Every year, the auctions at Monterey Car Week see some of the most desirable vehicles in the world changing hands for massive sums of money, but 2026 was on a completely different level.
While the previous record year was 2022, with US$471 million in sales, and 2025 coming close at US$432.8 million, this year saw those numbers obliterated with total sales of approximately US$747.9 to $758.3 million.
Furthermore, the average sale price sat at $866,000, marking a 64 percent increase, with 11 vehicles passing the eight-digit valuation mark. The
Here’s a wrap on just what the very top end of the market looked like this year at the world’s leading collector car event, with a recap of the top 10 highest-value sales. Spoiler alert: there’s a lot of Prancing Horses here.
1. 1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe – US$42,905,000
Topping the list for 2026 was one of the rarest American cars ever built, one of only six Cobra Daytona Coupes created to defeat Ferrari’s 250 GTO.
One of two flagship eight-digit sales for Gooding Christie’s, this car was the only Cobra Daytona Coupe to continue its competition career beyond Shelby American’s factory racing program, competing successfully in Japan until 1968.
It was also Carroll Shelby’s personal Daytona Coupe from 1975 to 1998, making it the only example ever owned by its legendary creator.
2. 2026 Ferrari Luce ‘Tailor Made’ – US$40,000,000
No doubt, you’ve already seen the headlines about this one. The controversial Ferrari Luce became even more controversial when ‘Chassis 0’ saw the hammer finally fall at US$40 million in RM Sotheby’s sale, with inventor Herbie Wertheim the winning bidder.
The catch here is that it’s not really about the highly personalised electric saloon, but rather where the money is going, as the entire sum was to be donated to The Ferrari Foundation.
This Luce now officially goes down as the most expensive new car ever sold.
3. 1996 McLaren F1 GTR – US$34,655,000
Known as ‘The Pop Art F1’, this car sold through RM Sotheby’s is the only McLaren F1 GTR with a factory livery.
Its 1990s pop art influenced design in scarlet and yellow makes chassis ‘10R’ one of the most unmistakeable F1s out there.
Like a number of well-known, highly valuable collector cars, this one counts Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason as a former owner, with the legendary musician and car collector serving as its custodian for the past 25 years.
4. 1963 Ferrari 250 P Spider – US$18,705,000
The other headline act at Gooding Christie’s, this stunning 250 P with coachwork by Fantuzzi hailed from one of North America’s largest collections of Ferraris.
It’s one with some racing provenance, too, having finished second overall at the 12 Hours of Sebring and third overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1963.
5. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport – US$18,705,000
Classic racers continued to be popular at RM Sotheby’s with this Corvette Grand Sport, one of only five constructed including three coupes.
Engineered as a purpose-built racing prototype with hundreds of unique components, it was campaigned by Dick Doane to three SCCA class victories during the 1963 season.
It also finished second in class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1964, followed by a third in class finish the following year.
6. 2023 Ferrari Daytona SP3 – US$17,825,000
The third instalment in Ferrari’s Icona Series and one of 600 examples built, this Daytona SP3 shows just how much value there is in contemporary collector cars at the moment.
With a design inspired by Ferrari’s successful sports prototypes of the 1960s, it packs a non-hybrid version of LaFerrari’s 6.5-litre V12, developing 829hp (610kW).
7. 1996 Ferrari F50 – US$14,575,000
Two F50s can count themselves in the top 10 this year, the first of which, chassis 239 finished in Giallo Modena, found over US$14.5 million via Mecum Auctions, earning billing as its top sale.
With only 7253km on the clock, this example came complete with Ferrari Classiche certification, a three-piece Schedoni luggage set, F50 Flight Case for Barchetta/Berlinetta conversion assembly, and both the original exhaust and a Tubi exhaust currently fitted to the car.
8. 1995 Ferrari F50 – US$12,105,000
Chassis number 79 found its new collector via RM Sotheby’s, with quite the interesting backstory to this example.
One of 55 examples specified for the US market, this car was originally owned by legendary former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson.
Finished in Rosso Corsa, this example shows 6169 miles (9928km).
9. 2003 Ferrari Enzo – US$12,100,000
With just 595 miles (958km) showing on the odometer, this Enzo sold via Mecum is clearly an excellent collector-grade example of the legendary 2000s hypercar, and it serves somewhat as the flag-bearer for what Ferraris of this era can be worth.
Another, sold via RM Sotheby’s, wasn’t too far outside the top 10 with a hammer price of US$9.41 million.
10. 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO – US$11,555,000
The car that kick-started Ferrari’s hypercar line, the 288 GTO is still the lowest-production and most exclusive entry in the series with less than 300 ever built.
This one, chassis 99, is a European-delivered example displaying only 1541km on the odometer, and was originally optioned with power windows and air conditioning.
