Art vs. Cars: Which would you choose?

Assuming you have a cool 40 million US dollars to spend, would you head straight for a Sotheby’s art auction, or would you want something you could drive, rather than simply look at? We thought we’d give you the chance to browse in both markets… and decide for yourself where you’d allocate you

Newman or Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic?

This deceptively simple 1953 oil on canvas painting by Barnett Newman sold at Sotheby’s in New York this month for almost USD 44 million. Meanwhile, according to market gossip, the bizarrely beautiful Bugatti would set you back something along the lines of USD 30-40 million.

See all Bugattis in the Classic Driver Marketplace >>

Richter or Ferrari 250 GTO?

Painted by Gerhard Richter in 1968, this oil on canvas work depicts Cathedral Square in Milan, and sold at Sotheby’s for a little over USD 37 million. Those in the market for such a purchase might also crave what is arguably the most coveted Ferrari of all time – the stunning 250 GTO.

See all Ferraris in the Classic Driver Marketplace >>

Koons or Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato?

‘The New Jeff Koons’ by – unsurprisingly – Jeff Koons is a portrait in the form of a fluorescent lightbox, which Sotheby’s sold for a touch over USD 9.4 million. Or do you prefer Zagato’s curvaceously gorgeous version of the Aston Martin DB4 GT?

See all Astons in the Classic Driver Marketplace >>

Calder or Porsche 550?

Titled ‘Martigues’, this painted metal and wire mobile by Alexander Calder was catalogued by Sotheby’s with a USD 1.5 to 2 million estimate, but sold for 2.74m. The Porsche 550 Spyder, meanwhile, is styled low-to-the-ground for practical, not just aesthetic reasons: better aerodynamics and a lower centre of gravity – its beauty was almost a by-product.

See all Porsches in the Classic Driver Marketplace >>

Wesselmann or Ferrari Enzo?

‘Mouth #3’ is the name of this oil on canvas artwork by Tom Wesselmann that sold at Sotheby’s for USD 1.085 million. In the same ballpark price-wise, and just as attention-grabbing, is that familiar object of desire, the Ferrari Enzo.

See all Ferrari Enzos in the Classic Driver Marketplace >>

Photos: Sotheby's/Classic Driver/Manufacturers/Dealers