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Rediff.com  » Business » World's 10 most expensive classic cars

World's 10 most expensive classic cars

Last updated on: September 23, 2011 09:11 IST

Image: Classic cars almost always fetch good money.
Classic, or vintage, cars are a passion for some. They not only fetch top dollars at auctions, they are also seemingly recession proof.

Here is a look at 10 most expensive classic cars in the world.

Enjoy the ride.

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World's 10 most expensive classic cars

Image: It is the holy grail of racing cars.
1. 1954 Mercedes W 196

Price: $24 million

The holy grail of racing cars, it was introduced at the 1954 French Grand Prix at Reims, and went on to dominate Formula 1 racing for both the 1954 and 1955 seasons.

What made the automobile so special was its revolutionary valve system, which utilized positive control without having to resort to springs.

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World's 10 most expensive classic cars

Image: The engine established Ferrari as the racing champion of the world.
2. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO

Price: $16.6 million

The beauty of the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is that it's a combination of road and racecar. The shape favors aerodynamics while boasting a sexiness that is welcome on the streets.

But it's definitely a racecar first and foremost, and requires constant attention, funds and repairs.

The engine, which can produce up to 300 horsepower, established Ferrari as the racing champion of the world.

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World's 10 most expensive classic cars

Image: Bugatti was all about luxury.
3. 1931 Type 41 Bugatti Royale

Price: $8.7 million

Whereas other manufacturers were interested in performance, Bugatti was all about luxury.

Using the finest woods, metals and leathers, it was made to impress and provided comfort for the very rich.

A massive car with its 14-foot long chassis, this model weighs 3.5 tonnes.

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World's 10 most expensive classic cars

Image: The 330 TRI/LM became the most powerful Testarossa.
4. 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM

Price: $6.5 million

In the late 1950s, Ferrari dominated international racing events with its Testarossa series of front-engined sports cars.

In 1962, new rules were applied for LeMans, which forced manufacturers to use four-cylinder engines.

The 330 TRI/LM became the most powerful Testarossa and also the last.

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World's 10 most expensive classic cars

Image: The supercharged 2.6-litre engine had eight cylinders.
5. 1932 Alfa Romeo Tipo B

Price: $5.6 million

Unofficially known as the P3 or Monoposto, the Alfa Romeo Tipo B was conceived for the 1932 GP Formula 1 season and it became the first single-seater vehicle on the tour.

The supercharged 2.6-litre engine had eight cylinders. One of the engine's chief assets was the low-speed torque.

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World's 10 most expensive classic cars

Image: The famous car made its world premiere in Daytona.
6. 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

Price: $4.4 million

Back in 1963, Ferrari dominated the US Road Racing Championship racing circuit with its 250 GTO.

Carroll Shelby wanted his place in the sun and his Cobra Roadster wasn't pulling its weight.

The chassis was reworked for better aerodynamics and it was equipped with a Ford V8 289 ci engine.

The famous car made its world premiere in Daytona but it wasn't until three weeks later at Sebring that the Cobra showed its potential.

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World's 10 most expensive classic cars

Image: It was a product of Enzo Ferrari and Vittorio Jano.
7. 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900

Price: $4.07 million

In the 1920s, Enzo Ferrari and Vittorio Jano got together at Alfa Romeo and set out to build racecars that could win championships.

After some success with the P3 in the early '30s, they returned to Grand Prix racing with their dual supercharged 2.9-litre eight-cylinder engine in 1935 and were again triumphant.

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World's 10 most expensive classic cars

Image: It was the centrepiece of the Berlin Motor Show in 1937.
8. 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster

Price: $3.63 million

German engineering has always been in a class of its own, and it was no different with this Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, which could be driven like a sports car when most automobiles were hard to control.

The centrepiece of the Berlin Motor Show in 1937, it was admired by Hollywood mogul Jack Warner, who bought it and brought it back with him to America.

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World's 10 most expensive classic cars

Image: The body of this Italian beauty was built by a group of artisans.
9. 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Spider Corsa

Price: $2.53 million

While the body of this Italian beauty was built by a group of artisans who were proud of their craft, the true magnificence can be witnessed under the hood, where even the engine was made to look good.

The 8C 2300 was such a powerful and popular machine in its day that drivers from competing factories would buy them for themselves and race them on their own time.

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World's 10 most expensive classic cars

Image: Ferrari has never built a four-cylinder engine this powerful.

10. 1956 Ferrari 860 Monza

Price: $2.5 million

In the 1950s, Maserati, Jaguar and Aston Martin were dominating racing events across the world.

Ferrari wanted to climb back into the spotlight and it came up with this four-cylinder monster.

To this day, Ferrari has never built a four-cylinder engine this powerful.

   

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