TOP FIVE MOST EXPENSIVE CLASSIC CARS

This is a repost of my April 2008 entry. I did some revision though. Classic cars are like the gold coins or antique materials, the older the model, the higher the value it gets. History behind this cars is most likely the reason why serious collectors get excited enough about a classic car and for them to pay huge amounts for it. Listed below are five of the most expensive classic cars in the world
TOP FIVE MOST EXPENSIVE CLASSIC CARS

TOP 5 MOST EXPENSIVE CLASSIC CAR
"1932 ALPHA ROMEO TIPO B"
($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-liter engine had eight cylinders. One of the engine's chief assets was the low-speed torque.

The 1932 season was basically dominated by the Alfa Romeo, winning five major races. Only six of those cars were ever built and in 1933 they were entrusted to Ferrari, which then handled the racing part. A rare 1932 Alfa Romeo Tipo B was recently purchased for the affordable price of $5.6 million.The most expensive ride ever sold.

TOP 4 MOST EXPENSIVE CLASSIC CAR
"1962 FERRARI 330 TRI/LM"
($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.

Model 0808 won the 1962 LeMans event before being sold by Ferrari to another team. After one race in which it was damaged, it was sold to Hisashi Okada, who drove the car in New York City for a decade. Following complete restoration and a stint in a French collection, it resurfaced in an August 2002 auction and was sold for $6.5 million.

TOP 3 MOST EXPENSIVE CLASSIC CAR
"1931 TYPE 41 BUGATTI ROYALE"
($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 tons.

Back in a time when cars could be purchased for a few hundred dollars, the Bugatti Royale cost $42,000 and only six were ever built. In 1987, four thousand people gathered at Christie's in London and witnessed this 1931 Type 41 Bugatti Royale being auctioned off. It went for $8.7 million.


TOP 2 MOST EXPENSIVE CLASSIC CAR
"1962 FERRARI 250 GTO"
($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.

The interior of the 250 GTO is plain; there isn't even carpeting. But with only 40 models made, it's one of the most rare Ferraris in the world. A British garage held on to the one it had acquired cheaply in the '70s and sold it to a Japanese businessman in 1990 for $16.6 million.

THE MOST EXPENSIVE CLASSIC CAR
"1954 MERCEDES W 196"
($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.

This car was raced by legendary drivers Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss before ending up in a museum in the 1980s. The car was sold for a couple of millions to finance renovations at the museum, and sold again in 1990 to a French industrialist for $24 million. A German businessman is currently the owner; he reportedly paid less then half the amount in the late '90s.

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It took me 3 hours in processing my clearance and before taking my lunch, I decided to drop by at Baclaran Church again. It’s been awhile since the last time I visited the place so I grabbed that opportunity again to drop by. Visiting the Baclaran church has [ Read More ...]