Shelby Cobra Daytona sets record as most expensive American car ever sold

A 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona coupe sold for $42.9 million at an auction held during Monterey Car Week in the US, according to Carscoops.

The sale set a record for the most expensive American car ever sold at public auction. The sports car had initially been estimated at $25 million.

The Daytona Coupe was designed by Carroll Shelby to compete with Ferrari, which dominated racing in the 1960s. The model was based on the British AC Ace roadster, which Shelby transformed into the Cobra by fitting it with a V8 engine. To take on the Ferrari 250 GTO, the car needed a closed body with improved aerodynamics, leading to the creation of the Daytona Coupe.

The chassis sold at auction, CSX2300, was the first of just six examples built. It made its debut in the final round of the 1964 FIA GT Championship and competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as races in Daytona, Sebring, Nürburgring and Reims. Although it failed to secure any victories, these appearances helped Shelby American win the FIA Manufacturers’ Championship.

After its racing career, the car passed through the hands of several owners, including Carroll Shelby himself. From the late 1990s, it was owned for more than two decades by collector Larry Bowman. The identity of the new buyer has not been disclosed.

By Jeyhun Aghazada