30 most expensive US classic cars ever

The highest-priced classics from the US

European exotica may dominate the charts counting down the biggest prices ever achieved by classic cars at auction, but there are plenty of American automobiles that have made big money, too. So let’s celebrate them.

Here are the top 30, in ascending order of sale price.

All data was from Glenmarch and correct as of 6 September 2022

30. 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible ($3.5m/£3.03m)

Muscle cars were produced in large numbers in their heyday, but there were rarities thrown up because of their unusual specifications – and this Plymouth is one such example.

The Hemi Cuda Convertible is very desirable, yet this is one of only two cars made with a four-speed manual transmission and delivered in the US.

Today, such anomalies appeal to collectors. This blue convertible is one of only seven open-tops made in 1971 as sales began to drop. The Hurst pistol-grip shifter lends more appeal to buyers now and is why this Hemi model achieved its hefty price when sold by Mecum in June 2014.

=28. 1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible ($3.52m/£3.05m)

Duesenbergs are some of the most coveted classic cars in the US, as witnessed by the number that feature among the highest auction prices achieved for cars built in the US.

This Model J Convertible Coupe with Disappearing Top by Murphy is one of around 100 made by the firm, making Murphy the most prolific coachbuilder of the period for Duesenberg cars.

Such familiarity did not prevent this car from making substantial sum when it was sold by RM Sotheby’s in Texas back in May 2015. The unusual ‘dickey’ seat at the rear adds to its appeal, and the car also featured in a number of films in the 1960s, including What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

The car was restored to superb condition in the 1990s by then owners Chris and Kathleen Koch, before it was acquired by the Andrews Collection from where it was sent to auction. 

=28. 1967 Ford GT40 Mk1 ($3.52m/£3.05m)

The Anglo-American Ford GT40 was a sensational road car and this car is one of only 31 Mk1s made for road use.

It was owned and run by Ford as a promotional vehicle between its completion and 1968, finished in red with Borrani wire wheels.

As a Mk1, it has the 289cu in (4.7-litre) V8 engine with 335bhp and a five-speed gearbox.

With no race history, this road car represented something of a more affordable way into GT40 ownership when it was sold in 2014 at Pebble Beach in well preserved, original order.

27. 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible ($3.525m/£3.05m)

One of the most elegant body styles applied to the Duesenberg Model J chassis was the four-door convertible.

This car’s coachwork was created by Walter M Murphy of Pasadena, California. However, this car’s first owner, Robert Grant Jnr, took delivery of the car in New York.

A slow but fastidious restoration began in the 1980s, funded at $500 per month by owner ‘Doc’ Clements. The work was carried out by Ted Billings and his successor completed the restoration at a much quicker rate when the car was bought by David Kane in 2004.

The superb finish resulted in one of the best Duesenbergs anywhere in the world, and helped this car realise its considerable auction price on 5 March 2022.

=25. 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Town Car ($3.63m/£3.14m)

This stunning and unique Duesenberg owes its existence to two determined women.

The first is actress Mae West, who originally commissioned the streamlined car, but it’s claimed she either became too impatient or was too concerned by the cost to complete the deal. Instead, confectionary heiress Ethel Mars saw the car to completion.

It’s reckoned to have been the most expensive Duesenberg sold new, with a price of around $20,000 in 1933.

The supercharged straight-eight engine and chassis were shipped to Bohman and Schwartz for the Town Car bodywork, with closed rear cabin and soft-top over the front seats.

It was restored in the 1990s to its current show-standard finish and achieved this price when it crossed the block in Texas in May 2015.

=25. 1934 Packard Twelve 1108 Sport Sedan ($3.63m/£3.14m)

The details can make all the difference to how much a car achieves at auction, and this Packard Twelve Sport Sedan proves the point.

It’s the only one of three built with this Dietrich style of bodywork to have a polished belt moulding, making it unique and increasing its value at auction.

The car was always going to perform well when sold at Pebble Beach in August 2015 – and an award-winning restoration helped matters further. That detail and the car’s provenance propelled it some way beyond its upper estimate of $3m.

=22. 1966 AAR Eagle Mk1 Weslake ($3.74m/£3.24m)

Dan Gurney turned from driver to constructor with his Anglo American Racing team and the Eagle Mk1 Weslake was an early Formula One entry.

After using the Coventry Climax engine initially, the team switched to a Gurney-Weslake V12 and created the first US-made car to win a Grand Prix in the post-war era.

