As 2024 is winding down, we have taken a closer look at the most expensive cars sold this year at public auctions. Not surprisingly, the top three was sold during the Monterey car week. Top the chart is this Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder. Originally shown at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show, this car was the very first California Spyder built on the shortened, 2,400 mm chassis. Ferrari Classiche certified and restored to its original colour combination, chassis 1795GT found a new owner for just over $17 million at the RM Sotheby's Monterey Sale. The number three on the list also crossed the block in downtown Monterey with the Anglo-Canadian auctioneer. This was the Ferrari 410 S Scaglietti Spider that was originally owned by Tony Parravano. It was driven to a debut victory by Carroll Shelby. Since 1971, chassis 0592CM had had only three owners and the most recent custodian had a comprehensive restoration carried out. It now sold for just under $13 million.
At the official Pebble Beach Auctions Gooding sold this Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider for $14 million. One of five built, it had been owned by Oscar Davis before it was acquired by a Florida-based collection in 2022. The car was subsequently stolen during transit and was retrieved over a year later. Chassis 412027 was actually consigned to the auction by the previous owner's insurance company.

Throughout the year, we have seen many great cars but the three featured today from the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille certainly make our Christmas wish-list. From the 1980s comes the Lancia 037 Rally. The mid-engined Group B racer is a legend in its own right but the example shown at Chantilly is the only one that won two World Championship events. In addition to its works history, it was also rallied with some success Spain and only recently was restored to its Rallye San Remo livery. Presented in beautiful barn-find condition was this Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Coda Tonda. Although built over sixty years ago, it has had only three custodians from new when it emerged from longterm hiding in the summer of 2024. It had been part of the stable of the same enthusiast for an impressive 44 years and had been beautifully preserved. Fittingly, the lovely Alfa Romeo won an award in the preservation class.
The Best of Show in the Post War category at Chantilly was this Talbot Lago T26 GS Antem Coupe. Built for a member of the board, it was equipped with many special features. Like the Alfa Romeo, it benefited from long-term ownership with the previous custodianship lasting over five decades. Since changing hands, chassis 110112 was meticulously restored by the current owner.

It promises to be a very busy start to the 2025 auction season with the Arizona sales in January followed closely by the various Paris and Amelia Island auctions in the weeks that follow. Headlining the RM Sotheby's Arizona sale is this sparkling Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France. This 'single louvre' example was commissioned by by Vladimiro Toselli with a striking gold finish. It was raced early in its life and then became part of several prominent collections. Like so many Ferraris, it was re-painted red at some point but it was fortunately re-finished in its original colours scheme more recently. Chassis 0933GT should sell for around $4 million.
A few weeks later, this Pagani Huayra R is due to cross the RM Sotheby's block in Paris. The fifth of 30 examples built, it was commissioned by a Danish enthusiast and boasts a formidable and expensive list of options. Barely used, the Huayra R has a €2.8 - 3.2 million estimate.
For their Arizona sale, Bonhams have consigned this fabulous Lamborghini Miura, which has had just three owners from new. It was one of the very first built and remained in highly original condition until it was sympathetically restored by the vendor. To become the Miura's fourth owner, expect to fork out at least $2.2 million.
Good news for hot hatch aficionados, Renault announced that the Renault 5 Turbo 3E will enter production in the near future. A nod to the mid-engined Group B homologation specials of the 1980s, the Turbo 3E will boast a very wide body kit and a pair of electric motors that will power just the rear wheels.

Six years in the making, Aston Martin finally revealed the full details of the mid-engined Valhalla. Originally announced as the more luxurious version of the Valkyrie, the Valhalla boasts a sophisticated, specifically developed drivetrain. This consists of a high-revving, flat-plane, twin-turbo V8 combined with three electric motors. The combined maximum system output is an impressive 1,063 bhp. The car also incorporates active aerodynamics with a rear wing that can be raised significantly. Aston Martin will only build 999 examples of the Valhalla with the first deliveries expected for the second half of 2025.
At the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, Aston Martin introduced the Valour and Valiant. To mark the occasion, we were also treated to a rare appearance of the one-off Victor that inspired both limited production models. More extreme in every way, the Victor is built around a carbon-fibre composite monocoque and features a naturally aspirated V12 engine, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Originally commissioned by a Belgian enthusiast, the Victor was named after 1980s Aston Martin chairman Victor Gauntlett.
Former Jaguar chief designer Ian Callum released further images of the upcoming Skye multi-terrain electric vehicle. The images show off the on-road vehicle with the off-road version due to be shown at the official launch in May of 2025. The order books for the Skye are open with prices ranging from £80,000 - £110,000.

