Will This Be the Most Expensive Car Ever Sold at an Auction?

Jason Siu
by Jason Siu

There’s a possibility the most expensive car ever sold at an auction will no longer be a Ferrari 250 GTO.

Currently holding the record for most expensive car ever sold at an auction is a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that fetched $34.65 million in 2014 at the Bonham’s Quail auction. Now, the very first-ever Shelby Cobra is crossing the auction block at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey, sporting serial number CSX 2000. There’s an interesting story with CSX 2000: when Shelby first started loaning out the car to the media for testing and review purposes, he didn’t want them to know he had only built one Cobra. So each time CSX 2000 was delivered to a new journalist, he had it repainted a different color so that it appeared he had a fleet of Cobra test cars.

Shelby, who passed away at the age of 89 in 2012, always planned for the CSX 2000 to be sold one day with the proceeds going to the Carroll Shelby Foundation that helps fund research into childhood illnesses. It appears that day has finally come.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Cheapest Cars from the 2016 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction

Some would argue that this is the most important car in American history. If Shelby never created the first Cobra, there would have never been a Shelby American or a GT40, nevermind all the models that have followed since.

The first-ever Shelby Cobra will be auctioned on August 19, 2016 and it will be something to keep an eye on, especially if it becomes the most expensive car ever sold at an auction.

Jason Siu
Jason Siu

Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.

More by Jason Siu

Comments
Join the conversation
 2 comments
  • Emperius Emperius on Jul 01, 2016

    The few of the smart millionaires are selling crap, buying gold, independent living systems and diversifying their portfolio for the upcoming global market crisis.

  • Chris Daigle Chris Daigle on Jul 04, 2016

    If I had the money, I would buy it.

Next