Automotive legend and Motorsports icon Carroll Shelby may be dead and gone but his legacy will live on through the cars he produced over his many decades running Shelby American. He started it all in 1962 producing his first Shelby Cobra and from there his career as a builder spanned some 50 years until his death in May of 2012.
His Shelby vehicles are some of the most sought after vehicles on the planet with some originals commanding mind boggling prices in the high six-figure range. Below we have compiled a list of the top ten most expensive Shelby’s ever sold. All ten vehicles below were sold at auction and have been verified. Check out the list below along with a photo of each vehicle.
Top Ten Most Expensive Shelby’s Ever Sold:
10. 1964 Shelby Cobra Roadster – (CSX2281) – original alloy body 289 Cobra
Frame-off restoration completed many years ago in Wimbledon White with Blue LeMans stripes. Car sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2010 for $478,500.
9. 1968 Shelby GT500 E Convertible – 408 ci/475 horsepower V8
This White with Blue LeMans stripes continuation Shelby convertible sold for $550,800 at Auction in 2005.
8. 1966 Shelby Cobra Roadster – 427 ci/500 horsepower V8
An original Shelby Roadster painted Red with white stripes sold at Auction in 2006 for $594,000.
7. 2007 Shelby GT #001 – 4.6-liter V8
Auctioned at Barrett-Jackson back in 2007 it sold for a staggering $600,000.
6. 2007 Shelby GT500 coupe #001
The vehicle was sold at Barrett-Jackson for $600,000 with all the proceeds going to charity. The first GT500 was painted Grabber Orange with silver LeMans stripes.
5. 1967 Shelby Cobra Roadster
Original Shelby Cobra sold for 652,500 at Barrett-Jackson in 2008. Blue with White LeMans stripes.
4. 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster
Original Shelby Cobra roadster sold for $700,000 in 2008 at Barrett-Jackson. Green with white stripes.
3. 1969 Shelby GT500 Convertible
This was Carroll Shelby’s personal 1969 Shelby GT500 convertible painted Red with white side stripes. It sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2008 for $715,000.
2. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster – 427 ci/500 horsepower V8
Original Shelby Cobra roadster built by AC Cars and delivered to Ford Advanced Vehicles in England for use at auto shows and track days. It was auctioned in 2007 for $935,000.
1. 1966 Shelby Cobra Super Snake CSX3015
Personally owned by Carroll Shelby until 2007 when he auctioned it off at Barrett-Jackson for a cool $5.3 Million. The Super Snake is one of two built sporting a twin supercharger setup.
Source: MarketWatch.com
I was 18 y/o when I fell in love with a red SHELBY GT500 at the L.A. Auto Show. The GT350 was $3,495 and the GT500 was $3,995. Couldn’t afford either!!
Years passed; got my degree from U.S.C. got a good paying job. Kinda forgoat about the Shelby. My fiance Denise and I were driving my 71 Duster 340 muscle car. Went down Anaheim Blvd. at Ball Road ____Dodge Dealer. Right in the front row 1968 Shelby GT500. Missing the stripes and the 10spoke mag wheels. I got the car for………$1,850. $78 / month.
This car had the 3.25 non posi rear end and the 428 Police Interceptor engine.
C-6 automatic, a/c, p/s. tilt wheel = it was loaded.
My friend Barry Murphy and I put together a 427 2x 4 bbl engine; solid lifter cam with 330 degrees duration (244 degrees @ 0.050″ lift) and .610 ” lift with the 1.76 ratio rocker arms. TRW flat top pistons, Total Seal moly gapless rings, Hedman / ___ headers, modify p/s rod with Lbracket. Put 4.11 detroit locker / positraction rear end. Added Hurst dual-gate hydroshifter. Divorce in 1985, Denise’ ‘expert’ attorney demanded $8,000 for the car MY CAR. I agreed and we put her half $4,000 in her column. Final pay out using marriage of Epstein credits = $800 bucks to her; everything including the Shelby to me. Still have this beast 68,000 original miles. Needs another engine (long story) so I got a 427 cide oiler 4 bolt mains al ready for machining and assembly. LOVE IT. Worth a cool $100,000 to $150,000 bucks. NOT original–modified to the way I wanted it.