Carroll Shelby's 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra sold for $6 million

[Graybeard]

https://www.foxnews.com/auto/carroll-shelbys-1965-shelby-427-cobra-6-million

Shelby owned it until his death in 2012

By Gary Gastelu | Fox News

A 1965 Shelby Cobra owned by Carroll Shelby from the day it was built until his death in 2012 has been sold for $5.94 million, one of the highest prices ever paid for an American car.


(Mecum)

The 427 Cobra Roadster crossed the block at the Mecum Auctions event in Kissimmee, Fla., where bidding on the charcoal gray roadster opened at $2 million, but in about five minutes rose to a hammer price of $5.4 million, to which auction fees were added.


(Mecum)

The car was completed in March 1966 using a 1965 AC Ace chassis from England's AC Cars and was purchased by Shelby for $6,273, according to the original invoice.


(Mecum)

Shelby modified it several times over the years with different paint colors and a more powerful engine, but it was fully restored to its original specification in 2019 by the consigner, who bought it in 2016.


The amount paid was the second-most ever for a Cobra behind the first one ever built, which was auctioned in 2016 for $13.8 million.

Gary Gastelu is FoxNews.com's Automotive Editor covering the car industry and racing. Follow @foxnewsautos

[oldandslow]

Seeing those pictures make me drool with envy. The best looking sports car ever built. I understand from reading about them that the cobra was a real bear to drive though. If I could have one I wouldn't care a bit as all I would do is rassel it around on short trips to make others envious.

[BUGEYE]

If that thing has a 427 under the hood, it would be hard to handle in city driving.
It needs long straightaways and banked corners.  That would be fun.

[Ranger99]

3 of the dealer owners I've worked for
had original 427 Cobras and I've yet to
have a proper ride in one. Got  to try most
everything else. Pantera, new production
GT, 427 Fairlane,  Torino Cobra, owned
a Cobra Jet Torino, every Mustang model
ever built. 
The 427 Cobras might seem clumsy, but
they're built to be driven with the switch on
high,  like the old 2 stroke motorcycles

[Bob Riebe]

To beat the 427 Cobra in SCCA National racing is the reason the 427 Corvette was created especially the Alloy ZL-1.

Without it , U.S. sports cars would have remained at 2nd string wannabe level.