Pre-War Cars W/ The Highest Price Tags in History
PREWAR CARS – These vehicles showcase the luxury and creativity of that time period and are among the most famous and expensive pre-war cars.
The term “pre-war car” can have different meanings depending on who you ask. Some people define it as the period before World War I, which started in September 1914, while others refer to the golden era of automobiles leading up to the beginning of World War II in 1939 or 1941.
The Ford Model T made its debut in 1908, six years before the outbreak of World War I. During those initial years, it was primarily a luxury item for the wealthy, as most people still relied on horses for transportation.
World War I had a profound impact on the car industry, sparking innovation and creativity. After the war ended in 1918, there was a surge in experimentation with car designs worldwide. In the United States, automobiles gained widespread popularity in the 1920s, with some of the most remarkable car creations emerging in the 1930s.
This article focuses on the period before World War II when automakers began to push boundaries and introduced a diverse range of remarkable cars. Here are five cars from the 1930s, none of which were manufactured in the United States, that are known for their extraordinary value:
1.Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe
In the mid-1920s, Ettore Bugatti aimed to create the most luxurious and expensive car possible. He initially planned to produce 25 Type 41 Royales, priced at $43,000 each, a sum only royalty could afford at the time. However, only seven were built, with one rumored to be wrecked. The Royales were massive cars, measuring 21 feet in length and weighing nearly 7,000 pounds. They featured a gigantic 12.8-liter “Straight 8” engine meant for powering airplanes. During World War II, three unsold Royales were hidden behind a wall at the Bugatti home in Ermenonville, France, and survived the war. The Kellner and Berline models were eventually sold in 1950, and the Kellner car fetched a record-breaking $15.7 million in 1990.
2. 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta
Only ten of these long-wheelbase Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B models were produced, with five featuring Carrozzeria Touring Berlinetta bodies. One of them is in the Alfa Museum in Italy, while three others are restored and located in the United States. The second one built, chassis 412024, was sold at auction in France in 2019 for $18.98 million. These cars were powered by a 2.9-liter 180hp DOHC Straight 8 engine with dual Roots-type superchargers, capable of reaching speeds of around 109 mph.
3. 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider
Another 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B, this time a Lungo Spider by Touring, was sold for $19.8 million in 2016 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It is one of only twelve known to exist, and just seven of them sit on the long (Lungo) chassis. The Spider shared many features with the Touring Berlinetta, including the 2.9-liter 180hp DOHC inline eight with dual Roots-type superchargers. This particular car was extremely lightweight and achieved aerodynamic efficiency through innovative construction methods.
4. 1935 Duesenberg SSJ
The Duesenberg SSJ is an exceptionally rare car, with only two ever produced. These cars were not officially referred to as SSJs by Duesenberg but are commonly known as such by enthusiasts. One of them was sold to legendary actor Gary Cooper, while the other version was claimed to have been owned by actor Clark Gable. These cars featured a powerful 7.3-liter, 400-horsepower, DOHC, 32-valve, centrifugally supercharged Straight 8 engine. The top speed was around 140 mph, and one of the SSJs was sold for $22 million in 2018.
5. Bugatti Royale Berline de Voyage
This car is one of the three Bugatti Royales that were hidden during World War II. It was initially sold to Briggs Cunningham in 1950 and later changed hands multiple times, eventually selling for an undisclosed amount in 2021, rumored to be higher than the $22 million paid for the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ, making it the most expensive pre-war car ever sold.
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