While value doesn’t always equate to desirability, some classic cars are so desirable that they have a genuinely hefty price tag. We aren’t just talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars either, but millions of big numbers that will shock the life out of you.

This list will contain ten of the best classic cars that cost millions and explain why they are worth so much. There is an eclectic mix, from true classics like the Ferrari 250 GTO to more modern machines such as the legendary McLaren F1.

Ferrari 250 GTO

The Ferrari 250 GTO is more than worthy of a place on this list. Produced from 1962 to 1964, the 250 GTO was designed to comply with the FIA’s Group 3 Standard Touring Car regulations. With racing in mind, Ferrari produced only a handful of 250 GTOs, with 36 made in total over the two years.

Power came from a 3.0-liter Tipo 168 V12 engine, allowing it to compete with rivals such as the Shelby Cobra, Jaguar E-Type, and Aston Martin DP214. The Ferrari 250 GTO is now ridiculously valuable, with one selling in 2018 for $70 million at a private auction.

McLaren F1

A modern classic, the McLaren F1 is still seen by many as the greatest supercar of all time. Designed by Gordon Murray, the F1 made its debut in 1992 and featured some unique features, such as its three-abreast seating and central driving position up front.

The F1’s power came from a mighty 6.1-liter BMW S70/2 V12 engine, which produced 618 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. To this day, thanks to its top speed of 240 mph, the F1 remains the fastest naturally aspirated car in the world, and some can sell for well over $20 million.

Toyota 2000GT

Hailed as Japan’s first supercar, the Toyota 2000GT was a direct rival to Britain’s Jaguar E-Type and proved to the world that Japan was serious about performance. Initially, the 2000GT was to be a collaboration between Nissan and Yamaha, but before the former pulled out, Yamaha went to Toyota and proposed that they finish the job.

Toyota agreed to employ its designer to create the 2000GT. What they created was a truly gorgeous car that handled just as well as it looked and could even take on the mighty Porsche 911. The 2000GT took its power from a 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter Toyota inline-six, and in 2024, you can easily see them sell for over $1 million.

Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe

While Carroll Shelby and his team are most famous for the Cobra and Shelby Mustangs, the company also produced a GT car of its own in the form of the Daytona Cobra Coupe. This monster had a Ford 289 ci V8 under the hood, and out of the blocks, it was a racing success.

The Daytona Coupe would become the only American car to beat Ferrari in world championship racing in Europe at the time, and in total, Shelby produced just six coupes. One of which went up for auction in 2009, selling for $7.25 million.

Ferrari F40

Some say the Ferrari F40 is the best car the Italian manufacturer has ever produced. Launched in 1987, the F40 was the final car approved by Enzo Ferrari before he died in 1988, meaning it holds a special place in Ferrari’s heart. But it was also a wild, ferocious animal, thanks to the 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged Tipo V8 under the hood.

That engine was good enough for 477 horsepower in US spec, making it one of the fastest and most powerful cars of the 1980s. The rawness of the driving experience is what gave it such high praise, and its value quickly saw it sell for up to $4 million.

Mercedes-Benz W196

The Mercedes-Benz W196 was an early Formula 1 car from the Silver Arrows, first appearing for the 1954 F1 season and also used during the 1955 season. It was driven by the likes of Juan-Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, taking nine wins in its career and securing the drivers’ title in both 1954 and 1955.

Mercedes only made a small handful of W196s, and it will come as no surprise to learn they are ridiculously valuable. In 2013, an all-original W196 sold for a staggering $29,600,000, a number which scarcely seems believable.

Jaguar D-Type

Of all of Jaguar’s creations, the D-Type might even eclipse the E-Type when it comes to its desirability. The D-Type was built from 1954 to 1957, with its sole purpose to conquer the famous Le Mans 24 Hours and dominate the race. The D-Type took its power from Jaguar’s straight-six XK6 engine, and Jaguar quoted itself as building 75 D-Types in total.

The D-Type would win Le Mans three times, cementing its place as one of the best cars to ever take part in the event. With all its pedigree, it’s little surprise that the D-Type is super valuable, with one example selling for $21,780,000 at Monterey in 2016.

Ferrari F50

The Ferrari F50 doesn’t get the same love as its predecessor, the F40. This is unusual, as in many ways, the F50 is actually the better of the two cars. It’s more powerful thanks to its 4.7-liter Tipo F130B V12 engine, which was developed from the engine in the 1990 Ferrari 641 F1 car. The F50 makes 512 horsepower, around 40 horsepower more than the F40.

Its more refined in terms of its driving experience too, less raw and with an extra level of comfort. Plus, its also rarer. Ferrari made over 1,000 F40s but only 349 F50s. One sold for a record $5.05 million at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction in August 2024.

Aston Martin DBR1

Setting the record for the most expensive British car ever sold at auction is the 1956 Aston Martin DBR1. In 2017, a DBR1 sold for an astronomical $22,550,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction, which the example sold the first of five produced and the only ever sold at a public auction.

The DBR1 was built as a race car in 1956, with its power coming from a 2.5-liter Aston Martin straight-six engine that could produce 250 horsepower. The DBR1 was a gorgeous car, and it won nine out of its 18 races in its career, including the 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours and a World Constructors’ championship that same year.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé

Setting new standards for value was the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which sold at a special RM Sotheby’s auction at the Stuttgart Mercedes museum in 2022. It went for an astonishing $143 million, making it by far the most valuable car in the world.

The Uhlenhaut at auction was one of just two made in 1955, named after its creator and chief engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut. The car, with its Mercedes M 196 S straight-eight under the hood, was capable of speeds of up to 180 mph, and racing was ingrained into its DNA.