While no new records were set in the “world’s most expensive car” category, the 2025 car auctions still delivered breathtaking moments.
As you may recall, the title of “world’s most expensive car” was claimed by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe in a historic 2022 auction, fetching 135 million euros. Since then, the question lingered: who would surpass this legendary record? Many expected the answer to emerge from the 2025 auctions, but that moment has yet to come.
When RM Sotheby’s unveiled its 2025 auction calendar, anticipation grew for potential record-breakers at events in Stuttgart, Paris, and Miami. The lineup featured remarkable vehicles, including a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen, which started at 50 million euros. The auctions, aimed at raising sustainable funds for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum (IMS), did not break the ultimate record but still reshuffled rankings. Titles such as “World’s Second Most Expensive Car,” “World’s Sixth Most Expensive Car,” “World’s Fourth Most Expensive Ferrari,” and “World’s Most Expensive Ferrari 250 LM” all changed hands.
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1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen
Opened at 50 Million Euros, Sold for 51 Million Euros
The 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen, once raced by legends Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, became the second most expensive car in the world after selling for €51,155,000 at the Stuttgart auction on February 1, 2025. This historic Mercedes-Benz Heritage vehicle, bearing chassis number 00009/54, is the first aerodynamic-bodied W 196 R to enter a private collection.
