Dozens of Jaguars, BMWs and Mercedes have been left with the keys in the ignitions by former owners who decided to cut their losses and run away rather than face potential jail sentences under Dubai’s strict debt laws. More than 3,000 cars are abandoned every year — to be sold off by Dubai police or scrapped.
High end sports cars gather dust at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports after panicked expats flee the country to avoid prison. Under Sharia law which is observed across the Middle East, non-payment of debt is a criminal offence. As the UAE has no bankruptcy laws, there is no protection for those slipping into debt, even accidentally. There have been cases of foreigners being prevented from leaving the Emirates after being blacklisted.
Missing a credit card payment or bouncing a cheque in Dubai means jail.
The engine on chassis 57502 was fitted with a supercharger by its second owner. This gave it a mind-boggling 220 hp.
The Type 57S is one of the most sought-after of all Bugattis.
This 1937 Type 57S Atalante sold for £7,855,000. ($10,179,000)
These cars don't appear for sale often. When they do the price is over $10m. In 2009 a rare, unrestored 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Coupe was found decaying in the garage of a British doctor. He died in 2007, and reportedly had kept the vehicle parked in his garage since the early 1960s and hadn’t driven it in five decades. A month later the car sold at a Paris auction for some $4.4 million.
Behold a pristine big dog, the most powerful car on the road in 1970. Only 4,475 LS6-powered vehicles were built across the GM lineup and the LS6 was a one year only option. Cortez silver over black. Frame-off rotisserie restoration.
Matching numbers 454/450 HP V-8 engine with date-correct components.
4-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter.
Copy of letter of certification confirming originality from renowned LS6 expert and restorer Chris White.
Copy of build sheet.
Original window sticker.
Copy of Camaro Hi-Performance Certification.
Ownership history with registration to the original owner.
12-bolt differential.
F41-suspension.
Cowl induction hood with hood pins and cowl induction hood tags.
Power front disc brakes.
Dual exhaust trumpets.
Bucket seats and center console.
Rally dash with tachometer and AM/FM radio.
Always sought after and highly desirable, a concours 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 is trending around $395k according to Hagerty, down from higher levels. This example appeared at Mecum and made $335k.
9,462 miles. 6.0L/661 HP V-12.
Automatic. Corsa Red over Nero. The 599 GTO is a road-legal version of the 599XX track car. Its engine generates a power output of 660 hp at 8,250 rpm and 457 lb⋅ft at 6,500 rpm. The car has the multiple shift program for the gearbox from the 599XX along with the exhaust system. Ferrari claimed that the 599 GTO could accelerate from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in under 3.3 seconds and has a top speed of over 335 km/h (208 mph).
At 1,605 kg (3,538 lb), the 599 GTO weighs almost 100 kg (220 lb) less than the standard GTB. Production was limited to 599 cars. Of these, 125 were produced for the United States market.
The 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO had a base price around $416,550 for the chosen Ferrarista. By 2019, the cars were often trading for $550k–$600k. This example made $1.1m at Mecum. In January an example with 2119 miles high bid to $1.4m.
A beat up, dull green 1968 Ford Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in the movie "Bullitt" became the most valuable Ford Mustang ever sold at auction. It went for $3.7m in Kissimmee, Florida in 2020. The vendor was Sean Kiernan, whose late father Robert Kiernan purchased the car for $3,500 in 1974. McQueen tried to buy the car several times with no success. The 10 minute 'Bullitt' chase scene is considered the first and still one of the best 'modern' auto chase scenes. It set the standard for Hollywood car chases for generations.
If you missed your shot at one of the 77 Porsche 935s in existence rejoice, you have been granted another opportunity. Sadly this example cost more than the £750,000 the others sold for. Porsche says the track-only 935 is “geared towards clubsport events and private training on racetracks”.
For the money a body gets 690bhp from a 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six engine driving the rear wheels via a seven-speed PDK paddleshift gearbox.
Gentleman racers have comforting things like stability control, ABS and air conditioning.
Estimated between £1,145,300 and £1,235,300, the car made a final price including buyer's fee of £1,320,000. It would likely make sense to never take the car anywhere near a race track, and instead usher it to it's parking spot in an air conditioned garage.
The Ford GT40 is a high-performance endurance racing car, designed and built in England (Mk I, Mk II, and Mk III) and in the United States (Mk IV), and powered by a series of American-built engines. The GT40 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four consecutive times, from 1966 to 1969, including a 1-2-3 finish in 1966. 105 in total were produced.
The Mk2 used the 7.0-litre (427 ci) modified engine from the Ford Galaxie, which was an engine used in NASCAR at the time. The car's chassis and other parts were re-designed and modified by Carroll Shelby to accommodate the larger and heavier 427 engine.
The experience gained in 1964 and 1965 allowed the 7-liter Mk II to dominate. In 1966, the MkII dominated Le Mans, beating Ferrari like a slow mule.
After the success of the MkII cars, the Ford GT40 went on to win the race for the next three years, being undefeated until 1970.
In 2012 a very rare 1968 Ford GT40 racer sold for $11 million, then a record for any American auto at auction. Finished in trademark powder blue, it was estimated to fetch $8 million
In late 2016 this 1966 Ford GT40 made $ 4m
3rd overall at the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours; driven by Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson Holman-Moody/FoMoCo team car for 1966 to 1967. This 1966 Ford GT40 MkII changed hands in 2018 for $9.7m.
The engine on chassis 57502 was fitted with a supercharger by its second owner. This gave it a mind-boggling 220 hp. 
