Ever since the Benz Velo achieved a pace of 12 mph in 1894, mankind has become infatuated with fast cars. We have come a long way since the Velo set this record. The law of accelerating returns dictates that, with improved technology, progress itself speeds up. This is evidenced by the exponential records set since. Just shy of a century later, in 1993, the Dauer 962 Le Mans broke the back of 250 mph.
On 22 May 2025, several of the fastest production cars from history will be auctioned off by RM Sotheby’s. The custodians of these legendary vehicles will be decided in a city synonymous with style. Collectors and enthusiasts will descend on Milan for a chance to see some of the most powerful marques in the history of motoring. To celebrate the upcoming auction, we explore some of the most remarkable lots in more detail.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
This pioneering vehicle, which introduced gullwing doors to the world, was styled to perfection with an engine to match. The iconic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing featured a cutting-edge fuel-injected straight-six engine. It generated 215 horsepower and global acclaim. The two-way average speed, tested by Automobil Revue in 1958, inched over 150 mph – making it the fastest production car in the world at the time. The auction features a black 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing originally delivered to the USA and a 1956 example, in the classic metallic silver, that has had the same owner since 1988.
Explore the 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. Estimate for Lot 139: €1.15m to €1.5m
Explore the 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. Estimate for Lot 124: €1.7m to € 2.1m.
Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone
With their farm machinery heritage, Lamborghini certainly aren’t strangers to power. The
Miura P400 was arguably the world’s first supercar. It cut a futuristic figure, with head-turning lines and a monstrous 380-horsepower engine that produced a screaming 7,850 rpm. With the Miura P400, Lamborghini had significantly developed the concept and potential of the mid-engined sports car. The Motor tested a P400 in 1967, hitting a blistering 171 mph. The example on display in Milan this month is one of just 150 in the world. It benefits from the original “split-sump” configuration and is offered with no reserve.
Explore the 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone. Estimate for Lot 146: over €3.2m. Offered without reserve.
Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti
Leonardo Fioravanti is a living legend of Italian sports car design. Now 87, he led the Pininfarina design team that crafted some of Ferrari’s seminal supercars. The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona was one such example. Enzo Ferrari had a famous distaste for mid-engined road cars. Even with the advent of the Lamborghini Miura, he persisted with front-engined designs. The 365 GTB/4 Daytona was a roaring success, with sharp styling, a considered interior and a 4.4-litre Colombo V-12 engine delivering 347 brake-horsepower. With a kerb weight of 1,200 kilograms, it could reach 174 mph, making it the world’s fastest production car at the time. However, it didn’t drive like the untamed beasts for which Ferrari had become known. It was as comfortable as a tourer as it was fast off the mark. The Milan auction includes a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti. This European-specification supercar is finished in the quintessential Ferrari red.
Explore the 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti. Estimate for Lot 122: €500,000 to €700,000
Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition by Bertone
Starting with the Miura, Lamborghini held the record for the world’s fastest production car for over a decade. Its successor was the Countach. Immortalised by the LP400 S variant, with its enormous rear wing, the mould for the modern supercar had been set. The subsequent LP500 S increased the V-12’s displacement to 4.8 litres, producing 370 brake-horsepower. Auto Moto und Sport put the LP500 S through its paces via a test in which it achieved 182 mph, setting a new record. The later LP5000 QV model had a gargantuan 5.4-litre engine with four valves per cylinder. Producing a staggering 449 brake-horsepower, Fast Lane magazine tested it to just more than 190 mph. Made available via this month’s auction is a further refined version of the 5000 QV, the 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition by Bertone.
Explore the 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition by Bertone. Estimate for Lot 118: €450,000 to €650,000
Porsche 959 “Speedster”
The proposed successor of the 911 Turbo, Porsche’s 959 “Speedster” pulsed with engineering prowess. Hugely expensive to manufacture, the 959 cost twice its sticker price to build and constituted a project that nearly killed the company. The result was a remarkable marque. Its features included a Kevlar body, active ride-height, sequential twin-turbochargers and hollow magnesium alloy wheels. The results speak for themselves. Road & Track hit 197 mph in a Komfort version, while the Sport model achieved 198 mph – making it the world’s fastest car until the Ruf CTR soared past the 200 mph ceiling and achieved 212 mph at the Nardò Ring in 1988. An icon of speed and style, the 959 available via this month’s auction is a one-off creation built in the early 1990s.
Explore the 1987 Porsche 959 “Speedster”. Estimate for Lot 120: €1.1m to €1.5m
Ferrari F40
For anyone who grew up in the 90s, the Ferrari F40 was the original supercar. Produced in extremely limited numbers and made to order, the Porsche 959 Sport and Ruf CTR pushed the boundaries of what could be considered a “road vehicle”. By comparison, the Ferrari F40 was so popular that 1,100 were built. Whether it was ever the fastest car in the world is hotly debated. However, reaching speeds of around 200 mph, it was blisteringly quick. While Porsche’s approach had been to incorporate technology, Ferrari combined aerodynamics with pure power and engineering. This pared-back yet ferocious supercar continues to be an icon of motoring. The event in Milan will feature a rare “non-cat, non-adjust” F40 which will be auctioned off to one very lucky collector.
Explore the 1989 Ferrari F40. Estimate for lot 127: €2.4m to €2.8m
Jaguar XJ220
Far from being a trailblazer, the Jaguar XJ220 was truly one-of-a-kind. With its spaceship-like body, this ambitious extracurricular project produced one of the most recognisable cars in history. The concept version featured four-wheel-drive and a mighty V-12 engine. However, amid an economic downturn, the production car featured a 3.5-litre V-6. With 524 brake-horsepower, Martin Brundle took the Jaguar to 217.1 mph at the Nardò Ring. It therefore took the title of the fastest production car in the world, though it did have its catalytic converters removed and the rev limit increased to 7,900 rpm. During an independent test by Road & Track, the true production XJ220 reached 210.5 mph. Finished in Le Mans Blue over a Smoke Grey interior, the Jaguar XJ220 made available in this month’s auction in Milan is the 48th of just 281 examples in the world.
Explore the 1994 Jaguar XJ220. Estimate for Lot 114: €375,000 to €450,000
