From the duPont Registry, August 17:
As one of the top 10 auctions of the year, we expected plenty of action from the 2025 RM Sotheby’s Monterey Sale, and the event certainly delivered big. But one thing becomes clear when you look at the auction results: Ferrari still rules the collector car market. The headline lot, a 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 “Tailor Made,” went under the hammer for $26 million (all proceeds going towards charity) and instantly set the tone for the weekend, and established the highest price of Monterey Car Week.
Why does that number matter? Part of the Icona Series, Ferrari only built 599 examples of the Daytona SP3, but this particular one, customized through the factory’s Tailor Made program, features a two-tone carbon-fiber and Giallo Modena livery, and is a “599+1” entry beyond the original run. That level of personalization, coupled with delivery mileage, explains why a two-year-old car commanded more than most seven-figure classics and vintage beauties.
In the weeks leading up to this year’s Monterey Car Week, we’ve already broken down this one-off Daytona SP3 in more detail, alongside two other standouts: the 1993 Ferrari F40 LM by Michelotto and the 1-of-2 1995 Ferrari F50 finished in Giallo Modena and once owned by Ralph Lauren. These three alone accounted for nearly half of the auction’s total top ten value, bringing more than $46 million.
Modern-era Ferraris held strong alongside vintage models. A 2017 LaFerrari Aperta hammered at $6.7 million, while another 2015 example reached $5.2 million. The 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I and the 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Spyder each sold for $5.2 million, confirming that classic Ferraris remain as relevant as ever.
However, RM’s sale wasn’t all about Maranello, as a few Pre-war legends also made their mark. A 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Roadster achieved $5.34 million where whereas a 1935 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Phaeton by Walker-LaGrande reached $4.4 million, and a 1989 RUF CTR1 ‘Yellowbird’ Lightweight rounded up the top 10, with seven of them wearing a prancing horse badge.
To sum it all up, it appears that even Modern-era Ferraris are now becoming blue-chip assets, part of a growing Alternative Investment class. Rarity combined with documented provenance drives bidding wars. So if you’re watching the market, sales like this show you don’t need pre-war status alone to command record numbers.
For context, Bonhams also posted strong results at Monterey, also leaning into hypercar territory with cars like the Bugatti Divo, Apollo Intensa Emozione, and Pagani Huayra. While Bonhams sold the future, RM Sotheby’s celebrated Ferrari’s heritage, and the results highlight exactly where collectors’ focus and capital are flowing this year.
9. 1935 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Phaeton by Walker-LaGrande
$4,405,000
....MUCH MORE
