- The three-night sale established a new benchmark for RM Sotheby’s at The Monterey Auction, with 69 lots exceeding $1 million, 14 exceeding $5 million, six exceeding $10 million, and two surpassing $30 million.
- RM Sotheby’s achieved $380 million in total sales, with a 90% sell-through rate and bidders from 39 countries.
- Competition cars delivered two of the week’s defining results, led by the 1996 McLaren F1 GTR at $34,655,000, setting records as the most valuable McLaren F1 and British car ever sold at auction, while the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport at $18,705,000 became the most valuable Corvette ever sold at auction.
- The $40 million 2026 Ferrari Luce “Tailor Made,” offered exclusively for charity, became the most valuable new car ever sold at auction, breaking the record established by RM Sotheby’s in 2025. All proceeds will benefit The Ferrari Foundation.
- Ferrari accounted for six of the top 10 sales, including the Luce, Daytona SP3, F50, 288 GTO, Enzo, and LaFerrari, reflecting sustained demand across the marque’s modern halo cars.
- The Driver’s Philosophy Collection, consisting of some of the world’s most extreme track-focused machines and modern hypercars, sold for a combined $53,359,500, led by the 2023 Ferrari Daytona SP3 at $17,825,000.
- The market for important pre-war automobiles remained strong, led by Clark Gable’s 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe at $9,080,000, part of The Sam and Emily Mann Collection, which grossed $34,886,500.
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MONTEREY, Calif., Aug. 17, 2026 - RM Sotheby’s concluded its 29th annual Monterey auction with a record $380 million in sales, the highest-grossing edition in the event’s history. Leading the traditional auction results was the 1996 McLaren F1 GTR at $34,655,000, setting records as both the most valuable McLaren F1 and British car ever sold at auction, followed by the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport at $18,705,000, becoming the most valuable Corvette ever sold at auction. The 2026 Ferrari Luce “Tailor Made,” offered exclusively for charity, achieved $40 million and became the most valuable new car ever sold at auction. Bidders from 39 countries participated, with 90% of lots sold, including 69 above $1 million, 14 above $5 million, six above $10 million, and two above $30 million.
“We’re witnessing something truly remarkable in the collector car world, and this Monterey was an incredible indication of what the market is capable of right now. We assembled arguably the strongest catalogue of cars we could, and our clients, new and old, took every opportunity to bring these cars home. It wasn’t just pre-war, American, or modern. We saw cars from nearly every make and era break records. Working with Ferrari again, following 20 years of shared success, made this week even more special, particularly knowing the proceeds will benefit such a worthy cause. Our team around the world at RM Sotheby’s absolutely delivered. This is one for the record books in every way,” said Gord Duff, President of RM Sotheby’s.
