The 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, chassis CSX2300, sold for $42,905,000 to set a new marque and American car record at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2026 classic car auction.
The most expensive American-built car ever is a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, which achieved $42,905,000 at the Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach sale during Monterey Car Week 2026. The result almost doubled the American car record and increased the Shelby marque record by over $27 million. Chassis CSX2300, the third of six produced and the only one Carroll Shelby ever owned, was sold restored to the blue livery and number 12, as used at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1965.
Most Expensive American Car Ever: Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe at Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach 2026
The 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, chassis CSX2300, sold for $42,905,000 as the most expensive car at the Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach 2026 classic car auction. It had a more modest pre-sale estimate of “In Excess of $25,000,000”.
The stunning result made the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, chassis CSX2300,
- the most expensive American car ever,
- the most expensive Shelby ever,
- the most expensive car ever sold at Pebble Beach, and
- the most expensive car ever sold by Gooding Christie’s.
The successful sale set a new marque record and made the Cobra Daytona the most expensive American car ever. The previous most expensive Shelby was the 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra CSX 2000, which sold for $13,750,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016.
The previous American record was for a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ, which sold for $22,000,000 at Gooding Pebble Beach 2018. (The Duesenberg SSJ maintained the world record for a pre-war automobile.)
At the time of sale, the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe was the fifth most expensive car ever sold at public auction and the third-highest automobile result ever achieved at an American auction. It was by far the most expensive car sold by Gooding Christie’s and at Pebble Beach. The previous record was $25,305,000 for a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione at Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach 2025.
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.
The seller owned the Shelby for more than two decades, during which time CSX2300 benefited from conscientious stewardship and regular use. It participated in many of Europe’s premier historic events, including Tour Auto, Modena Cento Ore, the Goodwood Revival, and the Goodwood Festival of Speed, including in July 2026.
Most Expensive American Car Prices at Auction
The most expensive American car ever sold at public auction is the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, CSX2300, which sold for $42,905,000 at the Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach 2026 sale. It took the record from the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ, which remained the most expensive pre-war car ever.
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 | 5 | 1964 | Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe | 42,905,000 | Gooding Christie’s | Pebble Beach | 2026 |
| 2 | 23 | 1935 | Duesenberg SSJ | 22,000,000 | Gooding | Pebble Beach | 2018 |
| 3 | 34 | 1963 | Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport | 18,705,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey | 2026 |
| 4 | 59 | 1962 | Shelby 260 Cobra CSX 2000 | 13,750,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Monterey | 2016 |
| 5 | 65 | 1966 | Ford GT40 Mk II | 13,205,000 | RM Sotheby’s | Miami | 2025 |
| 6 | 79 | 1966 | Ford GT40 Factory Lightweight | 12,375,000 | Mecum | Kissimmee | 2026 |
| 7 | 95 | 1968 | Ford GT40 Lightweight | 11,000,000 | RM | Monterey | 2012 |
| 8 | 105 | 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 of 16 August 2026.
→ See also: Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold at Public Auction
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