The Most Expensive Cars Auctioned Off in 2012

Third-costliest car: 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage Lightweight Racing Car
Winning bid: $11 million

Late actor and racing enthusiast Steve McQueen used this Ford (F) to shoot his 1971 classic Le Mans -- but the car doesn't actually appear in the film.

Instead, producers sliced off its hood and used the vehicle as a "camera car." McQueen insisted on shooting all racing scenes at real-life speeds, and very few vehicles could keep up with the film's race cars.

One of only three lightweight Gulf/Mirages ever built (just two survive), the GT40 originally featured some of the first carbon-fiber parts ever used on cars. That helped the vehicle win the 1967 Spa, Karlskoga and Montlhery races and 1968 Monza 1000 Kilometer run before its use on Le Mans.

Now restored to its original look, the GT40 features a 440-horsepower V-8 engine, four carburetors and four-wheel racing brakes.

"It's ultimately the best Ford GT40 in existence," says Girardo, whose auction house oversaw bidding for the car.

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