Posted on 01/22/2007 8:09:54 AM PST by presidio9
An 800-horsepower Shelby Cobra, once the personal car of the racing veteran who developed the iconic vehicle, has sold for $5.5 million at auction, a record for an American car. ADVERTISEMENT
The sale of the 1966 Shelby Cobra "Super Snake" brought a packed house to its feet Saturday at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction after a pair of bidders drove the price up.
Carroll Shelby, 84, who created the Cobra in the '60s using Ford engines and a British sport car chassis, said he built the Super Snake -- with twin superchargers on a 427 cubic inch V-8 -- and drove it for years.
"It's a special car. It would do just over three seconds to 60 (mph), 40 years ago," Shelby told the crowd before the sale.
"I killed a buzzard with it," he said. "Nasty, nasty."
The car had a twin, built for comedian Bill Cosby, but that car was destroyed in an accident while being driven by another owner, according to the Barrett-Jackson Web site.
Barrett-Jackson said the $5.5 million price tag for the Cobra was not an overall world record car price; others have sold at auction for more than $11 million. However, it is a world record for American cars, said Steve Davis, Barrett-Jackson president.
The winning bidder was car collector Ron Pratt of suburban Chandler. Last year, he paid $4.32 million for the Futureliner, one of 12 futuristic buses used for shows in the 1940s and '50s by General Motors.
I watched this. Pretty amazing to watch the bidding go out of control. Sweet car.
I am trying to add a picture, but I can't find one.
We watched this on and off as well. Just crazy money being spent. Did you see Reggie Jackson's car go?
.... after the buyer's 17 y.o. son sneaks it out for a "test drive" around the block...
I had heard reports about a Hemi-Cuda convertible with a factory 4-speed (?) which was also supposed to have gone on this auction. I think they said it might bring $4 million. Anybody know about that one?
Christies is going to be auctioning off a Porsche designed 485-hp Auto Union D-type race car. The car was commissioned by Hitler. They are estimating $12 million.
The current record is $11 million. That was paid for a 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Sports Coupe sold by Christie's in 1987.
Sweet mother of G*d.
Is it a side oiler too? (I'd be surprised if it wasn't)
I was there two years ago and even the clones were bringing 60-70K.
I would so love to drive one of these cross-country.
I thought that what distinguished this one was the fact that it was a convertible.
Same buyer as the $4 million GM streamliner bus that sold last year....
Mmmmm, sweet!
It would have to have a very unique history to get that price.
An Hemi Charger Daytona on the other hand.....
me and the misses were at PapaDeux eating supper late saturday night when the place fillled up with BJ biddrs and the guy who bought the Cobra was there all circled by others..........it was cool, oh so was the oysters and catfish fillets.
He's added the superchargers (and restored) to the car from the 60s when we blew him off almost every Sunday at the drags with the Cobra we built for Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys.
I have no idea what happend to the car after Dennis got off on drugs and traded it in for a motorcycle at Hollywood Sport Car.
Not that I would turn it down, but I HATE the color.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.