The RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025 auction shattered records by achieving over $165 million in total sales with an 87% sell-through rate, drawing bidders from 46 countries. The highlight was a one-of-one 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 “Tailor Made” that sold for a record $26 million, making it the most valuable new car ever sold at auction. The auction set 14 world records with remarkable results across Ferrari models, pre-war classics like Duesenberg and Mercedes-Benz, and German performance cars such as Porsche and RUF.
Key Highlights
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Total Sales: Over $165 million with 87% of lots sold, involving 1,411 bidders from 46 countries.
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Record Sale: The 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 “Tailor Made” fetched $26 million, the highest price of the Monterey Car Week and a new benchmark for new cars sold at auction.
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Top Sales: The top three sales were all Ferrari vehicles, including multiple record-setting prices for Ferrari 599 GTO, 599XX Evo, and 812 Competizione.
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World Records: A total of 14 world records were established at this auction, reaffirming Monterey as a market-defining venue.
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Diverse Range: Besides modern supercars, pre-war classics like a Duesenberg Model J and Mercedes-Benz 500K also commanded high prices.
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German Performance Cars: Models such as the RUF Yellowbird, Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0, and Mercedes-Benz gained momentum with strong premiums.
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Notable Cars: Low-mileage examples like the Ferrari F40 and Ralph Lauren’s Ferrari F50 were among standout sales.
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Million-Dollar Lots: 37 lots sold for over $1 million, with six surpassing $5 million and two crossing $10 million.
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Charity Aspect: Proceeds from the Ferrari Daytona SP3 went to The Ferrari Foundation, emphasizing a philanthropic highlight alongside record-breaking sales.
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Auction Format: The auction was shorter this year (2 days, 152 cars) compared to previous years but was highly successful despite fewer no-reserve cars and slightly lower estimates.
Market Impact and Sentiment
The auction's success, despite fewer lots and no no-reserve offerings, signaled strong demand and a rising market for both vintage and modern collectible cars. The dominance of Ferraris in the top sales and record-setting cars highlighted the marque’s continued appeal. This event also showed a generational shift with buyers increasingly interested in newer supercars alongside traditional classics. The sale atmosphere was lively and public-engaging, with live viewing of the sale outdoors adding to the excitement.
In summary, RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2025 auction was historic, breaking multiple world records and setting new standards for high-value car auctions, while raising spirits in the collector car market globally.rmsothebys+5
Top 20 highest value car sales at various auctions during Monterey Car Week 2025:
| Rank | Year | Car | Sale Price (USD) | Auction House |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2025 | Ferrari Daytona SP3 ‘Tailor Made’ | 26,000,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 2 | 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione | 25,305,000 | Gooding |
| 3 | 1993 | Ferrari F40 LM by Michelotto | 11,005,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 4 | 1995 | Ferrari F50 | 9,245,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 5 | 2020 | Bugatti Divo | 8,557,500 | Bonhams |
| 6 | 1973 | Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione Series III | 8,145,000 | Gooding |
| 7 | 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider | 7,550,000 | Gooding |
| 8 | 1957 | Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Prototipo | 7,265,000 | Gooding |
| 9 | 2017 | Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta | 6,715,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 10 | 1935 | Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster | 5,340,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 11 | 2015 | Ferrari LaFerrari | 5,230,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 12 | 2005 | Maserati MC12 Stradale | 5,202,500 | Broad Arrow |
| 13 | 1958 | Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France | 4,850,000 | Gooding |
| 14 | 2023 | Bugatti Chiron Super Sport | 4,460,000 | Bonhams |
| 15 | 1935 | Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Phaeton by Walker-LaGrande | 4,405,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 16 | 1989 | RUF CTR1 ‘Yellowbird’ Lightweight | 4,295,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 17 | 2021 | Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport | 3,965,000 | Bonhams |
| 18 | 1990 | Ferrari F40 | 3,855,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 19 | 1990 | Ferrari F40 | 3,800,000 | Gooding |
| 20 | 1952 | Jaguar C-Type | 3,635,000 | Gooding |
This list highlights the dominance of Ferrari among the highest-value sales, along with notable Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, and Maserati results, reflecting the premium collector demand at Monterey Car Week 2025.classic-car-auctions+3
