Record $260M sold at Monterey car auctions

1997 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail FIA GT | $3.85 million | Bonhams

The most modern car on this list by 25 years, the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail has nonetheless been a classic since it was introduced 15 years ago. The final of 10 Longtail McLaren F1s, the hypercar features a 6.1-liter BMW-sourced V12 engine and a 6-speed sequential gearbox. While the sale of the F1 was not public and Bonham didn't disclose the price, Bloomberg and others report the vehicle changed hands for $3.85 million.

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1957 Ferrari 500 TRC | $4.51 million | Gooding & Co.

One of eight Ferraris on this list, the 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC — with coachwork by Scaglietti, of course — is considered one of the most beautiful sports cars ever built. It also had performance to match, garnering numerous SCCA racing victories thanks to its 190-horsepower V8 engine, independent double-wishbone front suspension, 4-speed manual gearbox and hydraulic drum brakes.

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1953 Ferrari 340 MM Spyder | $4.73 million | Gooding & Co.

The blue-and-white color scheme, practically nonexistent overhangs and double bowed windscreens make this one of the most visually striking Ferraris on this list. This, the last of 10 Ferrari 340 MMs ever built, boasted a high-displacement 4.1-liter engine, 4-speed manual gearbox, and hydraulic drum brakes on all four wheels. The 300 horsepower from the V12 engine helped push this open-top Ferrari competition car to victories at Seafair, Palm Springs and Pebble Beach.

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1964 Ford GT40 Coupe s | $4.95 million | Gooding & Co.

The list of Ford drivers who piloted this maniacal 1964 Ford GT40 prototype — the second classic GT40 on this list — during competition reads like a who's who of racing royalty and notables: Phil Hill, Bruce McLaren, Bob Bondurant, Ken Miles, Jo Schlesser, Richie Ginther and Richard Attwood. The vehicle is the second-oldest surviving GT40 prototype and took third place at the 1965 Daytona Continental.

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1938 Horch 853A Roadster | $5.17 million | RM Auctions

This stunning 1938 Horch 853A Special Roadster by Erdmann & Rossi made a welcome and special return to Monterey for RM's auction, having taken home the coveted Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Best of Show trophy in 2004. It is an exceedingly rare car: Only five were built. Of the three remaining, all have bespoke coachwork and interior details, meaning each is unique.

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1972 Porsche 917/10 Spyder | $5.83 million | Mecum

In 1972, this Porsche 917 absolutely dominated the Can-Am series, taking first place in an amazing five of nine overall races and earning Porsche its first Can-Am championship — thus making it one of the most important Porsche race cars ever. The L&M Porsche, as it became known while campaigning for Team Penske racing, could hit 100 mph in just 2.9 seconds thanks to its 5.4-liter twin-turbo 12-cylinder engine.

1928 Bentley Le Mans 4.5-Liter Bobtail | $6.05 million | Gooding & Co.

This is the only Bobtail 4.5-liter left in existence and is a direct tie-back to Bentley's grand racing tradition. You might think of Bentley only as an ultraluxury brand, but you'd be wrong. This 150-horsepower racer harks back to the days when the dashing "Bentley Boys" took home five Le Mans victories in seven years, 1924 to 1930. This Bobtail is a two-time Le Mans entrant and took second in 1929.

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1955 Ferrari 857 Sport | $6.27 million | Gooding & Co.

Ferraris from the 1950s and '60s are hot tickets among the high-price jet set — and we're not even finished. The distinctive fin on this 1955 857 Sport marks it as a one-off Scaglietti coach build, and one of just four 857 Sports ever produced. This car was the result of a significantly reworked 750 Monza chassis and saw multiple podium finishes in 1956 with the legendary Carroll Shelby (not to mention Jack McAfee) behind the wheel.

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1957 Ferrari 250 GT California LWB Prototype Spyder | $6.6 million | Gooding & Co.

This '57 long-wheelbase 250 GT California Spyder is one-of-a-kind — the original preproduction California prototype. The car features Scaglietti-designed coachwork and a potent V12 engine that helped define every classic Ferrari California Spyder to come — two of which appear on this very list having sold for between $8.5 and $11.2 million.

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1956 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Coupe | $6.71 million | RM Auctions

After the tragedy at the 1955 Le Mans in which one driver and 79 spectators were killed, the gran turismo class was created to race road production models more safely. One stunning result of this new competition category was the Ferrari 250 Gran Turismo Tour de France Coupe; this model was one of only nine of the second series production models built — in fact, it was the very first one constructed — marked by the distinctive, 14-louver sail panels.

1955 Ferrari 410 S Berlinetta | $8.25 million | RM Auctions

This Ferrari reaches a bit farther back in history, to 1955, and represents a one-off build with Scaglietti coachwork designed exclusively for Michel Paul Cavallier, a Scuderia Enzo Ferrari Auto Corse board member. This example is one of only four built, all with the purpose of winning the 1955 Carrera Panamericana road race, which was ultimately canceled that year, and also marks the debut of the famous 4.9-liter V12 Superamerica engine.

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1962 Ferrari 250 California GT SWB Spyder | $8.58 million | RM Auctions

Another Ferrari 250 California, this is one of only 37 made with covered headlamps. More importantly, though, it has Pininfarina-designed, Scaglietti-executed coachwork, Ferrari's race-proven 3.0-liter V12 engine and the lightweight, responsive feel of a race car — which, since the short-wheelbase GT Spyder was based on Ferrari's high-performance 250 GT Tour de France, is in fact part of the exclusive car's heritage.

1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage Coupe | $11 million | RM Auctions

The Ford GT40 is an icon in the annals of car-racing history, and this lightweight, 440-horsepower Gulf-liveried 1968 model occupies even rarer air still. It is one of only three lightweight production coupes built, and one of only two remaining. Its first victory, at Spa in 1967, was as a Mirage, not a GT40, and came at the hands of six-time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx. The very next year, now bodied as a GT40, the vehicle brought "The Flying Dentist" Dr. Dick Thompson over the line first.

1960 Ferrari 250 GT California LWB Competizione Spyder | $11.27 million | Gooding & Co.

If you can count on one thing during a classic-car auction, it's that any mint-condition Ferrari 250 California GT Spyder is going to sell for a boatload of cash. Such was the case on Saturday with this 1960 alloy-bodied long-wheelbase competition-spec Spyder. It is one of only nine built, and it was delivered with disc brakes, covered headlights, a limited-slip differential and Dunlop racing tires.

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1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster | $11.8 million | Gooding & Co.

In 2012, this long, sleek and strikingly beautiful Hermann Ahrens-designed Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster was the car to beat for top auction price. Originally constructed for Baroness Gisela Josephine von Krieger, born into old Prussian aristocracy in 1913, the vehicle sports a supercharged 5.4-liter 180-horsepower 8-cylinder engine and boasts pigskin upholstery, a leather dashboard, an integrated burl wood writing table and a Tuxedo Black exterior.

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Josh Condon is the editor of MSN Autos' Exhaust Notes. Based in Los Angeles, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, Esquire, Popular Science, Men's Journal and Ralph Lauren RL Magazine.