Azam Khan Auctions

In the last three decades, the selling of great collector cars at auctions has flourished. More of the world’s finest collectibles have found their way to the great auction houses, to be sold to the highest bidder.


A number of the traditional fine arts auctioneers such as Christie’s, Bonhams and Coys have established Motoring Departments where they hold catalogue sales. The cars and automobilia to be auctioned are detailed in beautifully bound catalogues with full-colour photos of the cars being offered, and an expert writes a brief description of the car togther with a history of the marque, the historical importance of the particular car, its provenance, its restoration and maintenance history, and a description of its current condition. The auction house also estimates a range for the vehicle’s expected selling price. For the cars with significant historical relevance, the description can run several pages, and on occasion, a special catalogue will be issued for a single car, or for a collection from one collector or museum. The catalogue for a particular auction is available from the auction company for $40 to $70, which also admits two people to the previews and auction. To become a bidder, a separate vetting process and fees, involving bank guarantees and credit checks, are required. The catalogue provides interesting background information on the cars and becomes a valuable resource for collectors and future collectors everywhere. So, what are the most expensive cars on earth? We start with the “cheapest” - prices in most cases are expressed in pounds sterling converted from the actual dollar sale-prices at the exchange-rate on August 30, 2005:
10. 1956 Ferrari 410 Sport