Monterey Car Week Auctions Feature 16 Standouts Led by $35 Million McLaren F1

Q: Will a historic Shelby Cobra shatter the $22 million record to become the most expensive American car ever sold?

Yes—based on the pre-sale estimate, the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe has a strong chance to break the $22 million American-car auction record, but it is not certain until bidding closes. The car in question, Gooding Christie’s chassis CSX2300, is estimated at “in excess of $25 million,” which would put it above the current American record of $22 million set by the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ. If it sells at or above estimate, it would become the most expensive American car ever sold at auction. Its case is unusually strong. CSX2300 is one of only six Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes built, was part of Shelby American’s successful 1965 FIA GT championship campaign against Ferrari, and is the only Daytona Coupe ever owned by Carroll Shelby himself. That combination of rarity, race history, and direct Shelby ownership makes it one of the most significant U.S. collector cars to reach the market in years. Market context also helps. Monterey Car Week remains the top stage for record-setting sales, and analysts expect stronger bidding this year, with Hagerty projecting total auction sales near $500 million. Gooding Christie’s has also recently handled eight-figure results, including a $25.305 million Ferrari at Pebble Beach in 2025. Still, auction estimates are not guarantees. Even trophy cars can miss reserve if bidders turn cautious or if the top bid falls short. So the Shelby is positioned to shatter the record, but whether it actually does depends entirely on the room.

2 articles · Updated · Road & Track · Aug 12

$35 million is the expected top bid for a 1996 McLaren F1 GTR, one of only nine converted to road specification, headlining Monterey Car Week’s marquee sales.
$25 million-plus could follow for a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, one of six built and the only example once owned by Carroll Shelby.
$11 million to $13 million is the estimate for the first 1963 Corvette Grand Sport coupe, while other multimillion-dollar lots include a Ferrari Dino 206 S, Ferrari 512 BB/LM and McLaren P1 GT by Lanzante.
RM Sotheby’s dominates the preview list, but Bonhams, Broad Arrow and Gooding also bring notable race cars and prototypes, from a Calsonic-liveried Skyline GTS-R to a one-off Vector WX-3R Roadster.
Monterey’s 2026 sales mix spans blue-chip competition icons, modern hypercars and lower-priced oddities such as a $30,000 to $40,000 Citroen M35, underscoring the event’s unusually broad collector appeal.