The world's most expensive car: the records and the reasons
The most expensive car ever sold is a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut Coupé", sold in 2022 for about $143 million. The other record cars, and why they cost so much.
Rohit Tandon · 15 October 2026 · 4 min read
Car lovers often ask — which is the world's most expensive car? The answer depends on whether we mean an old (classic) car sold at auction or a new car built by a company. Here are both kinds of record, and why a car can sell for crores or even billions of rupees.
The most expensive car ever sold
In May 2022, at a secret auction in Germany, a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut Coupé" sold for about €135 million — roughly $143 million (about ₹1,100 crore at the time). It is the biggest sum ever paid for a car. The reasons:
- Only two such cars were ever built, and both stayed with Mercedes-Benz for decades.
- It was based on the 1955 300 SLR racing car, which won many great races of that era.
- It is named after the engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut, who used it as his personal car.
- Mercedes-Benz used the auction money to set up a fund for students' education.
Other big auction records
| Car | Sold | Approximate price |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé (1955) | 2022 | $143 million |
| Ferrari 250 GTO (1962) | 2023 | $51.7 million |
| Ferrari 250 GTO (1962, another car) | 2018 | $48.4 million |
Only 36 Ferrari 250 GTOs were built, which is why it is counted among the most valuable models in the world of car collecting.
Did you know? The Uhlenhaut Coupé's top speed (about 290 kilometres an hour) was so high for its time that it was counted among the fastest road cars in the world — in the 1950s!
The most expensive new cars
Among new cars, the most expensive are those built specially for a single customer ("coachbuilt"). Britain's Rolls-Royce built a handful of such cars, like the "Boat Tail" in 2021 and the "La Rose Noire Droptail" in 2023, whose prices media reports put at more than $25–30 million. The company usually does not disclose the real price of such cars, so these figures are estimates. Bugatti's one-off "La Voiture Noire" (2019) from France is also counted among the most expensive new cars.
Why does a car cost so much?
- Rarity: the fewer cars made, the higher the price.
- History: cars that won races or are linked with famous people are worth more.
- Handwork: coachbuilt cars take thousands of hours of craftsmanship.
- Condition: a well-kept car with its original parts fetches the highest price.
India and expensive cars
The market for luxury cars has grown fast in India too. Before independence, many kings and maharajas were great lovers of cars such as Rolls-Royces, and their collections were famous worldwide. Many of these old cars can still be seen at vintage car rallies and in museums. Remember that imported cars carry heavy taxes in India, so they cost much more here than abroad.
Key points
- The most expensive car ever sold is the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé.
- It sold for about $143 million in 2022; only two were ever built.
- The Ferrari 250 GTO is among the next most expensive cars sold at auction.
- Among new cars, Rolls-Royce's coachbuilt models are considered the most expensive.
- Rarity, history and craftsmanship decide a car's price.
Read about more of the world's biggest and most expensive things in The world's tallest building and The world's most expensive wood.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most expensive car in the world?
The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, which sold for about $143 million in 2022.
Which is the most expensive new car?
Rolls-Royce's coachbuilt cars, such as the "La Rose Noire Droptail"; the company does not disclose their real prices.
Read more: Interesting facts · Today's quiz.
Sources
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