These Are The Most Expensive Classic Cars In America
Nothing could be more American than a big, honkin' V8-engined muscle car. Whether you're a Ford person, a Dodge lover, or prefer Chevy over both, American muscle cars are some of the most revered cars in the world. Their longevity and unique designs make them some of the most desirable vehicles for collectors. Let's examine the most expensive classic cars ever sold in the United States.
1971 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda Convertible
In 1971, Plymouth Motors released the Hemi Barracuda. Sure, they'd released Barracudas before as one of their flagship muscle cars. But this one was different: it was powered by a 7.0L V8 engine, and it was a convertible. These convertible versions of this classic muscle car were so rare that only seven were built. They're worth about $3.5 million.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible
The 1930s were an era of evolution, a period of style and finesse in the crafting of automobiles, despite the Great Depression. Enter, the 1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible made by Murphy, a coachbuilder for Duesenberg Motors. With a fifth wheel on the side and a disappearing top, this gorgeous car was sold for $3.52 million at auction in Texas in 2015.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
1967 Ford GT40 Mk I
In 1967, Ford was gearing up for a clash at the 24 Hours at Le Mans race in France with their arch-rival, Ferrari. They'd brought on Carroll Shelby to help them design a new car that could take on the Italian giant. With his help, Ford designed the GT40 Mk I, Ford's first supercar. Also selling for $3.52 million at auction, the V8-powered car wrote automotive history when it beat Ferrari at Le Mans in 1966.
Yahya S. from Livonia, United States, Wikimedia Commons
1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible
Duesenberg is going to appear a few times on this list of expensive classics, mostly because that's what they made in the late 1920s and early 1930s: gorgeous classics that cost a fortune. The Model J Convertible was built by Walter Murphy, with the swirling flared wheel arches, a gorgeously crafted fifth wheel with an exposed engine, and a black tonneau cover to boot. It sold for $3.525 million in 2022.
1930 Duesenberg J Murphy Convertible Berline - SOLD, Hyman Ltd.
1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Town Car
Another 1930s beauty to sell for big money was the 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Town Car. The most expensive Duesenberg ever sold when it was brand new (it cost $20,000), the Model SJ Town Car was complete with a supercharger and decked out in an all-black bodywork with covered wheel arches, a closed rear cabin, and a soft top over the front seats. The Model SJ Town Car sold for $3.63 million in 2015.
1934 Packard Twelve 1108 Sport Sedan
Packard was an iconic American car manufacturer in the 1930s. The Packard Twelve 1108 Sport Sedan was one of only three ever built with Dietrich bodywork, designed and built by Dietrich Inc. It came with polished belt molding in a gorgeous glossy black color with white wheels. It sold for $3.63 million in 2015 at Pebble Beach, California.
1966 AAR Eagle Mk I Weslake
Anglo-American racing team leader and driver-turned-builder Dan Gurney is responsible for the creation of this absolute rocket. The AAR Eagle Mk I Weslake was an early entrant into Formula One, powered by a Gurney-built V12 engine. The Eagle Weslake was the first American car to win a Formula One Grand Prix, making it historic. It sold for $3.74 million in 2013 at Pebble Beach, CA.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/95472204@N03/, Wikimedia Commons
1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt
Yes, that Steve McQueen car from Bullitt (1968). Powered by a 6.4L V8, this version of the 1968 Ford Mustang was one of only a few to survive filming and was first sold to an employee of Warner Bros before changing hands to a police detective who finally put it up for auction in 2020. It sold for a whopping $3.74 million.
Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan, Wikimedia Commons
1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow
Going back 35 years from the Bullitt, we have the exquisite 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow. The Silver Arrow is a special car, designed by Pierce-Arrow out of New York. The 1933 model came with flush door handles, enclosed rear wheels, and a one-piece roof panel. It was powered by an extraordinary V12 engine that produced 160 hp. Not bad for its era. Five of these were made in 1933 and one sold in December 2015 for $3.74 million.
1934 Packard Twelve Convertible
Most Packard enthusiasts consider this particular model of the Packard Twelve to be the most beautiful car ever built. The Convertible version of the Packard Twelve was designed by Dietrich, again with the classic fifth wheel and sloping fenders, but with a lower body profile than some of their other designs. The Packard Twelve Convertible sold for $3.745 million in 2018 at Sotheby's.
ultimatecarpage.com, Wikimedia Commons
1967 Ford Mustang GT350R Prototype
Another classic Mustang on our list is this stunning 1967 Ford Mustang GT350R Prototype. This special prototype was among the first cars designed by Carroll Shelby for Ford's racing program. It was the first one to win a race: driven by Ken Miles at the Green Valley Raceway in Texas that year, one of only 34 ever built. It sold in Indianapolis for $3.85 million in 2020.
1933 Duesenberg Model J Coupe
Swinging back into the 1930s with something completely different: the stunningly elegant Duesenberg Model J Coupe. With chrome everywhere that you could see, exposed piping around the engine block, and an all-cream paint with a beige tonneau cover, this 1933 Duesenberg Model J Coupe was designed for Canadian actress Marie Dressler. One of only six long-wheelbase Model J Coupes, the car sold at auction in 2018 for $3.85 million.
Steve Ginn from Western Washington, United States, Wikimedia Commons
1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88
If you needed a car for the track in the late 1960s, the Chevrolet Corvette L88 was it. Only 20 of these classic sports cars were ever built, but they sure did pack a punch: 560 hp from a 7.0L V8 engine. One particular L88 went with a red-on-red exterior/interior paint job—that car sold for $3.85 million in 2014.
