The 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra was, at the time of its release, the fastest road-legal production car ever – with a top speed in excess of 165mph.
While that seems almost tame today, considering many a family hatchback is capable of hitting that speed, at the time it represented a new era in motorsport.
Only 53 427 Cobra 'Semi Competitions' were made
RM Sotheby’s Arizona sale over the weekend offered a rare 'Semi-Competition' specimen that pulled in an impressive $2.9m.
The car is essentially a 289 AC Cobra fitted with an absurdly oversized 427 V8 engine.
Shelby planned to produce 100 of the models, in order to comply with the rules surrounding homologation in racing.
However, the company missed the deadline. Only half of the cars were ready on the date inspectors arrived at the factory.
The company cut its losses, leaving just 53 finished specimens which were sold to a handful of racing teams and well-heeled enthusiasts.
There’s no definitive word on how many are left, but it’s likely to be significantly less than that original number.
A 1993 Bugatti EB110 GT made $967,500.
Due to an economic downturn in the early 1990s, this car didn’t leave the factory until 1995. It’s one of just 139 made.
The styling was designed to reflect the company’s roots, inspired by the sleek lines of the 1930s.
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