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Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903, and the brand has been going strong to this day. Their adoption of the assembly line in 1908 helped revolutionize the automotive industry and introduced the first lineup of affordable American cars. Since the Model T, Ford vehicles have evolved with innovation while remaining highly affordable and following the original mass-production formula. Case in point is the Ford Mustang, which has remained the best affordable American sports car for decades.
But, every now and then, the brand makes cars that are far from budget-friendly or available in huge numbers. Or, they were once cheap but became rare, gained value over time, and fetched serious coins at auction. These include vintage sports cars, unique concept cars, and historic racing champions. We’ve curated a list of the most expensive Ford vehicles sold at auction.
10/10 1969 Shelby GT500 Convertible – $742,500
Owning the car that the legendary Carroll Shelby worked on is one of the top ten accomplishments of any self-respecting gearhead. But few things can match the feeling of owning one that was once part of the great man’s collection. One lucky chap paid $742,500 at the 2008 Barret Jackson auction in Scottdale to claim ownership of this Shelby-owned and driven 1969 Shelby GT500 Convertible.
It is one of 247 units making it a rare find even in its day. Under the hood is a cid 428ci Cobra Jet V8 pushing 335 hp.
9/10 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 “Eleanor” – $1m
The 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 featured in gone in 60 seconds sold in 2013 for $1 million at the Mecum auction in Indianapolis. Named Eleanor, the car isn’t even an original Shelby but a fictional remake based on a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback by Cinema Vehicle Services.
This is the main attraction of Cage’s car of the three made, with two destroyed during filming. It became an instant hero in Hollywood in 2000 and inspired similar replicas.
8/10 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake – $2.2m
Every serious Shelby collector should be on high alert when the only 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake goes up for sale in 2019. That probably explains why someone paid double the odds to drive the 2019 Mecum auction in Kissimmee.
It sold for $2.2 million, setting a record for the most expensive Mustang at the time. Under the hood, the venomous Shelby featured the same 427 ci racing V8 used in the GT40 MKII that competed at Le Mans.
7/10 1965 Brawner Hawk-Ford Dean Van Lines Special – $2.2m
The late 60s were arguably the most decorated years for the Blue Oval brand. While the Ford GT40 dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the mid to late sixties, Mario Andretti took the 1965 and 1966 IndyCar championships by storm as a rookie in his 1965 Brawner Hawk Ford Dean Van Lines Special car .
The fully restored award-winning classic racer went to auction at Mecum auction and sold for $2.2 million.
6/10 Bullitt 1968 Ford Mustang GT390 – $3.74m
The 10 minute car chase in Bullitt is one of the most iconic movie car chases of all time. It sees Steve McQueen, one of Hollywood’s most famous car aficionados, chasing a bad guy through the streets of San Francisco. The green muscle car in question is a 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390.
The iconic car resurfaced in 2018 after Ford announced the 2019 Mustang Bullitt and found a new home at the 2020 Mecum auction in Kissimmee for $3.74 million, plus commissions, making it one of the most expensive unrestored cars ever Ford vehicles ever.
5/10 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 R Prototype – $3.85m
The 1965 Mustang GT350 R Prototype is a true piece of automotive history after marking Carroll Shelby’s enlistment at Ford. Not surprisingly, it sold for $3.85 million at a Mecum auction in 2020, rising to $4.07 million, including the buyer’s commission.
Miles at Green Valley Raceway in Smithfield in 1965. This is currently the most valuable Mustang
4/10 1967 Ford GT40 Mk III – $5m
Among the GT40 icons, the 1967 Ford GT 40 Mk III is one of the few race-ready cars Ford has rebuilt into street-legal sports cars. In 1967, it went for $18,000, making it one of the most expensive cars of the 1960s. That translates to about $160k in 2022, but it’s nowhere near what the car is worth today.
Ford built just seven examples of the third generation of original Ferrari killers, and they fetched up to $5 million.
3/10 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype – $7.65m
The GT40 enjoyed a run of 87 production examples. But before these, there were twelve prototypes, including five GT40 Roadsters. A rare example and the only roadster to survive in its original form sold for $7.65 million at an RM Sotheby auction in 2019.
It was built for Shelby America as a test and development car and driven by legendary drivers such as Ken Miles, Carroll Shelby, and Jim Clark.
2/10 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II – $9.75m
In 2018, a 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II sold for $9.795 million at the RM Sotheby auction in Monterey. This is the exact car that finished third in the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, driven by Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson.
This is a rare car, and the fourth of eight Mark II copies made, a true legend of Le Mans and a People’s Choice Award winner at the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
1/10 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage Lightweight Racing Car – $11m
The 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/ Mirage Lightweight Racing Car became the most expensive American car at auction in 2012 when it sold for $11 million at RM auctions. It has a strong history to back up its hefty price tag, including featuring in the 1971 film Le Mans, which explored the high-intensity races of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Also behind the wheel was the legendary Steve McQueen, who has plenty of street cred among car collectors and helped give the GT40 its hefty price tag.
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