The first ever Shelby Cobra was auctioned off for a staggering $13.75 million at the 5 day Pebble Beach vintage car show in Monterey. The car is a 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra, also known as the CSX 2000.
The sale broke the previous record for American car auctions which was held by a 1968 Ford GT40, sold for $11 million in 2012. The significant difference in the amounts is reflective of the popularity of Cobra in the American market.
The first ever 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra was built on a shoestring budget by Carroll Shelby and his partner Dean Moon who added a V8 and Ford four-speed gearbox to the motorless vehicle that arrived in the US in February 1962. This resulted in Shelby getting funding from Ford to start building more Cobras.
Originally, the CSX 2000 would complete a 0 – 60 mph sprint in just 4.2 seconds which is considered fast even today. The historic vehicle stayed in the Shelby family for a time before being becoming a “supermodel” at various events.