Reckoned by many to be the best-looking F1 car of its time, this AAR Eagle raced in seven rounds and won the 1967 Brands Hatch International Race of Champions – and achieved this sale price at Gooding & Company’s 2013 Pebble Beach auction.

=22. 1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt ($3.74m/£3.24m)

There have been countless tribute cars built in the image of the Ford Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in the movie Bullitt, but this is the real deal.

Sold by Mecum in January 2020, this is the ‘hero’ car used by McQueen for close up and driving shots during filming. The car even retains the mounts used to fix cameras to its sills.

When filming ended, the car was sold to a Warner Bros employee and, in a twist of life imitating art, it was then acquired by a police detective. The next owner left it to his son, who put the car up for auction complete with a letter authenticating it as the movie car, which led to the substantial auction price.

=22. 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow ($3.74m/£3.24m)

Pierce-Arrow might not be the best-known name among US car makers, but there was no doubting the ambition of the small company from New York.

The Silver Arrow was the pinnacle of its range and came with a 7.0-litre V12 engine with 160bhp. It also featured streamlined bodywork with flush-fitting doorhandles, a one-piece roof panel and enclosed rear wheels.

Essentially a concept car, only five Silver Arrows were made and this is believed to be the third and the one displayed at the 1933 World Fair in Chicago.

Restored in the 1950s, it’s been carefully preserved ever since and was sold in December 2015 in excellent condition.

21. 1934 Packard Twelve Convertible ($3.745m/£3.24m)

Described by many Packard enthusiasts and experts as the most beautiful Individual Custom model made, this Twelve Convertible has bodywork by Dietrich.

It also has a string of blue-riband concours awards to back up the condition it has been in since its restoration in 2012.

Earlier in its life, the car fell into service as a taxi and was later found abandoned in Puerto Rico before being brought back to the US in the 1960s.

Work to resurrect the car started in the 1990s, but it took until the ownership of Judge Joseph and Margie Cassini for the car to be returned to its original splendour that helped it reach such a high auction figure, when it was consigned to the RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale in 2018.

=18. 1965 Shelby GT350R Prototype ($3.85m/£3.33m)

When Ford wanted to go racing with its new Mustang, it turned to Carroll Shelby, who created the GT350R.

This is the prototype for the following cars and it’s also the first one to have won a race, taking the honours at Green Valley Raceway in Texas, driven by Ken Miles.

The Wimbledon White bodywork of this car spawned many non-Shelby replicas, while the company went on to make 34 more 350R cars to sell to customers for racing.

The $3.85m paid for this car in Indianapolis in July 2020 was a record for a Mustang, and it was sold in the trim that it would have raced in at Green Valley Raceway in 1965.

=18. 1933 Duesenberg Model J Coupe Convertible ($3.85m/£3.33m)

Few cars evoke The Great Gatsby era more than this Duesenberg Model J Coupe Convertible with Disappearing Top.

The bodywork is by Bohman and Schwartz, and the car was sold new to actress Marie Dressler, so it really did live in that world of celebrity and wealth.

A history like that is a large part of this car’s appeal and why it went so well at auction in 2018. It’s also one of only six long-wheelbase Model Js with this style of body, and the car was latterly in the Harrah and Blackhawk collections to add further lustre to its history.

=18. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 ($3.85m/£3.33m)

The Corvette might be one of the most popular sports cars in the US, but there are also those made in penny numbers.

This coupe falls into that latter category, because only 20 of this track-focused L88 model were produced, with a claimed 430bhp engine from the factory that produced around 560bhp in reality.

Adding to this particular car’s collector appeal is it’s the only one known to have been made with a red body and a matching red interior.

There was plenty of documentation to back up the car’s history, which resulted in a world record price for a Corvette when it was sold in Arizona back in January 2014.

17. 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible ($3.965m/£3.43m)

With a Pebble Beach First in Class and a Special Award medal in its trophy cabinet, this 1930 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible was always going to be fought over.

When it went to auction at Pebble Beach in August 2021, it ended almost $1m over its lower estimate. Wow.

One of only three such cars made, it has a continuous history dating right back to the start of its life. It’s also been completely restored and was fully authenticated prior to this sale.

16. 1950 GM Futurliner ($4m/£3.46m)

General Motors built 12 Futurliner buses, with styling led by Harley Earl. They were used for the Parade of Progress tour that went around the US showcasing new technology.

