Even though it was an atypical year, even in the universe of classic car auctions — travel restrictions meant that several were only held online —, in the end, after all, we got a list of the 10 most expensive cars sold at auction in 2020.
Unlike in previous years, we did not see record breaking sales values, even considering the hefty sums, in the eight-digit range, of some of the models gathered. Even so, values not large enough to enter the Top 10 of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction.
The only “global” record that appears to have been achieved was for the most expensive car sold at an online auction. We even reported in mid-2020 that this title belonged to a Ferrari Enzo, but that title would change hands two months later for the Ferrari 550 GT1 Prodrive on this list.
The three Alfa Romeo B.A.T. (Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica), by Bertone (front to back): B.A.T. 5 (1953), B.A.T. 7 (1954) and B.A.T. 9 (1955).
What we saw in 2020 was Bugatti's dominance. It holds the top five places of the 10 most expensive cars sold at auction in 2020 — a remarkable performance. Ferrari, which still dominates the Top 10 of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction, only managed to place one model in the Top 10 of 2020, the aforementioned 550 GT1 Prodrive.
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The other big highlight in 2020 was the value that two “modest” Ford Mustangs reached at auction. Okay… It's not just any two Mustangs. One is the first prototype of the Shelby GT350R, the version intended to compete on Mustang circuits, the other couldn't be more famous: the genuine Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in the movie “Bullit”, used in one of the most famous chase scenes all-time famous in the seventh art.
Get the list of the 10 most expensive cars sold at auction in 2020:
| Position | Year | Car | Price (dollars) | auctioneer | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1934 | Bugatti Type 59 Sports | $12,681,550 | gooding | London |
| two | 1937 | Bugatti Type 57S Atalante | $10 447 150 | gooding | London |
| 3 | 1932 | Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster | $7,100,000 | bonhams | Amelia Island |
| 4 | 1928 | Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix | $5 233 550 | gooding | London |
| 5 | 1931 | Bugatti Type 55 Two-Seat Supersport by Figoni | $5 061 380 | bonhams | Paris |
| 6 | 2001 | Ferrari 550 GT1 Prodrive | $4,290,000 | RM Sotheby's | Shift/Monterey |
| 7 | 1971 | Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Speciale | $4,265,310 | gooding | London |
| 8 | 1955 | Aston Martin DB3S | $4 004 360 | gooding | London |
| 9 | 1965 | Shelby GT350R Prototype | $3,850,000 | mecum | Indianapolis |
| 10 | 1968 | Ford Mustang GT "Bullit" | $3,740,000 | mecum | kissimmee |
| * | 50's | Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 5, B.A.T. 7, B.A.T. 9 | $14 840 000 | RM Sotheby's | New York |
*In addition to the individual models, we would have to mention the three Alfa Romeo B.A.T. (Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica), whose only condition for being sold was together. The three reached, in absolute terms, the highest value obtained at auction in 2020, but not individually.