Bond, Senna, and Tupac (for some reason). These are just some of the iconic names associated with the truly grandiose display of immaculately presented historic vehicles consigned to the highest-grossing car auction in British history,
Held by RM Sotheby’s this week – now in its third year at London's iconic Peninsula hotel – The London Auction 2026 brought together an extraordinary collection of auto history, attracting an international audience of collectors during London Motor Week. By the time the hammer fell, the sale had generated £36,550,950 (~AU$70 million), with several lots smashing their record-breaking estimates along the way. Here are five of our favourites from the day.
RELATED: Paris Motor Show 2026: The Cars Coming For Australia's Driveways
2022 Ferrari Daytona SP3
Starting off with the most eye-catching lot by any standards, the Ferrari Daytona SP3, a 2022 model inspired by the Italian marque’s dominant performance at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona, where its sports prototypes swept the podium; the Daytona SP3 is the third creation in the marque's ultra-exclusive Icona series.
Completed in June 2022, it was specified by Ferrari itself as a factory development vehicle, finished in striking Giallo Triplo Strato (triple-layer yellow) over a Rosso Ferrari leather interior, with extensive exposed carbon-fibre detailing. Under the hood sits a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 producing 829 horsepower.
With just 2,948 miles recorded at cataloguing, this exceptionally well-documented development car became the auction's headline lot.
Price: £8,161,250 (~AU$15.6 million)
2023 Aston Martin Valkyrie Coupé
Co-created by legendary Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is about as close as a road-going car gets to a contemporary Le Mans prototype.
One of just 150 Coupé examples produced, this particular 2023 model was delivered new to Japan in left-hand-drive configuration and boasts an extraordinary bespoke specification, adding almost £235,000 to its original £2.5 million list price.
No wonder this beauty set a new auction record for the model.
Price: £2,761,250 (~AU$5.3 million)
1991 Honda NSX
Few names in motorsport carry quite the same near-mythical status as the late, great Ayrton Senna.
And when you are a three-time Formula 1 World Champion, you need a daily runner to match: a 1991 Honda NSX retained for Senna’s personal use so he had something to drive to the Portuguese Grand Prix. Naturally.
Senna’s relationship with Honda was well-documented: the Brazilian driver was heavily involved in the evolution of the Japanese marque since his Team Lotus days, reportedly committed to raising Honda’s status to that of Ferrari and Porsche in the performance category. In short, no road car model is more associated with the life of the F1 legend than the NSX.
One of just 123 examples produced, this 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible changed hands for half a million quid.
And it’s no wonder: the saloon model achieved worldwide fame through its association with James Bond; its open-top counterpart was produced for a considerably more exclusive clientele and is widely considered one of the rarest and most desirable expressions of Aston Martin's celebrated 1960s grand tourer.
This 1964 example retains its original Goodwood Green exterior over a Fawn leather interior, with factory build records accompanying the car. A fitting inclusion in London's record-breaking sale.
Price: £522,500 (~AU$1 million)
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy by Scaglietti
As one of Ferrari's most celebrated grand touring models, the 275 GTB occupies a particularly romantic chapter in the marque's history.
Penned by Pininfarina and coachbuilt by Scaglietti, its long bonnet and sweeping fastback profile helped establish the template for the modern Ferrari berlinetta.
Of the approximately 970 two-cam 275 GTBs produced, however, a small number were fitted with lightweight aluminium coachwork, making them especially coveted among collectors. Chassis 08059 is one of approximately 80 long-nose, two-cam examples built in this configuration.
Price: £2,041,250 (~AU$3.9 million)