A 2013 Rolls-Royce Phantom sells between $399,000 and $470,000, depending on the chosen trim. However, an old computer proved to be more valuable than the classy ride - an Apple 1 Computer hand-assembled by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, sold for a whopping GBP 398,000 or $604,000 in an auction in Germany.
The sold Apple 1 is one of 200 units that Jobs and Wozniak built in the garage of Jobs' parents in California. The tandem of technology pioneers originally sold for $666.66. Only 46 of these devices are known to exist today and only six of the machines are working, a report on Daily Mail disclosed.
The prized computer catapulted the Apple brand to fame and paved the way for modern-day gadgets like the MacBook, iPod, iPad, and iPhone.
"This is the sensational first product of today's highest valued company. The Apple 1 is already legendary milestone from the dynamic dawn of the personal computer age. This computer is 100 percent authentic and in fully-working condition," Uwe H. Breker of the auction company explained.
The auctioneer added that these machines were originally delivered by Apple as motherboards only. The monitor, keyboard, cassette recorder, and power pack were bought separately by the consumer. It also did not come with a housing so users have to fabricate their own computer housing.
"The Apple 1 did not have an operating system, just a monitor-program, which provided the interface between keyboard entry, the computer memory and monitor exit," Breker added.
The Apple 1 that was sold comes with its software tapes, its original manual, and a letter from Steve Jobs. The unit also has a signature of Wozniak. It belonged to former Red Sox player Fred Hatfield who passed away in 1998. A story on MSN Money said that Hatfield was offered by Jobs a $400 check and an Apple 2 to trade the old computer but the athlete declined.
Auction Team Breker sold an Apple 1 back in November for $640,000 while another one sold in an auction in New York for $374,500. The German auction house estimated the Apple 1 that went on the block to sell for $260,000 to $240,000, according to a report on LA Times.
The name of the buyer has not been disclosed, as of reporting. Recent sellers and buyers of Apple memorabilia have opted to remain anonymous. In 2010, an Apple 1 was bought by an Italian for $213,600.
The auction house has showcased the Apple 1 in action through a video uploaded on YouTube:
