The 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, chassis CSX2300, may set a marque and American car record if sold at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2026 classic car auction.

The most expensive car on offer at the Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach 2026 sale during Monterey Car Week is a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, with an estimate of “In Excess of $25,000,000”. Chassis CSX2300 was the third of six produced and the only one Carroll Shelby ever owned. It is offered restored to the blue livery and number 12, as used at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1965.
Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Sale 2026

Gooding & Christie’s 22nd annual Pebble Beach Auctions: on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Pebble Beach Parc du Concours during the annual Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, USA.
Previous Gooding Christie’s (Gooding & Co before 2025) Pebble Beach sale results during Monterey Week:
| Year | Earnings ($ million) | Million-Dollar Cars | Lots Sold & Sell-Through Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $127.5 | 27 | 153 sold, 87%, average price $847,262 |
| 2024 | $108 | 25 | 151 sold, 82%, average price $721,783 |
| 2023 | $95 | 24 | 133 sold, average price $714,522 |
| 2022 | $109 | 28 | 135 of 158, 85%, average price of $810,758 |
| 2021 | $107 | 24 | 115 of 132, 87%, average price of $930,829 |
In 2025, the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione sold for $25,305,000, as the most expensive car ever sold by Gooding Christie’s and a new Pebble Beach record holder. The previous Pebble Beach auction record was $22,000,000 paid for the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ in 2018. It remains the most expensive American car ever, the most expensive pre-war car ever, and of course, the Duesenberg marque record holder.
Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe at Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach 2026

The most expensive car on offer at the Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach 2026 classic car auction is the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, chassis CSX2300, with an estimate of “In Excess of $25,000,000”.
A successful sale at this price will set a new marque record and make the Cobra Daytona the most expensive American car ever. Currently, the most expensive Shelby ever is the 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra CSX 2000, sold for $13,750,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016.
The most expensive car announced for the Monterey Car Week 2026 auction is the 1996 McLaren F1 GTR, known as “The Pop Art F1,” and headlining car for the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2026 sale. (It has a presale estimate of “Value in Excess of $35,000,000”.)
1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, CSX2300

The 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, chassis CSX2300, was the third of only six Cobra Daytona Coupes created by Carroll Shelby with the explicit aim of defeating the Ferrari 250 GTOs. The lightweight aluminium Carrozzeria Gransport coachwork was a closed coupe body designed by Peter Brock.
CSX2300 made its global debut at the 1964 Tour de France Automobile with American Bob Bondurant and German Jochen Neerpasch at the wheel. It won the first two stages before suffering from mechanical issues.
It was also a key participant in Shelby American’s historic 1965 FIA GT championship season, in which Shelby defeated Ferrari. CSX2300 raced at Daytona (3rd in class / 6th overall) and Sebring (3rd in class) before joining the European campaign led by Alan Mann Racing, including in endurance races at Nürburgring (3rd in class) and Reims (2nd in class). A change in FIA regulations for 1966 made the Cobra Daytona obsolete, as the focus shifted to the Ford GT40 program.
However, this was the only Cobra Daytona Coupe to continue its international competition career beyond Shelby American’s factory program, racing successfully in Japan through 1968 at venues like Fuji Speedway and the Japan Grand Prix.
CSX2300 Post-Racing History
Carroll Shelby owned CSX2300 from 1975 to 1998 — the only example ever owned by its creator. He entrusted Cobra specialist Mike McCluskey of Torrance, California with a comprehensive restoration to return the car to its 1965 specification. During Shelby’s ownership, CSX2300 was displayed at major marque gatherings, including SAAC-9 in Anaheim, California in 1994 and the Cobra 30th Reunion at Sonoma in 1995. It also made an appearance at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, becoming one of the most visible representations of Shelby’s legacy.
CSX2300 underwent another meticulous restoration in 2000 under the ownership of Larry Bowman. This work retained the physical evidence of its extraordinary racing career. In 2003, it emerged post-restoration, appearing at the Monterey Historics and the Goodwood Revival.
In its current ownership for more than two decades, CSX2300 has benefited from conscientious stewardship and regular use. It has continued to participate in many of Europe’s premier historic events, including Tour Auto, Modena Cento Ore, the Goodwood Revival, and the Goodwood Festival of Speed, including a very recent outing at the latter in July 2026.
Most Expensive American Car Prices at Auction

The most expensive American car ever sold at public auction and the most expensive pre-war car ever is the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ, which sold for $22,000,000 at Gooding Pebble Beach 2018.
There are surprisingly few American-made cars among the over a hundred cars that have sold for more than $10 million (nominal) at public auction.
| US | R | Year | Car | Price (USD) | Auction House | Auction | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | 1935 | Duesenberg SSJ | 22,000,000 | Gooding | Pebble Beach | 2018 |
| 2 | 58 | 1962 | Shelby 260 Cobra CSX 2000 | 13,750,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey | 2016 |
| 3 | 63 | 1966 | Ford GT40 Mk II | 13,205,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Miami | 2025 |
| 4 | 72 | 1966 | Ford GT40 Factory Lightweight | 12,375,000 | Mecum | Kissimmee | 2026 |
| 5 | 85 | 1968 | Ford GT40 Lightweight | 11,000,000 | RM | Monterey | 2012 |
| 6 | 94 | 1931 | Duesenberg Model J Long-Wheelbase Coupe | 10,340,000 | Gooding | Pebble Beach | 2011 |
Notes:
US: rank among American-made cars
R: rank among all cars sold at public auction, as on 24 July 2026
→ See also: Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold at Public Auction
Pebble Beach and Monterey Car Week Auctions 2026
2026 Pre-Sale Announcements
- Gooding Christie’s: Shelby Cobra Daytona, Top Porsches, Top Competition Ferraris
- RM Sotheby’s: McLaren F1 GTR, Top Modern Ferraris, Corvette Grand Sport
- Mecum: Early Highlights
2026 Monterey Week Auctions
- Bonhams: Salinas (Laguna Seca), 13 August 2026
- Broad Arrow: Carmel (Quail Lodge), 13 – 14 August 2026
- Gooding Christie’s: Pebble Beach, 14 & 15 August 2026
- Mecum: Monterey, 13 – 15 August 2026
- RM Sotheby’s: Monterey, 13, 14 & 16 August 2026