Top five auction sales in 2024
3 January, 2025
1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider - $17,875,000 (£14.02m/€16.30m)
Mecum, Kissimmee, USA - 13 January, 2024
Any catalogue that includes a Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider has the potential to generate one of the top sales in a year and 2024 was no exception, with the model locking out the top two slots. Mecum’s Kissimmee sale in January laid down an early marker at $17,875,000 – a figure that ultimately wasn’t bested all year. Its car ticked all the right boxes; covered headlights, known history from new, matching numbers and Ferrari Classiche certified.
[ Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider auction prices here ]
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider - $17,055,000 (£13.22m/€15.50m)
RM Sotheby’s, Monterey, USA - 17 August, 2024
RM Sotheby’s example was the very first SWB California Spider built, starting life on the Ferrari stand at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show before being sold to the racing driver John Gordon Bennett. Again, a covered headlight car, but arguably presented in a more desirable (and original ‘as delivered’) combination of Grigio over black leather, it made its mid-estimate.
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider - $14,030,000 (£10.88m/€12.75m)
Gooding & Company, Pebble Beach, USA - 16 August, 2024
The star attraction at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach sales had resided in renowned collections and was one of just five examples known to exist. Appearing for the first time at public auction, it was listed with a pre-sale estimate of $16-20m, finding a new home at $14,030,000.
[ Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B auction prices here ]
1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider – $12,985,000 (£10.06m/€11.80m)
RM Sotheby’s, Monterey, USA - 17 August, 2024
Monterey delivered another stand-out result for RM Sotheby’s, its Ferrari 410 Sport Spider recording the 4th highest result in 2024. Owned by the consignor for the past 10 years, this unique Speciale prototype had been restored by marque specialists in 2017 and subsequently exhibited at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. RM sold its sister car, chassis 0598 CM, that briefly raced under the Scuderia Ferrari banner for $22,005,000 in 2022.
[ Ferrari 410 Sport Spider auction prices here ]
1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60hp 'Roi des Belges' - $12,105,000 (£9.58m/€11.19m)
Gooding & Company, Amelia Island, USA – 1 March, 2024
Gooding & Company’s blue-chip Veteran car had been in single-family ownership from new – a remarkable 121 years. Exceptionally rare, as one of only five extant, it set the fastest times at the 1903 Nice Speed Week and was displayed at Beaulieu for more than six decades, with regular appearances on the London-to-Brighton Run.