Cars that are auctioned for over USD 2 million usually have a prancing horse on the radiator grille and not a pony. The pony usually adorns the Ford Mustang, but also the Shelby Cobra GT350R prototype, which Mecum auctioned off for USD 3.85 million. This sum set a new world record, well above anything previously paid for a Mustang derivative.
Very special car
However, the 1965 Shelby GT350R with serial number SFM5R002 was no ordinary car either. It was the first GT350R to be built (as a prototype) and it was driven by Ken Miles.
It was also the first Shelby Mustang to win a race and besides Miles, Bob Bondurant, Chuck Cantwell, Peter Brock and Jerry Titus were also at the wheel. It was probably the most important racing Mustang ever and was even honored at Pebble Beach.
So the USD 3.85 million is just fine.
High prices
But other cars also fetched high prices, not always at the estimated value, but still at lofty heights.
A Ferrari 275 GTS from 1965 with a hardtop fetched USD 1.43 million, a Shelby GT350 Convertible from 1966 an impressive USD 1.1 million (albeit well below expectations).
USD 990,000 was paid for a 1964 Cobra 289, and USD 880,000 and USD 852,500 for two special Shelby Mustangs with Paxton superchargers.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, a 1963 Drophead Coupé once sold to Tony Cortis as a new car, fetched USD 726,000, which was higher than expected.
A Ferrari Daytona from 1971 was sold for USD 650,000, well below the estimate.
Results
The following table only shows the ten most expensive vehicles and not all the cars auctioned.
| Lot | Car | Year | USD Est from | USD Est to | USD HP | USD SP | CHF SP | EUR SP | % Est | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F140 | Shelby GT350 R Prototype | 1965 | 3'500'000 | 3'850'000 | 3'619'000 | 3'349'500 | V | |||
| F141 | Shelby GT350 Paxton Prototype | 1965 | 750'000 | 1'000'000 | 800'000 | 880'000 | 827'200 | 765'600 | +0.57%
|
V |
| F142 | Shelby GT350 Paxton Fastback | 1966 | 500'000 | 750'000 | 775'000 | 852'500 | 801'350 | 741'675 | +36.4%
|
V |
| F143 | Shelby 289 Independent Competition Cobra (CSX2487) | 1964 | 1'250'000 | 1'500'000 | 900'000 | 990'000 | 930'600 | 861'300 | -28%
|
V |
| F145 | Shelby GT350 Convertible | 1966 | 1'300'000 | 1'700'000 | 1'000'000 | 1'100'000 | 1'033'999 | 957'000 | -26.67%
|
V |
| S114 | Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé (Tony Curtis) | 1963 | 500'000 | 600'000 | 660'000 | 726'000 | 682'440 | 631'620 | +32%
|
V |
| S117 | Ferrari 599 GTO | 2011 | 700'000 | 800'000 | 635'000 | 698'500 | 656'590 | 607'695 | -6.87%
|
V |
All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
