the first five minutes of conversation.

A Titan of Motorsport, the 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Rennversion, Set to Headline the 2024 Broad Arrow Monterey Auction | Classic Car Auctions | Broad Arrow Auctions | A Hagerty Company

11. 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Rennversion

$7,045,000 (€6,430,000 / £5,569,000 / AED 25,865,000)

Made: 1997

When Porsche decides to go racing, they don't mess around. This GT1 is one of just nine customer racing cars built, and it's got more racing pedigree than most entire collections. Allan McNish and Stéphane Ortelli drove it at Le Mans, which is like having Mozart play your piano.

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An exclusive auctoin featureing mnay supercars by RM Sotheby's at the lawns of the Emirates Golf Club Dubai

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What makes this car particularly special is that despite its extensive racing career, it's never been seriously damaged. That's like finding a heavyweight boxer who's never had a broken nose. It still wears its famous Rohr Racing livery, which in the late '90s was as familiar a sight at racetracks as Ferrari mechanics looking worried.

1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight for Sale at Mecum Auctions

10. 1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight

$7,865,000 (€7,180,000 / £6,217,500 / AED 28,885,000)

Made: 1969

One of just 10 factory lightweight competition versions, this GT40 is what happens when Ford decides that "light" is more important than "comfortable." They made the bodywork thinner, which is a bit like making a supermodel go on a diet - unnecessary but effective.

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An exclusive auctoin featureing mnay supercars by RM Sotheby's at the lawns of the Emirates Golf Club Dubai

When Enzo Ferrari snubbed Henry Ford II's $16 million offer, he unknowingly sparked motorsport's greatest revenge story.

It still has its original Gurney Weslake V8, gearbox, and bodywork, plus a set of period-correct Firestone race tires. That's like having a vintage Rolex come with its original box, papers, and the sales receipt from 1969.

1979 Ferrari 312 T4 - Images, Specifications and Information

9. 1979 Ferrari 312 T4 Formula 1 Car

$8,034,000 (€7,335,000 / £6,351,000 / AED 29,485,000)

Made: 1979

If you've ever wondered what Jody Scheckter's company car looked like, this is it. Sold directly from his personal collection, this F1 car is about as authentic as they come - right down to the worn seat belts. It's like finding Pavarotti's personal opera notes, complete with coffee stains.

The car hasn't been restored or modified since its racing days, which in F1 terms is like finding an unopened original iPhone. It's a time capsule from when F1 cars were more about bravery than battery management.

This Forgotten 1956 Mercedes-Benz Could Fetch $6 Million at Auction

8. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy Gullwing

$9,355,000 (€8,540,000 / £7,395,500 / AED 34,335,000)

Made: 1956

This isn't just any Gullwing - it's one of 29 alloy-bodied examples ever made. Found in Rudi Klein's legendary collection where it had been hiding for 50 years, this car is the automotive equivalent of finding King Tut's tomb. First owned by Luigi Chinetti, the American Ferrari importer (oh, the irony), it's remained wonderfully original.

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A blood red Mercedes 300 SL Alloy Gullwing, front-left view in studio lighting

A blood red Mercedes 300 SL Alloy Gullwing, right side view in studio lighting

The last Mercedes 300SL Gullwing ever produced emerges for sale, wearing its original Fire Engine Red paint and carrying the weight of automotive history.

Despite looking like it's been stored in a shipwreck, this Gullwing is automotive gold. It's got all its original parts, from engine to steering wheel, plus its original delivery documents. In the collector world, that's like having a Stradivarius violin with its original strings.

RM Sothebys 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta | Hypebeast

7. 1960 Ferrari 250GT SWB Competizione

$10,661,000 (€9,730,000 / £8,428,000 / AED 39,145,000)

Made: 1960

This isn't just a Ferrari - it's a Ferrari with a "hot rod" engine built specifically for the 1960 Sebring 12 Hours. That's like ordering a tailored suit and asking for kevlar lining. It finished seventh overall at Sebring, which in 1960 was like finishing a marathon while wearing a three-piece suit.

Restored in 2014, this car still has its original engine, rear axle, and chassis. Ferrari even gave it their Classiche certification, which is like getting a DNA test that proves you're related to royalty.

Ultra-Rare Pagani Zonda 760 LM Roadster Heads to Dubai Auction

6. 2014 Pagani Zonda 760 LM Roadster

$11,086,250 (€10,120,000 / £8,764,000 / AED 40,700,000)

Made: 2014

Having seen this exact car at Emirates Golf Club during the RM Sotheby's auction, I can tell you photographs don't do it justice. It's like trying to capture the Northern Lights with a disposable camera. The carbon weave alone is enough to hypnotize you, and that Mercedes-AMG V12 sounds like God's own alarm clock.