This Futurliner is one of only three survivors in the original layout with the distinctive central driving ‘cupola’.

This example had been restored by Ron Pratte to its period-correct condition, and came with its original engine and on-board generator when it went under the hammer at Barrett-Jackson’s 2015 Scottsdsale sale.

=14. 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Works ($4.13m/£3.57m)

Any Cobra with works racing history will always be keenly sought after by collectors. This one might not have been in the most pristine condition, but that added to its look and feel as a car that has been used and raced.

When new, this car, chassis CSX 2129, was driven by Ken Miles and Bob Bondurant in 1963, earning nine podium finishes between them that year.

The car underwent a light restoration in 1997, so had mellowed handsomely by the time of its sale in August 2021.

=14. 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria ($4.13m/£3.57m)

This imposing Packard Twelve is one of only three left of this type and was subject to an extensive restoration by a previous custodian.

That resulted in a Best in Show nomination at the 2014 Pebble Beach concours, so the car’s condition warrants the price.

The V12 model earned its Individual Custom name from original owners being able to specify the car largely however they wanted.

Subsequent keepers included several noted Packard enthusiasts, which added provenance and helped the car towards its impressive sale price on 5 March 2022. 

13. 1934 Packard Twelve Coupe ($4.18m/£3.62m)

This is the highest-priced entry for a Packard and it’s easy to see why this car reached such a figure, thanks to its handsome lines.

It also has its original body, which was specified by the first owner, Mrs AJ Eken, who bought the car from Packard’s New Jersey dealership.

This car is one of five survivors made with this body and on this model of Packard. The other four cars are in museum collections, so this example caused a lot of excitement when it came up for sale in May 2015.

It had been restored by its previous owner and won a First in Class at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

12. 1966 Ford GT40 Mk1 ($4.4m/£3.81m)

Although constructed in the UK by Ford Advanced Vehicles in Slough, there’s an all-American V8 engine at the heart of the GT40.

This car has further US roots, because it was the first ever roadgoing version of the GT40 delivered to the US and was run by Ford as a promotional vehicle.

The car was sold to its first private owner in 1967 and was subsequently bought by the Schroeder family in 1975, who kept it for almost 40 years.

This example is unique in being the only GT40 road car that from new had air conditioning, luggage boxes and an undersealed chassis, and it achieved this $4.4m/£3.81m figure at Mecum’s 2016 Monterey auction.

11. 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible ($4.51m/£3.9m)

Only three Duesenberg Model SJ Convertibles were built with this new semi-automatic folding top. Owners unclipped the roof and then rolled it down with a crank handle, saving themselves the bother of trying to push the hood into position.

This car is unique out of those three because it was the only one built with a supercharged engine, producing c320bhp from the straight-eight motor.

Restored in the 1960s and again in the 1990s, it’s considered to be one of the most handsome Duesenbergs ever made, which is why it fetched so much at auction in March 2013 – in fact, it was the top seller at that year’s RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island sale.

10. 1965 The Batmobile ($4.62m/£4m)

Customiser George Barris bought this car for just $1 from Ford. What he got was the 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car.

Barris then had 15 days and a $15,000 budget to turn the car into the ultimate crime-fighting machine for the Batman television series.

Owned by the Barris family until its sale in Arizona in January 2013, the car was driven by Adam West and Burt Ward, who played Batman and Robin, respectively. There have been other Batmobiles made, but this one is the original.

9. 1935 Duesenberg Model J Convertible ($4.68m/£4.05m)

After 55 years in the hands of one owner, this 1935 Duesenberg Model J Convertible came up for sale in August 2022. It recorded one of the highest prices paid for a Duesenberg, which was partly thanks to the car’s superb condition, but also its unique body with disappearing roof.

An all-numbers-matching car, this Model J was owned and cared for by Terence Adderly for more than five decades.

Its original owner, Ms Pell, used the car in the US and in France, and it was also the car used by model kit maker Monogram as the base for its Classic Duesenberg Model SJ Roadster.

8. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake ($5.5m/£4.76m)

This Shelby Cobra started out life as a promotional car, shipped to Europe in 1965.

It’s an original Competition model which, after its return from European duties in 1966, was transformed to Super Snake specification in 1967.

As a Super Snake, it did without a windscreen, bumpers or exhaust silencers, yet it was also road legal.

