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.
One of only four ever produced, this particular Mercedes-Benz played a crucial role in the 1955 Formula 1 season, securing victory at the Buenos Aires GP and setting the fastest lap at the Italian GP. In 1965, it was donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, where it remained for 59 years before this high-profile sale.
What set this car apart from its Formula 1 counterparts of the era was its revolutionary aerodynamic design. While most F1 cars featured exposed wheels, the W 196 R had a streamlined body covering them—earning it the nickname “Stromlinienwagen”. This unique structure enabled the car to reach speeds of 300 km/h, making it the fastest Formula 1 car of its time.
1964 Ferrari 250 LM
The Legend That Defeated the Ford GT40 at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans!
Another legendary car found a new owner at the Paris Retromobile auction in February 2025. The 1964 Ferrari 250 LM by Scaglietti, which started with an opening bid of 25 million euros, ultimately sold for 34.88 million euros.
With this sale, the Ferrari claimed multiple prestigious titles, including: The Sixth Most Expensive Car in the World, The Fourth Most Expensive Ferrari in the World, and The Most Expensive Ferrari 250 LM Ever Sold.
What makes this Ferrari 250 LM truly iconic is its historic victory at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans. Between 1960 and 1965, Ferrari dominated Le Mans with six consecutive wins, but only once did a private, non-factory team secure the victory. That moment came when the North American Racing Team (NART), led by Luigi Chinetti, achieved a stunning triumph—defeating the Ford GT40 and securing Ferrari’s last Le Mans win for nearly six decades. The marque would not reclaim the title again until 2023.
