1965 Shelby Cobra Fails to Set New World Record. Again!

Even though the organizers expected to set a new world record with the 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX2601, Mecum Auctions have announced that the car sold for only $7,25 million. The rare Shelby Cobra was expected to surpass the $11 million paid for a 1961 Ferrari California Spyder and to fetch between $12 and $15 million.

However, just selling the car was considered a success itself. The Shelby Cobra was not sold in May as it was planned, but on August 15, at Mecum's inaugural Monterey Auction, where the auction house also offered more than 200 cars, ranging from a 1931 Rolls-Royce to a 2007 Saleen S7.

"Selling this amazing piece of American race history at our first Monterey auction has been the crowning achievement of my career and Mecum Auction's 22 years of selling collector cars," said Dana Mecum, president of Mecum Auction in a release for the press. "This hand-built car beat the fastest cars in the world and has now added another 'win' to its list of accomplishments. It certainly finished in record form again."

The 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra is one of the six models particularly built by Carroll Shelby to race against Ferrari in the FIA World Manufacturers Championship for the GT class. The car features a coupe body designed by Pete Brock and based on an older Cobra chassis, modifications that brought a speed increase by 25 mph (40 km/h).

"Truly the best part about auctioning the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe has been sharing the stories of its amazing history with millions of people across the country," Mecum said. "This race car's greatest moments and its legacy as America's world champion will be cherished for generations to come."