3 – 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale by Kellner: $9,800,000 (Christie’s, November 1987)
This Bugatti Royale is often nicknamed "Kellner" in honor of its coachbuilder. Chassis number 41.141 indicates that it’s the fifth Royale ever produced. Unsold on the eve of World War II, the Bugatti family hid it inside the brick walls of the Ermenonville castle along with two other Royales, the Napoléon Coupe (41.110) and Berline de Voyage (41.150), to prevent the Nazis from stealing them. Then, in 1950, the daughter of Ettore Bugatti sold the Type 41 Royale and the Berline de Voyage to American driver Briggs Cunningham for an unknown amount… plus a pair of new General Electric refrigerators, highly-sought items in the aftermath of the war!
4 – 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM: $9,281,250 (RM Auction and Sotheby’s, May 2007)
This Ferrari 330 TRI/LM allowed American Phil Hill and Belgian Olivier Gendebien to win the 24 Hours of Mans in June 1962. Designed by Pininfarina, it was built by Fantuzzi, the designated coachbuilder for all Ferrari race cars at the time. Also, it’s the only Testa Rossa powered by a 4.0-litre engine, the last Ferrari to bear that name (until the introduction of the 512 variant in 1984) and the last front-engined automobile to win at Le Mans.
5 – 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster: $8,252,201 (RM Auctions and Sotheby’s, October 2007)
The star of the auction held by RM Auctions and Sotheby’s in October 2007 had an illustrious owner. This stylish Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster from 1937 indeed belonged in the private collection of Formula One guru Bernie Ecclestone. Much like him, the auction took a spectacular turn when the platform on which the Mercedes stood suddenly rose five meters up in the air, right in front of the crowd, while dramatic sound effects played in the background!
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This Bugatti Royale is often nicknamed "Kellner" in honor of its coachbuilder. Chassis number 41.141 indicates that it’s the fifth Royale ever produced. Unsold on the eve of World War II, the Bugatti family hid it inside the brick walls of the Ermenonville castle along with two other Royales, the Napoléon Coupe (41.110) and Berline de Voyage (41.150), to prevent the Nazis from stealing them. Then, in 1950, the daughter of Ettore Bugatti sold the Type 41 Royale and the Berline de Voyage to American driver Briggs Cunningham for an unknown amount… plus a pair of new General Electric refrigerators, highly-sought items in the aftermath of the war!
4 – 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM: $9,281,250 (RM Auction and Sotheby’s, May 2007)
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This Ferrari 330 TRI/LM allowed American Phil Hill and Belgian Olivier Gendebien to win the 24 Hours of Mans in June 1962. Designed by Pininfarina, it was built by Fantuzzi, the designated coachbuilder for all Ferrari race cars at the time. Also, it’s the only Testa Rossa powered by a 4.0-litre engine, the last Ferrari to bear that name (until the introduction of the 512 variant in 1984) and the last front-engined automobile to win at Le Mans.
5 – 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster: $8,252,201 (RM Auctions and Sotheby’s, October 2007)
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The star of the auction held by RM Auctions and Sotheby’s in October 2007 had an illustrious owner. This stylish Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster from 1937 indeed belonged in the private collection of Formula One guru Bernie Ecclestone. Much like him, the auction took a spectacular turn when the platform on which the Mercedes stood suddenly rose five meters up in the air, right in front of the crowd, while dramatic sound effects played in the background!