1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

Billed to Shelby American in November 1963, CSX2300 was the third of six Daytona Coupes completed and the only one owned by Carrol Shelby. Prepared in Venice, California, it was shipped to Italy, where Carrozzeria Grandsport in Modena fabricated its lightweight aluminum body. The estimate is $25m at Gooding & Christie’s 22nd annual Pebble Beach Auctions. A sale at this price will set a new marque record and make the Cobra Daytona the most expensive American car. Currently, the most expensive Shelby is the 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra CSX 2000 which sold for $13.7m at RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2016.

Carroll Shelby owned CSX2300 from 1975 to 1998. He entrusted Cobra specialist Mike McCluskey of Torrance, California with a comprehensive restoration to return the car to its 1965 specifications. The car underwent another meticulous restoration in 2000. The most expensive American car ever sold at public auction is the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ of Cary Grant, which sold for $22m at Gooding Pebble Beach 2018. This car is expected to surpass that.