Far from being merely beautiful to look at, vintage cars are also frequently worth a great amount of money. Here is our list of five of the most valuable, complete with the amount of money required to purchase them. Remember that you could easily empty your wallet on cars like these! Always consider buying appropriate classic car insurance if you are in the market for a vintage car.
5. Alfa Romeo P3 Tipo B (1932)
The Alfa Romeo P3 Tipo B from 1932 comes fifth in our list of the most valuable classic cars. The P3 Tipo B has the distinction of being the first genuine single-seat Grand Prix racing car, having been built to race in Formula One in 1932. The car's last known value was US $5.6 million, or GBP £3.6 million.
4. Ferrari 330 TRI/LM (1962)
Reaching the top four in our list of the most valuable classic cars is the Ferrari 330 TRI/LM from 1962. It was preceded by the Ferrari 250 TRI61, but unlike that car, it was built for newly introduced racing rules that permitted only models with four cylinders to enter. The last known value of the 330 TRI/LM was US $6.5 million, or GBP £4.1 million.
3. Bugatti Royale (1931)
The Bugatti Royale is in the top three of the most valuable vintage cars. The car was made out of only the very best metals and woods of its era and it has been said that it was conceived as a pure luxury car. US $8.7 million, or GBP £5.6 million, was the price at which it was last valued.
2. Ferrari 250 GTO (1962)
Making the top two of the most valuable classic cars is the Ferrari 250 GTO from 1962. The 250 GTO was uniquely designed for both the racetrack and the road. GTO is the abbreviation for "Gran Turismo Omologato", which translates into English as "Grand Touring Homologated." The last known value of the car was US $16.6 million, or GBP £10.6 million.
1. Mercedes Benz W 196 (1954)
The classic car that tops our list of the most valuable is the Mercedes W 196 from 1954. The enhanced power takeoff, engine and valve system made this a revolutionary racing car. The W196 pulverised its opposition in the 1954 and 1955 Formula One seasons. The last known value of the car was US $24 million, or GBP £15.3 million.