The top 10 classic cars

If you are rich, you would probably prefer to drive or be driven around in a Mercedes Benz, BMW or Audi. For the really rich, a Rolls Royce, Bentley or Bugatti would do. Fans of sports cars would always vouch for the speed and responsiveness of the Ferrari, Maserati, Jaguar, Lamborghini, McLaren or Porsche. Or maybe you are a fan of the good old American muscle car. Regardless of type, there are just certain vehicles that cross the boundary of time and become classics.

Timeless, classy and expensive, the following is a list of the top ten classic cars.

1. Bugatti Type 57S Atlantic – 26.59€ million to 40 million

Good luck trying to get your hands on this one. Not only is it expensive, but it is also extremely rare. Only four of this vehicle was ever produced, and only two are known to have survived to this day. One sits on the garage of the famed car collector and fashion designer Ralph Lauren. The other one used to be owned by the late collector of Bugatti vehicles, Dr. Peter Williamson. The car features a seam that looks like a dorsal fin. Bought by Williamson for only 52,300.33€ back in 1971, he painstakingly restored it to its original condition. After he died, the car was sold to an unidentified collector for the staggering price of26.59€ to 40 million.

2. Ferrari GTO – 31.03€ million

This is not just one of the greatest Ferraris of all time (which is already saying a lot given the astounding vehicles churned out by the Italian car manufacturer), it is also one of the top sports cars of all time. Only 39 such cars were made between1962 to 1964. And no, you cannot just go into a Ferrari dealership and buy one; the owner, Enzo Ferrari, and the dealer for North America, Luigi Chinetti, had to approve your application to buy the vehicle. GTO stands for Gran Turismo Omologata, and was originally priced at15,956.03€ back in the early 60s.

3. Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental – 11.52€ million

Hans Gunther Zach, the owner of the Rolls Royce museum in Germany, recently sold the 1934 version originally owned by the Maharajah of Rajkot. Nicknamed the Star of India, it is one of only 281 produced. The color of the Star of India is unique, as it sports a two tone orange over aluminum combination. It has 14 pair of headlights, including a pair that turns along with the steering wheel. No chance of getting blindsided in this car!

4. Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – 10.99€ million

Ferrari produced only 22 of this 1957 classic. A prototype of this vehicle actually sold for even more, at14.53€ million. This legendary vehicle attained iconic status when it won 10 out of the 19 races it entered in between 1958 to 1961. This particular Testa Rossa that sold for 10.99€ million used to be owned by Alan Connell. It featured in 23 different races, making it one of the most active racing Ferraris ever. Fittingly, its final destination was an auction house in Maranello, where the Testa Rossa was designed and created.

5. Mercedes Benz 540K Spezial Roadster – 10.43€ million

This classic from the German car manufacturer was originally built for the Royal Family of Prussia in 1936. It was called the Spezial Roadster, and it currently has the distinction of being one of the most expensive cars sold at an auction. There is no word yet if the winner in the auction also has royalty in his bloodline, as this car deserves no less than a royal treatment.

6. Ferrari 250 GT California LWB Competizione Spyder – 9.99€million

The 250 was one of Ferrari’s most successful lines during the 50s to the 60s, and the Italian giant decided to design one especially for its North American clients. The California Spyder was Ferrari’s open top version of the 250 GT. While there were a few racing versions built entirely of aluminum, most made use of steel, with only the hood, trunk and doors utilizing aluminum. Another version owned by the actor James Coburn sold for 9.57€ million.

7. Ford GT 40 Gulf/Mirage – 9.75€ million

Finally, there is an American car in the list. This car was built to challenge Ferrari’s dominance in the 24-hour Le Mans rally, which the latter had won from 1960 to 1965. With a height of 40 inches when measured at the windshield and armed with the V8 engine, the Ford GT 40 displaced Ferrari in 1966, before winning it three more times up to 1969. The fourth version was the only completely American-designed and produced car, and it won Le Mans in 1967. The first three versions were built with help from the British, with the second version winning in 1966 and the first version garnering back-to-back wins in 1968 to 1969.

8. Duesenberg Model J Murphy-Bodied Coupe – 9.17€ million

The Duesy is an Iowa-based company that specialized in luxury cars. It originally planned to sell 500 of this 1928 model, but the Great Depression put a halt to the boom years, and they ended up selling only about 300. It could go up to 65 horsepower, which was impressive at that time, from a dual overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder. Top speed was at 119 miles per hour, with the second gear maxing out at 94 miles per hour.

9. Aston Martin DB5 – 4.43€ million to 10 million

This is the most iconic car in the James Bond movies. Only two was ever produced, one of which has been destroyed. It got featured in Goldfinger in 1964, Thunderball in 1965, and Skyfall in 2012. There are two machineguns mounted behind the front turn signals, as well as an ejector seat. Take note that both are non-functional because they were only used in the movies. It also features revolving plate numbers.

10. Bugatti Type 57S Atalante – 3.9€ million

We end the list just like how it began…with a Bugatti 57S. This type, it is the Atalante model that was built after the Atlantic, but without the dorsal fin and with a single piece windscreen. Only 17 of this were ever made.