Top ten from 2023

Photography by: RM Sothebys / Bonhams

Date: 15.03.2024

While the world teeters on economic calamity, cost of living crises and conflicts, there were enough buyers with plenty of cash to snaffle some very special cars in 2023. Here’s the top 10 cars sold at auction for the year.

Most expensive car auctioned in 2023 was a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO/330 LM

Unsurprisingly, several Ferraris featured heavily in the top 10 and we’ve included the buyer’s premium in the price. 

The most expensive car auctioned in 2023 was a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO/330 LM (above) for AUD$79 million. It’s the only GTO Tipo 1962 raced by Scuderia Ferrari, with factory documents clarifying its history and car nine of 36 built, with the Tipo 1962 bodywork. Originally it had a 4.0lt engine for racing purposes, and following its compeition days it sold with a 3.0lt donk. 

Picking up silver was another Ferrari, a 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta that achieved
AUD $45.9M. Although beaten by Ford at Le Mans, this 412P’s history includes third outright at the Spa 1000 KM and a win at the Nuremburg 200km. The driver roster of Richard Attwood, Lucien Bianchi, Piers Courage, David Piper and Jo Siffert was as impressive as the car. 

1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta

Last step on the podium went to the 2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04 driven by Lewis Hamilton, selling for AUD $28,250,000. It wasn’t a title winner, but the sale price reflects the status Hamilton holds in the sport. It was however, the last V8 F1 car before they became hybrid-assisted V6s in 2014.

Ferrari grabbed fourth spot with a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider. Auctioned by Gooding at Amelia Island in March 2023 for AUD$27.4M. Not only is it drop-dead gorgeous, but only 27 were made with covered headlights and it’s believed to be the only one in the hue of ‘Azzurro Metallizzato’. 

June in France means Le Mans and in 2023 a Ferrari 499 Hypercar took the chequered flag. Prior to that, this 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, the 10th of just 32 produced, was the last car from the prancing horse to win the French twice-round-the -clock classic in 1965. It went for AUD$26M.

2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04 driven by Lewis Hamilton

Earning its place well inside the top 10 was a 1957 Jaguar XKSS auctioned by RM Sotheby’s, at Monterey. It’s basically a road-going version of the iconic three-time Le Mans winning Jag D-Type, the XKSS notching up a healthy AUD$20M sales result. 

Yet another Ferrari in the top 10. This was the seventh most expensive auctioned car, a 1972 Ferrari 312 PB, with a significant racing pedigree. It sold for AUD$19.8M by RM Sotheby’s, at their Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance.

A second Mercedes made the top 10 and this one with twice the number of seats as the other, though both silver in colour. A poster car for young (rich) enthusiasts, the 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster, one of just six made, attracted a sizeable AUD$15.3M. It’s the first one to be auctioned since 2015.

Filling the penultimate spot was a 2022 Bugatti Chiron Profilée. This was a one-off model that debuted in 2016 and a follow up to the equally impressive Veyron. This one wore a special ‘Argent Atlantic’ colour, over its custom-designed bodywork and fetched a healthy AUD$16M.

Rounding out the top 10 is yet another from Maranello, also from 1962. Auctioned by Gooding at Pebble Beach was our final contender, a 250 GT SWB Berlinetta in original condition, with a unique colour combo of ‘grigio metallizzato’, over a beige leather interior. It went for a relatively modest AUD$14.2M. 

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