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An exploded configuration (all doors and vents open) of the Pagani 760 LM roadster that went up for auction at RM sotheby's dubai and fetched $11 million in December 2024 at RM Sotheby's at the Dubai Emirates Golf Club lawns

An exploded configuration (all doors and vents open) of the Pagani 760 LM roadster that went up for auction at RM sotheby's dubai and fetched $11 million in December 2024 at RM Sotheby's at the Dubai Emirates Golf Club lawns

This one-off Zonda has more wings than an F1 grid and the last great NA V12. Now it just needs $12M and a brave driver.

This particular Zonda is a one-off commission with 60 unique components. It's got just 9,604km on the clock, which means someone barely used their $11 million toy. The bonnet alone is a bespoke piece, probably worth more than most people's entire car collection.

1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP 'Roi des Belges,' “The Harmsworth 60,” Headlines Amelia Island Auctions, Comes Fresh to Market from 121 Years of Continuous Family Ownership; Will Be Displayed at Upcoming Salon Rétromobile |

5. 1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60hp 'Roi des Belges'

$12,105,000 (€11,050,000 / £9,569,000 / AED 44,425,000)

Made: 1903

This isn't just an old Mercedes - it's the great-great-grandfather of every luxury car ever made. Owned by the same family for 121 years (longer than most family businesses last), it's participated in countless London to Brighton runs and even won some races back when having a steering wheel was considered high-tech.

After spending six decades in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, it's basically automotive royalty. It's like finding out your great-grandfather's pocket watch was actually the first Patek Philippe ever made.

1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider by Scaglietti | Monterey 2022 | RM Sotheby's

4. 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider

$12,985,000 (€11,855,000 / £10,265,000 / AED 47,685,000)

Made: 1955

One of only four 410 S cars ever built, this one's got more drama in its history than a Netflix series. Its original owner fled to Mexico to avoid tax evasion charges, taking the car with him - talk about a getaway vehicle. It's the only 410 S that still has its original engine, probably because it spent some time on an extended Mexican vacation.

After its south-of-the-border adventure, the car returned to the US in the 1970s looking better than most people do after a trip to Mexico. A 2014 restoration brought it back to its former glory, making it the automotive equivalent of a reformed rebel.

A 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider in Photos

3. 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider

$14,030,000 (€12,810,000 / £11,091,000 / AED 51,490,000)

Made: 1938

If pre-war cars were superheroes, this would be Superman. One of five long-chassis specimens ever built, it's won more concours events than most people have had hot dinners. Best of Show at Villa d'Este in 1996? Check.

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An exploded configuration (all doors and vents open) of the Pagani 760 LM roadster that went up for auction at RM sotheby's dubai and fetched $11 million in December 2024 at RM Sotheby's at the Dubai Emirates Golf Club lawns

An exploded configuration (all doors and vents open) of the Pagani 760 LM roadster that went up for auction at RM sotheby's dubai and fetched $11 million in December 2024 at RM Sotheby's at the Dubai Emirates Golf Club lawns

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First in Class at Pebble Beach in 2000?

Naturally.

The new owner even gets an acceptance to the 2025 Mille Miglia thrown in, which is like buying a Picasso and getting the Louvre to display it for free.

The First Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Is Heading to Auction

2. 1960 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider

$17,055,000 (€15,570,000 / £13,482,500 / AED 62,600,000)

Made: 1960

The first-ever SWB California Spider built, this car debuted at the 1960 Geneva Auto Salon. It's got the competition-spec engine, covered headlights, and a removable hardtop - basically everything you'd want if you were speccing a Ferrari in 1960, except maybe a cup holder.

Still wearing its original Grigio paint and red leather interior, it's been used regularly by its previous owner. Imagine that - actually driving a $17 million car instead of keeping it in a climate-controlled bubble. Some heroes don't wear capes. Let’s go check this guys’ house for a secret waterfall-cum-batcave.

1960 - 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder - Chassis 2561GT - Ultimatecarpage.com

1. 1963 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider

$17,875,000 (€16,315,000 / £14,131,000 / AED 65,615,000)

Made: 1963

If the first California Spider was impressive, the last one ever made is the mic drop of classic Ferraris. Finished in classic red with tan leather (because of course it is), this car is automotive perfection on wheels. It's got everything - original chassis, engine, body, even the owner's manuals and tool roll. That's like finding a vintage Rolex still in its box with the price tag attached.

Being the last of 55 made, it's essentially Enzo Ferrari's farewell letter to one of his greatest creations. The fact that it was sold new in San Francisco makes it a California Spider that actually lived in California - talk about truth in advertising.

In the end, these twelve cars aren't just vehicles - they're rolling history lessons, investment portfolios, and works of art all wrapped up in metal, leather, and gasoline.

And if you think these prices are crazy, just wait until next year. Though you might want to start buying lottery tickets now.