Luxury cars typically fetch top dollar, especially when you are considering an antique or classic car. However, there have been instances throughout automotive history when vehicles have found new owners for next to nothing. Sometimes the car’s true value was overlooked. Other times, circumstances played a part in the car’s jaw-dropping low price. Either way, each of these eight expensive cars sold for pennies at one point in time.
8. The Jaguar XKSS for $1,500
To give you some context, in 2023, a 1957 Jaguar XKSS sold for more than $13 million. It is often referred to as the world’s first supercar and it is highly coveted by car enthusiasts because there were only 16 ever built. At one point in time, a Jag XKSS sold for just $1,500. The low price came from the car’s damaged condition. After careful restoration, the very same vehicle fetched more than $10 million.
7. The McLaren F1 for $20,000
The McLaren F1 swiftly became a car worth eight figures after its debut. In the early 2000s, one of these cars sold for $20,000. It is believed that the car’s high maintenance costs are what led to the low selling price. Now, it is worth 10 times that. A McLaren F1 sold for $20,465,000 at auction in 2021. The buyer who was able to buy the F1 for $20K in the early 2000s got the deal of a lifetime.
6. The Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing for $800
Prices for the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing sit at $1.4 million or more today. So, it may surprise you to find out that one model sold for just $800 at one point. The vehicle wasn’t in good condition and needed a lot of repairs. After careful restoration, however, it was able to be purchased at auction for more than $6 million.
5. The Porsche 917 for $5,000
The Porsche 917 is a legendary car in motorsports. It won the 24 Hours of Le-Mans in 1970 and 1971. After the glory of winning the race, the car was bought for just $5,000. When it was sold, it was only seen as a retired race car with no practical use on the road. The buyer kept the car as a collector’s item and the value continued to go up over the years. In 2017, it sold for $14,080,000 at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auctions.
4. The Shelby Cobra for $2,000
Depending on the model, year, and condition, a Shelby Cobra can bring in anywhere from $190,000 to nearly $14 million. Surprisingly, it once sold for just $2,000. At the time, the car needed significant repairs and it was seen as a money pit by the previous owner. Much to everyone’s surprise (and probably the former owner’s horror), it was later revealed to be Carroll Shelby’s prototype. It eventually sold for $13 million.
3. The Aston Martin DB5 for $15
The Aston Martin DB5 is well-known for its role in cinema as James Bond’s car. You wouldn’t believe that it once sold for a mere $15. It was discovered in an abandoned barn and the buyer initially bought it as scrap metal. Later, it was revealed that this DB5 was actually one of the original models used in Goldfinger. It was restored and brought in millions at auction.
2. The Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic for $59
Bugatti has been synonymous with luxury for decades, so it’s probably hard to believe that one of their cars once sold for $59. The Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic is now worth $40 million, but when it hit the auction block after the war, it sold for pennies. Only four of these cars were ever made, which makes its low sale price even more shocking. At the time, the buyer just thought they were getting a used car. They were completely unaware of its value.
1. The Ferrari 250 GTO Bought for $2,500
This is possibly the most shocking on the list. Today, the Ferrari 250 GTO can sell for more than $70 million. In the 1960s, it was sold for just $2,500. The buyer didn’t know anything about the racing icon or how much it’d be worth in the future. Honestly, it was considered to be outdated and impractical. It was held on to for decades before the buyer recognized its value.
The Magic of Unexpected Finds
Each of these stories gives hope to collectors. Sometimes, you might find a hidden gem in an abandoned barn or on the auction block for pennies. Most of the time, all these cars needed was a little TLC to get them back to their prime. Buyers were able to turn their $59+ investment into millions. So, if you’re looking for a vintage car, keep searching and believing you’ll find one. You never know what might happen, you could drive away with a piece of history.