At this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Mercedes-AMG revealed the production version of the PureSpeed. Based on the Mercedes-AMG GT 63, the striking roadster is the first of the special 'Mythos' series of small batch production cars. Clearly inspired by the current generation of Grand Prix cars, the PureSpeed boasts a HALO cockpit-protection system in lieu of conventional A-pillars. It shares the same platform with the regular production GT as well as the 576 bhp V8 engine and nine-speed automatic gearbox. Only 250 examples of the PureSpeed are slated to be built.
At what promises to be a spectacular auction in Paris, RM Sotheby's will offer this very rare Bugatti Centodieci. Based on Chiron underpinnings, it is one of just ten examples built to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the EB 110; centodieci is Italian for 110. Chassis 006 was delivered new to an enthusiast in Switzerland with a two-tone white and grey colour combination. It has only been used sparingly and still comes with its four-year warranty in tact. RM Sotheby's estimate that the first Centodieci offered at auction will sell for €10 - €15 million.

Hyundai's luxury arm Genesis is poised to enter sports car racing from 2026 onwards with the GMR-001 Hypercar. Developed to IMSA's LMDh regulations, it will be built around an Oreca chassis and will feature a bespoke internal combustion engine that is mated to a standard hybrid system. Due to debut in the the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship, the GMR-001 Hypercar will be raced by Pipo Derani and Andre Lotterer, who will also double as development drivers during testing in 2025.
Earlier this week, Hyundai Motorsport also revealed the Elantra N1 TC Evo, which is due to take part in SRO-sanctioned touring car races starting in 2025. Like its predecessor, it is powered by a direct injection, two-litre turbo engine that drives the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Next weekend, Bonhams will stage the flag-ship Bond Street Sale at the company's London headquarters. Consigned to headline the sale is this Koenigsegg CCXR. It is the second CCX built and was acquired new by a major Koenigsegg shareholder. It spent much of its early life as a factory development car and 7031 famously starred in a Top Gear episode. Upgraded to 'R' specification, it was place in storage during the first half of the 2010s and while it was fastidiously maintained, it was only very rarely seen in public.
Another high-performance supercar due to cross the block is this McLaren 720S GT3X. The second of 15 built, it has only been used sparingly since it was built in 2022.

In a remarkable move, Jaguar production has been completely suspended while the brand is reshaped as an all-electric manufacturer late in 2025. A first sign of things to come was a new logo revealed last week and now the British company revealed the Type 00 show car. In the accompanying press release, the big GT is described as an unmistakable, unexpected and dramatic physical manifestation of Jaguar. The bold Type 00 show car will be followed by a production version that will be produced in the United Kingdom with the first deliveries not expected until early 2026.
To cleanse your palette, we have also taken a closer look at a pair of Chevrolet big-block engined McLaren Can-Am cars. The earliest of the pair is this McLaren M8E Chevrolet, which was sold new to Fred Parkhill. He only raced the car in a Can-Am race once but campaigned it until the late 1970s. From the 1980s, chassis 80-06 has been regularly campaigned in historic events. It is now owned by an enthusiast from New Zealand, who started his career working for McLaren.
The penultimate customer Can-Am car built for McLaren by Trojan is this M8FP Chevrolet. It was raced during the 1973 and 1974 Can-Am seasons and was campaigned in local events through to 1976 when it was damaged. Once repaired, chassis 8-72 was campaigned in historic events on both sides of the Atlantic. Both cars were demonstrated earlier this year at the Goodwood Members' Meeting.