In brief
- CSX2300 sold for $42,905,000 at Gooding Christie's Pebble Beach in August 2026.
- It is the most expensive American car ever sold at auction.
- The previous record was $22 million for a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ in 2018.
- Only six Shelby Daytona Coupes were built, in 1964 and 1965.
- Carroll Shelby owned CSX2300 from 1975 to 1998, the only Daytona he owned personally.
A 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, chassis CSX2300, sold for $42,905,000 at Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach auction during Monterey Car Week in August 2026. That makes it the most expensive American car ever sold at auction, beating the previous record, a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ sold for $22 million in 2018, by more than $20 million.
Key facts
| Detail | CSX2300 |
|---|---|
| Sale price (incl. fees) | $42,905,000 |
| Hammer price | About $39,000,000 |
| Pre-sale guidance | More than $25 million |
| Auction | Gooding Christie’s, Pebble Beach, August 2026 |
| Engine | 289 cu in Ford V8 |
| Daytona Coupes built | Six (1964-1965) |
| Notable owner | Carroll Shelby, 1975-1998 |
Why the Daytona Coupe matters
Carroll Shelby’s open Cobra roadster was quick on twisty circuits but lost time on long straights. Designer Peter Brock drew a closed, aerodynamic body over the Cobra’s chassis and Ford V8 to take on Ferrari’s 250 GTO in GT racing.
Only six Daytona Coupes were built. The first was assembled at Shelby American’s workshop in Venice, California, and the other five were bodied in aluminium by Carrozzeria Gransport in Modena, Italy. In 1965 the cars helped Shelby win the FIA world championship for GT manufacturers, the first time an American constructor took that title.
Also readFerrari Luce Chassis 0 Sells for Record $40 MillionThe history of CSX2300
CSX2300 raced for the factory Shelby team through the 1965 season. Its entries included the Daytona Continental, the 12 Hours of Sebring, where it finished third in class, the Nürburgring 1000km, the Tour de France Automobile and Reims, where it finished ninth overall.
What sets it apart from the other five is its later owner. Carroll Shelby bought the car in 1975 and kept it until 1998, and it is the only Daytona Coupe he ever owned personally. Reports after the sale said the car will stay in the United States with an unnamed collector.
How the price compares
The last public sale of a Daytona Coupe was in 2009, when a sister car sold for $7,685,000. CSX2300 fetched more than five times that figure.
It was also the top sale of Monterey Car Week 2026, a week that produced $747.9 million in auction sales across all houses. The nearest results were:
- 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2300: $42,905,000 (Gooding Christie’s)
- 2026 Ferrari Luce “Chassis 0”: $40,000,000 (RM Sotheby’s, charity lot)
- 1996 McLaren F1 GTR, chassis 10R: $34,655,000 (RM Sotheby’s)
- 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport: $18,705,000 (RM Sotheby’s)
- 1963 Ferrari 250 P: $18,705,000 (Gooding Christie’s)
For the full picture, see our ranking of the most expensive cars in the world and the most expensive Ferraris ever sold.
What the sale tells collectors
Three things drove the price: a production run of six, a works racing record in a championship-winning season, and two decades in Carroll Shelby’s own garage. Cars with that mix of rarity, competition history and provenance rarely come to market, and when they do, buyers have shown they will pay well above the estimate.
Sources: Motor1, New Atlas, HotHardware, Motorious, Wikipedia
Frequently asked questions
How much did the Shelby Daytona Coupe sell for?
Chassis CSX2300 sold for $42,905,000 including fees at Gooding Christie's Pebble Beach auction in August 2026, on a hammer price of about $39 million.
What is the most expensive American car ever sold at auction?
The 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2300, at $42,905,000. It replaced a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ that sold for $22 million in 2018.
How many Shelby Daytona Coupes were built?
Six were built in 1964 and 1965. The first was assembled in Venice, California, and the other five were bodied by Carrozzeria Gransport in Modena, Italy.
Did Carroll Shelby own a Daytona Coupe?
Yes. He owned CSX2300 from 1975 to 1998, and it is the only Daytona Coupe he ever owned personally.
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