After A $42.9 Million Sale, The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe Is Now The Most Expensive American Car Ever Sold At Auction

Key Points:

• A 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe sold for a record $42.9 million at Gooding Christie's Pebble Beach Auctions, becoming the most expensive American car ever sold at auction and surpassing the previous $22 million record set by a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ in 2018.
• The Shelby Daytona Coupe, chassis number CSX2300, debuted at the 1964 Tour de France Automobile but did not finish; however, Shelby went on to win the 1965 FIA GT Championship with the Daytona Coupe before ending the program to focus on the Ford GT40.
• Only six Shelby Daytona Coupes were ever built, and this particular car was the only one raced by a privateer during its era and was personally owned by Carroll Shelby, enhancing its rarity and collector value.
• After racing in Japan for eight years, the car was repatriated to the U.S. by Shelby himself; it has since been showcased multiple times at prestigious events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival, and the historic Tour Auto in France.
• Carroll Shelby regarded the 1965 championship won with the Daytona Coupe as one of his proudest achievements, even more gratifying than his Le Mans victory, highlighting the car's significance in his racing legacy.