Special Report

Most Expensive Movie Cars Ever Sold

Flashy cars, high speed chases, and ice-cold getaway drivers are all staples of Hollywood blockbusters. It’s hard to imagine characters like Batman, James Bond, or Bo “The Bandit” Darville without their signature vehicles. Some of the most iconic movie cars almost transcend being mere vehicles and become characters in their own right. Other times, as in “The Love Bug,” the car quite literally takes on human characteristics and has a mind of its own.

Not surprisingly, some of the most iconic movie cars come up for sale from time to time, and also not surprisingly, they sometimes sell for a lot of money – in the millions in some cases.

To compile a list of the movie cars that sold for the highest prices, 24/7 Tempo reviewed Movie Car Report, published by Confused.com, an insurance comparison company that sometimes analyzes data around various lifestyle and entertainment topics.

Most of the top-selling cars come from movies in which automobiles are central to the story. Some, like “Smokey and the Bandit,” “Gone in 60 Seconds,” and “Baby Driver,” are about daring crooks using their unique rides to commit crimes. “Le Mans” and “Red Line 7000” follow drivers on racetracks, while “Need for Speed” and “The Fast and the Furious” delve into the world of street racing. (These are the best car movies of all time.)

There are also a few films on this list, like “The Gay Divorcee” and “La Fortuna di Essere Donna,” that aren’t centered on cars per se, but that feature memorable vehicles that prove to be of considerable value to buyers.

What influences the price of these vehicles? Movie memorabilia can go for enormous sums in auctions, even if the items don’t have much value otherwise. The small statue of a bird from “The Maltese Falcon” sold for nearly $4.1 million in 2013. The costume worn by the Cowardly Lion in the “Wizard of Oz” went for $3.1 million.

In the case of these cars, they do have significant inherent value, which was only increased by their appearances on the silver screen.

Click here to see the movie cars that sold for the highest prices

Many of the most expensive vehicles on this list would still be extremely valuable even without movie credits. For instance, the 1956 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Scaglietti from “The Love Bug” and the Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta featured in “La Fortuna di Essere Donna” are both extremely rare, as only a handful of each were ever made. (These are the world’s greatest classic cars.)

Not all of the most expensive vehicles are that rare, but most are at least 50 years old and still prized by car and movie enthusiasts. On the other hand, some of the models here, like the Subaru Impreza from “Baby Driver” and the Ford Mustang from “Need for Speed,” are still in production and fairly easy to find.

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

18. Subaru Impreza WRX
> Used in: Baby Driver (2017)
> Starring: Ansel Elgort, Jon Bernthal, Jon Hamm
> Sold in: 2017
> Sale price: $69,000 (adj. to inflation: $82,279)

Ansel Elgort stars as a getaway driver trying to give up his life of crime. The original script had the protagonist driving a Toyota Corolla because it is one of the most stolen cars. However, it was changed to a cherry red Subaru Impreza WRX after the studio asked for something more exciting.

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Courtesy of Buena Vista Distribution Company

17. Volkswagen Beetle
> Used in: The Love Bug (1968)
> Starring: Dean Jones, Michele Lee, David Tomlinson
> Sold in: 2018
> Sale price: $128,700 (adj. to inflation: $149,810)

“The Love Bug” is a quirky family comedy that follows the racing partnership between aging race car driver Jim Douglas and an anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle named Herbie. A number of cars were used to play Herbie in filming, but only a few still exist today.

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

16. Ford Mustang
> Used in: Need For Speed (2014)
> Starring: Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots
> Sold in: 2014
> Sale price: $300,000 (adj. to inflation: $370,407)

Aaron Paul stars as former racecar driver Tobey Marshall, on a journey of revenge, in this movie based on the street racing video game franchise of the same name. It did not do great with critics but it did feature some impressive vehicles.

Mike Windle / Staff / Getty Images Entertainment

15. 1977 Pontiac Trans Am
> Used in: Smokey And The Bandit (1977)
> Starring: Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed
> Sold in: 2022
> Sale price: $500,000 (adj. to inflation: $500,000)

Burt Reynolds stars as Bo “Bandit” Darville, who’s tasked with illegally smuggling 400 cases of beer from Texas to Georgia, with the help of his friend Cledus “Snowman” Snow. Four of the iconic black Trans Ams were originally used for filming but only one survived the many stunts they were put through.

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Courtesy of Universal Pictures

14. Toyota Supra
> Used in: The Fast And The Furious (2001)
> Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez
> Sold in: 2021
> Sale price: $550,000 (adj. to inflation: $601,435)

The original “Fast and Furious” kicked off the street racing franchise that would evolve into a massive blockbuster series. The film is filled with impressive customized cars, including a Toyota Supra, driven by Paul Walker’s character.

Courtesy of United Artists

13. Lotus Esprit S1
> Used in: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
> Starring: Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curd Jürgens
> Sold in: 2019
> Sale price: $997,000 (adj. to inflation: $1,139,883)

James Bond must once again travel the globe to stop supervillains from wreaking havoc. This time his vehicle of choice is a Lotus Esprit S1. At one point in the film, Bond escapes danger by driving the car into the water, where it converts into a submarine.

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Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Staff / Getty Images Europe

12. ‘Eleanor’ Shelby Mustang GT500
> Used in: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)
> Starring: Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi
> Sold in: 2003
> Sale price: $1,000,000 (adj. to inflation: $1,589,000)

A reformed Los Angeles car thief is forced back into the game to save his younger brother from a local crime lord. The brothers and their team are tasked with stealing 50 cars in 72 hours. The final car on the list is a Ford Shelby GT500 that’s been nicknamed Eleanor. Two such vehicles were used in the filming of the movie, but one was destroyed in a stunt.

Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

11. 1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy SWB Convertible coupe
> Used in: The Gay Divorcee (1934)
> Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Alice Brady
> Sold in: 2013
> Sale price: $2,370,000 (adj. to inflation: $2,973,688)

Once upon a time the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company was a luxury and racing car powerhouse in the United States. However, the company fell on hard times during the Great Depression and eventually dissolved in the late 1930s. The Dusenberg that appears in “The Gay Divorcee” actually belonged to star actress Ginger Rogers at one point.

Courtesy of United Artists

10. 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider
> Used in: On The Beach (1959)
> Starring: Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire
> Sold in: 2011
> Sale price: $2,530,000 (adj. to inflation: $3,287,597)

Fred Astaire stars as a race car driver in a post-apocalyptic world. The Northern Hemisphere has been ravaged by atomic war, but Australia remains habitable for the moment. Astaire’s character eventually competes in the Ferrari in the last-ever Australian Grand Prix.

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Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios

9. Aston Martin DB10
> Used in: Spectre (2015)
> Starring: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux
> Sold in: 2016
> Sale price: $3,400,000 (adj. to inflation: $4,140,739)

James Bond has driven a range of customized exotic cars over the years, but no brand is more associated with 007 than Aston Martin. Bond even used an Aston Martin in the original Ian Fleming novels. This DB10 was designed specifically for use in “Spectre.”

Courtesy of Warner Bros./Seven Arts

8. 1968 Ford Mustang GT390
> Used in: Bullitt (1968)
> Starring: Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Vaughn
> Sold in: 2020
> Sale price: $3,710,000 (adj. to inflation: $4,190,000)

Crime thriller “Bullitt” follows Lieutenant Frank Bullitt as he attempts to protect a mobster-turned-witness. The movie is famous for its car chase scene in which Bullitt and his Mustang attempt to outrun hitmen through the hilly streets of San Francisco.

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Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Television

7. The Original Batmobile
> Used in: Batman (1966)
> Starring: Adam West, Burt Ward, Alan Napier
> Sold in: 2013
> Sale price: $4,620,000 (adj. to inflation: $5,796,810)

The first Batmobile appeared in the 1960 TV series and then in the 1966 movie. The vehicle began as a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car and was transformed by the studio into the Batmobile.

Courtesy of United Artists

6. Aston Martin DB5
> Used in: Goldfinger (1964)
> Starring: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman
> Sold in: 2010
> Sale price: $4,600,000 (adj. to inflation: $6,166,130)

The first Aston Martin used by Bond in the movies was the DB5. Two DB5’s were used for filming “Goldfinger,” but one was stolen from its owner in 1997. It was reportedly located in the Middle East in 2021 by Art Recovery International. The other was used for promotions and eventually sold at auction in 2010.

Courtesy of Compass Film

5. Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta by Pininfarina
> Used in: La Fortuna di Essere Donna (What a Woman!)(1956)
> Starring: Sophia Loren, Charles Boyer, Marcello Mastroianni
> Sold in: 2010
> Sale price: $4,620,000 (adj. to inflation: $6,192,939)

“La Fortuna di Essere Donna” is an Italian comedy about a photographer (Boyer) who snaps a picture of a woman (Loren) that ends up being on the cover of a magazine. The film doesn’t revolve around cars, but the Ferrari makes an appearance. Only 10 of the vehicles were ever made.

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Courtesy of Buena Vista Distribution Company

4. 1956 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Scaglietti
> Used in: The Love Bug (1968)
> Starring: Dean Jones, Michele Lee, David Tomlinson
> Sold in: 2012
> Sale price: $6,710,000 (adj. to inflation: $8,542,497)

The Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta appears as one of the Love Bug’s many rivals on the racetrack. In real life, this model of Ferrari, of which only 77 were ever made, was used with tremendous success on the racetrack.

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

3. 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe
> Used in: Red Line 7000 (1965)
> Starring: James Caan, Laura Devon, Gail Hire
> Sold in: 2009
> Sale price: $7,690,000 (adj. to inflation: $10,477,243)

“Red Line 7000” is a story about up-and-coming stock car racers trying to make a name for themselves on the race circuit. While most of the plot follows the drivers on the track, one of the main characters drives the Shelby Daytona Coupe as his street car. The car that was used in the film was also used in FIA races and won several.

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Courtesy of National General Pictures

2. 1968 Ford Gulf GT40
> Used in: Le Mans (1971)
> Starring: Steve McQueen, Siegfried Rauch, Elga Andersen
> Sold in: 2012
> Sale price: $11,000,000 (adj. to inflation: $14,004,094)

The two most expensive movie cars ever sold were both used in a film depicting a fictionalized version of the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race in France. This Ford Gulf GT40 was used primarily as a camera car for shooting the film. Due to the high speeds of the race cars, the camera car had to also be extremely fast to keep up.

Courtesy of National General Pictures

1. Porsche 917K
> Used in: Le Mans (1971)
> Starring: Steve McQueen, Siegfried Rauch, Elga Andersen
> Sold in: 2001
> Sale price: $14,000,000 (adj. to inflation: $23,119,458)

The Porsche 917K was driven by Michael Delaney (McQueen) in this epic race film, but was also used as a camera car. The vehicle was owned by race driver Jo Siffert and leased to McQueen’s production company for use in the film.

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