Still with its original engine at its sale in March 2021, the car has twin Paxton superchargers and an automatic gearbox. It’s one of the quickest-accelerating Cobras ever made and is the only surviving Super Snake built by the Shelby factory. This car was previously sold in 2015 for $5.1m.

7. 1929 Duesenberg Model J ($5.725m/£4.95m)

Duesenberg is the most coveted of US car makes from the pre-war era and this Model J underlined that with its strong sale at Amelia Island in 2021.

This car stood out as a previous Best in Class winner of the Concours d’Elegance at the Amelia Island event in 2020, which gave the car superb credentials.

This Model J was fitted with a ‘Disappearing Top’ Torpedo Convertible Coupe body by coachbuilder Walter M Murphy. It is one of only 25 Duesenbergs made in this style when new.

6. 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 ($5.94m/£5.14m)

If you’re going to buy a Shelby Cobra, you might as well have the one driven by the boss himself.

That’s exactly what this 427 model is, because it was used by Carroll Shelby as a personal car. He owned and used it until his death in 2012, after which it was completely restored to its 1965 specification while retaining all of the original body and chassis.

During Shelby’s time with the car, it was fitted with an uprated side-oiler engine and automatic transmission. However, these had been replaced with a correct engine and four-speed Toploader manual gearbox for this sale in Florida in January 2021.

5. 1964 Ford GT40 Prototype ($7m/£6.1m)

In Ford GT40 lore, few cars are more revered than this one that achieved $7m at auction in April 2014.

Chassis GT/104 was one of the cars sent to Le Mans in 1964 to take on Ferrari in the now famous on-track spat between the US and Italian companies.

GT/104 was unique at Le Mans in ’64 because it was built with a lightweight chassis from thinner-gauge steel. It earned a third place at Daytona in 1965 wearing the same livery the car was sold at auction in.

It remained in the ownership of Ford until 1971 and is the second-oldest GT40 in existence.

4. 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype ($7.65m/£6.62m)

In August 2019, this Ford GT40 became one of the most expensive US-built classics ever sold.

Bidding was keen, because this is the only GT40 Roadster of five built to survive in its original form. It’s also the prototype for this version of the GT40 and was created for Shelby American as a development car.

This GT40 was not just for show and was driven in period by Ken Miles, Jim Clark and Carroll Shelby himself.

The car had been sympathetically cared for during its life and was sold in largely original condition, which helped it achieve such a high price. It had previously been sold in 2014 for $6.9m.

3. 1966 Ford GT40 MkII ($9.795m/£8.48m)

As a MkII version of the Ford GT40, this car was put together by Kar Kraft in the US and was fourth of eight such cars built.

It was then used at Le Mans in 1966, driven to third overall by Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson. It was also piloted in period by Ken Miles, Richie Ginther and AJ Foyt, giving this car an impeccable racing pedigree.

Finished in Kandy Gold, a colour the car acquired for the Sebring 12 Hours race, it later went on to succeed in concours events such as the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, while also being campaigned at historic race meetings.

It achieved this near-$10m figure when it crossed the block with RM Sotheby’s at its Monterey sale in 2018.

2. 1962 Shelby Cobra ($13.75m/£11.9m)

Cobras are always sought-after at auction in the US, but when the very first Shelby Cobra came up for sale in August 2016, there was a huge buzz around the car.

Chassis CSX 2000 lived up to the hype, because it was the car Carroll Shelby collected from Los Angeles Airport to fit with a 260cu in Ford V8.

Employed as a development car, CSX 2000 was also used as a road test car for journalists in 1962, recording 0-60mph in 4.2 secs by Car Life magazine. The car came to auction from five decades of ownership by Shelby, latterly the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust.

1. 1935 Duesenberg Model SSJ ($22m/£17.1m)

Rarity, desirability and power all combined in this Duesenberg SSJ to culminate in the highest price paid for a US-made classic car at auction, to date – and by quite some margin.

One of only two SSJ models made in short-chassis specification with the 400hp (396bhp) engine as a Special Speedster, it also helped this car came with the provenance of having been part of Briggs Cunningham’s and Miles Collier’s collections.

Regarded by many as the ultimate Duesenberg car, this SSJ more than doubled its auction estimate of $10m when it crossed the block with Gooding & Company at its 2018 Pebble Beach sale.

Its superb originality contributed to this record price, as well as being owned when new by Hollywood actor Gary Cooper.