A 1969 Shelby GT350 Fastback, a racing-modified version of the Ford Mustang, was the leading light at Mecum Auctions' Des Moines sale on July 20-21.
The 351 CI automatic sold for $80,000 at the Iowa auction. Its considerable price can be attributed in part to the rarity of the vehicle - just 953 were made and very few in the Grabber Blue colour scheme.
 Carroll Shelby died in May 2012 |
There was also the Carroll Shelby factor. The car's designer had autographed the vehicle three times, and his death in May of this year no doubt encouraged nostalgic collectors to bid.
A 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220SE, one of just 1,750 ever made, was the second top lot in the sale.
In addition to its considerable rarity, the vehicle's original red leather seats and original chrome helped it to an impressive $76,000.
A 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe, featuring a rare powerglide feature, sold for $73,000, with only the presence of new chrome, interior and exhaust preventing it from taking the auction's top price.
A rare dusk colour 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible also performed well, achieving $70,000, again proving the enduring popularity of T-birds with car collectors.
The Historic Auto Group's price index of leading classic cars is up 10.33% since the start of the year. The HAGI Index comfortably outperformed the 4.54% rise of the S&P Global 1200 Index, which offers a world view of the stock market.
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