Top 5 Most Expensive Muscle Cars Ever Sold At Auctions

Introduction

The power, speed, and torque all lie in the design of an engine. Muscle cars got their names in the late 60s to early 70s when such cars were produced for the purpose of power racing across select race tracks. I remembered when we were kids, big muscles were synonymous with power and we all identified with one wrestler or the other.

Thus muscle cars got their name from their big muscle-power output and this unequaled power was accredited to dubious V8 engine designs. Thus every muscle car was built with a big muscle V8 engine, that was propelled through only by the Rear Wheel Drivetrain.

The most expensive muscle cars ever sold at Auctions

Muscle cars are some of the most famous brands of cars. The aesthetics and body design of these cars make them very desirable these days with a lot of speed demon enthusiasts seeking to get a taste of these beasts. However, these cars are just so rare and as a result, are highly sought after. Some guys are willing to pay unbelievable sums just to own one.

So many of these rare muscle cars have been sold off at famous car auctions across the Globe, as we will highlight here with the top 5 most expensive muscle cars ever sold at an Auction.

1. 1962 Shelby Cobra CSX 2000 ($13.75 million or ₦5.03 Billion)

I present to you the 1962 Shelby cobra CSX 2000. The history behind this car is a story to be told another day because Shelby's CSX 2000 opened the door to America's race car revolution. Carrol Shelby the American race car designer's desire to own his own race car and his doggedness completely changed everything in the racing industry. One of his most famous works, the Shelby cobra CSX 2000, was built with a 4.3 Liter V8 engine that was accompanied by a 4-speed manual transmission on a 90 inches wheelbase.

The Shelby Cobra CSX 2000 is the most expensive Muscle Car ever Sold

The Shelby Cobra CSX 2000, which was the first-ever Shelby Cobra to be produced, would famously be sold off at the RM Sotheby Auction in California for a whooping sum of thirteen million seven hundred and fifty thousand US Dollars ($13,750,000) which is approximately ₦5.03 Billion (₦5,030,000,000) 

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2. 1967 Ford GT40 Gulf  Racing Car ($11 million OR ₦4.02 Billion)

Another one which closely follows the 1962 Shelby Cobra CSX 2000 is the 1968 Ford GT40. This successful race car was built with a 4.7 Liter V8 engine that pumped out an amazing 440 horsepower. This rare 5-speed manual transmission muscle car made its maiden race win at the Spa in 1967 and would go on to claim several other races.

This particular car is just one of the two remaining models of this car carbon fiber re-enforced body.

The 1967 Ford GT40 Gulf racing was auctioned off for about ₦4.02 Billion

This 1967 Ford GT40 Gulf racing car was finally sold in August 2012, at the RM Sotheby Auction in California for the stunning price of $11 million ($11,000,000) which is about ₦4.02 Billion (₦4,020,000,000).

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3. 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype ($7.65 Million or ₦2.8 Billion)

Production of this car started in 1964 and the car would be completed the following year. This 1965 masterpiece gathered a number of firsts to its name. The prototype was the first of 5 GT40 Roadsters to be designed and built. It was also the first roadster to be mounted on a certain steel chassis which was a purpose-built platform for the GT40 roadster.

The wheels were powered by a Colotti T-37 Transaxle and a 4.7 Liter V8 engine. This special car was finally sold off at a fee of about $7.65 million ($7,650,000) equivalent to about ₦2.8 Billion (₦2,800,000,000) in August of 2019 at the RM Sotheby Auction in California.

At the RM Sotheby Auction in 2019, the GT40 Roadster Prototype sold for about ₦2.8 Billion

4. 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX 2601 ($7.25 Million OR ₦2.65 Billion)

The Shelby Daytona Coupe was designed and built with the sole aim of challenging the dominance of Ferrari on the GT racing championship circuit. This particular Shelby Daytona coupe would help the Shelby team clinch the GT championship, winning the 12 Heures du Reims race in 1965. This Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe with Chassis number 2601 was one of 6 Shelby Coupes built and came with a 4.7 Liter V8 engine, topping the GT Roadsters by 25 mph.

The 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX 2601 would clock a $7.5 million bid at the Mecum original spring classic auction in May 2009 but would not get sold. It would finally be sold at the Mecum Monterey Auction in August of 2009 for a then-record sum of $7.25 Million ($7,250,000) which is about ₦2.65 Billion (₦2,650,000,000).

The 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX 2601 sold for  ₦2.65 Billion 

5. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 "Super Snake" CSX 3015 ($5.5 Million OR ₦2.01 Billion)

There were only two Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake's ever built and the CSX 3015 was one of the two while the other super snake, once owned by the convicted sex offender Bill Cosby, was destroyed in the pacific ocean by its then-owner who drove it off a cliff and down to the bottom of the ocean. This rare street legal racing demon was built with a 3-speed automatic transmission and a monstrous V8 engine that was supported by a turbocharged system.

The Shelby Cobra 427 super snake was auctioned off at about ₦2.01 Billion

This speed demon was finally auctioned off at the 2007 Barrett Jackson Scottsdale Auction for a reported fee of about $5.5 Million ($5,500,000), an equivalent of about ₦2.01 Billion (₦2,010,000,000).

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Video: Top 10 Modern Muscle Cars

Muscle cars sold at a glance

The table below shows at a glance the most expensive muscle cars sold at auctions. It includes the car make or model, the year of production, the value at auction ( it also includes auction fees charged)  and year of auction.

Endnote

Currently, modern muscle cars are flooding the market, coming in different styles and colors with improved power, speed, and torque. If a collector’s taste is in speed then I believe that in the nearest future we will be seeing a grand auction to release all the old stocks to make way for newer and faster muscle cars.

Newer muscle cars are now lighter and come with either supercharge or turbocharge technology, depending on whether the charger (super or turbo) uses the engine to power itself or uses the exhaust gases to power itself and subsequently supplying enough air to the engine to increase its Rev.

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