6 – 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante: $7,920,000 (Gooding & Co., August 2008)
According to a story, this sublime coupe based on the 57335 chassis was created in 1937 by the workers at the Bugatti assembly plant as a gift to Ettore Bugatti a.k.a. the Boss. After his death ten years later, company personnel kept doing maintenance on the car and even brought some components up to date, making it as unique as they come. Several "EB" logos are found, including on the hubcaps, rear bumper and steering wheel. The Atalante is often described as a true masterpiece by Ettore Bugatti’s son, Jean.
7 – 1929 Mercedes-Benz 38/250 SSK: $7,443,070 (Bonhams, September 2004)
This car used to be the property of George Milligen, a renowned British collector born in 1910 who started his collection… in the 1920s! In 1940, he purchased this short-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz SSK built by England’s Carlton and kept it away from the public eye until he passed away five years ago.
8 – 1904 Rolls-Royce 10hp: $7,254,290 (Bonhams, December 2007)
This Rolls-Royce Model A is the brand’s oldest car still running. Motivated by a 1.8-litre, dual-cylinder engine that produces 10 horsepower, it was part of an ultra-limited, 17-unit production run. Collectors pushed the bids for this rare item to over $7 million, the most money ever paid for a Rolls-Royce and what British collectors call a "veteran" (pre-1905). Interestingly, many historians refer to it as the "Royce Model A" since Charles Stewart Rolls reportedly wasn’t involved in the development.
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According to a story, this sublime coupe based on the 57335 chassis was created in 1937 by the workers at the Bugatti assembly plant as a gift to Ettore Bugatti a.k.a. the Boss. After his death ten years later, company personnel kept doing maintenance on the car and even brought some components up to date, making it as unique as they come. Several "EB" logos are found, including on the hubcaps, rear bumper and steering wheel. The Atalante is often described as a true masterpiece by Ettore Bugatti’s son, Jean.
7 – 1929 Mercedes-Benz 38/250 SSK: $7,443,070 (Bonhams, September 2004)
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This car used to be the property of George Milligen, a renowned British collector born in 1910 who started his collection… in the 1920s! In 1940, he purchased this short-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz SSK built by England’s Carlton and kept it away from the public eye until he passed away five years ago.
8 – 1904 Rolls-Royce 10hp: $7,254,290 (Bonhams, December 2007)
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This Rolls-Royce Model A is the brand’s oldest car still running. Motivated by a 1.8-litre, dual-cylinder engine that produces 10 horsepower, it was part of an ultra-limited, 17-unit production run. Collectors pushed the bids for this rare item to over $7 million, the most money ever paid for a Rolls-Royce and what British collectors call a "veteran" (pre-1905). Interestingly, many historians refer to it as the "Royce Model A" since Charles Stewart Rolls reportedly wasn’t involved in the development.