1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible
There were only three of these 1930 Model J Convertibles produced, making them one of the rarest cars in American automotive history. Producing 265 hp, the Model J Convertible was coveted when it went up for auction in August 2021, earning two awards and selling for $1 million over asking price, for a staggering $3.965 million.
1950 GM Futurliner
Did you know that GM once built a bus? Neither did we. But this is it. The 1950 Futurliner was designed by Harley Earl. Only 12 of them were built, and they toured the United States as part of the "Parade of Progress," which demonstrated new and emerging technologies all around the country. Only three Futurliners survive today, and one sold for $4 million in 2015.
binelli2011, Wikimedia Commons
1963 Shelby AC Cobra 289 Works
What makes this Shelby AC Cobra special is the "289 Works" designation—this was a racing car driven by Ford racers Ken Miles and Bob Bondurant in 1963, earning nine podium finishes with this car that year. Vibrant red with a "98" on the side, this historic AC Cobra sold for $4.13 million in 2015.
Charles from Port Chester, New York, Wikimedia Commons
1934 Packard Twelve Industrial Custom Convertible Victoria
A custom Packard Twelve was always going to sell highly at auction. The original owners of this gorgeous piece of engineering are unknown, but they had enough money to order a custom-made car that featured a V12 engine. The incredible off-gold coloration and beige tonneau cover exude opulence. This car sold for $4.13 million in 2022.
1934 Packard Twelve Coupe
The original owner of this stunning Packard Twelve Coupe was Mrs AJ Eken from New Jersey, way back in 1934. A gorgeous light green color, with handsome lines and a covered side-mounted fifth wheel, all but ensured this piece of Packard history would fetch a high price. It sold for $4.18 million in May 2015.
1966 Ford GT40 Mk I
Built in Slough, England, the 1966 Ford GT40 Mk I featured an all-American V8 engine and was the first-ever road-going version of the GT40, with air conditioning, luggage boxes, and an under-seat chassis. Released as a promotional vehicle for the infamous 1967 Mk I, the Ford GT40 sold for $4.4 million in 2016.
1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible
If we seem to be swinging between the 1960s and 1930s, that may be because they were two of the greatest eras in American automotive history. Back at it with the 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible. Only three of these were ever built, and they came with a semi-automatic retracting tonneau cover. The roof unclipped, and then it could be rolled down with a crank handle. It was built with a supercharged engine that produced 320 hp from its eight cylinders. It sold in 2013 for $4.51 million.
On the Road with the 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ, Sotheby's
1965 Batmobile
George Barris is perhaps most famous for this design: the 1965 Batmobile, bought for $1 million from Ford back in 1965,after he received a Lincoln Futura. What he designed in 15 days with just $15,000 is nothing short of remarkable. with sprawling fenders, a curved-glass cockpit, lights and sirens, Barris created the ultimate crime-fighting car for the new TV show, Batman (1965). It was owned by the Barris family unitl 2013, when it sold for $4.62 million.
1935 Duesenberg Model J Convertible
The disappearing roof on this 1935 Model J Convertible made it one of the most desirable models of that year, but it was its near-perfect condition that fetched it the big bucks at auction. Selling from one owner in 2022, it had one of the highest prices ever paid for a Duesenberg: fetching $4.68 million.
Gooding & Company: The Clark Gable 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe, GoodingandCompany
1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake
Ford transformed the original Shelby Cobra in 1966 from its promotional model to an all-speed and no-regard-for-human-life car by taking off the windshield, bumpers, and exhaust silencers while still somehow maintaining its road-legal status. The Super Snake sold at auction (with its original engine) in 2021 for $5.5 million.
FIRST LOOK - 1966 Shelby "Super Snake" 427 Cobra - BARRETT-JACKSO by Barrett-Jackson
1929 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Convertible
One of only 25 Torpedo Convertibles with that classic Duesenberg disappearing top, this 1929 Model J was designed by Dietrich. Producing 265 hp from a straight-eight, the Torpedo Convertible lived up to its name. It sold for $5.725 million in 2020.
Amelia Island 2021—1929 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Torpedo by Murphy, RM Sotheby's
1965 Shelby Cobra 427
This 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 may look ordinary, but it's anything but: it was Carroll Shelby's personal car. Maintaining the original body and chassis, Shelby carefully restored this 427 until his passing in 2012. The car was sold in Florida in 2021 for $5.94 million.
dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada, Wikimedia Commons
1964 Ford GT40 Prototype
The 1964 Ford GT40 Prototype is a rare beast. It was sent to Le Mans in 1964 to take on Ferrari, marking the first time that the Americans had entered the Le Mans race with anything that could remotely challenge the dominant Ferrari cars. Not performing well at Le Mans that year, it did earn third place at Daytona and is one of the oldest versions of the iconic car still in existence. It sold for $7 million in 2014.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype
Created for Shelby American as a development car, this roadster prototype would become the road-going version of the GT40 that put Ford on the racing map. Driven by Ken Miles, Jim Clark, and Carroll Shelby himself, this gorgeous car survived in its original condition for over 50 years, selling for $7.94 million in 2019.
1966 Ford GT40 Mk II
A $10 million car? Almost. This stunning Ford GT40 Mk II was raced at Le Mans in 1966, placing third, and was finished with a golden color palette that's nothing if not interesting. Decked out in its original racing livery, the Ford GT40 Mk II sold at auction in 2018 for $9.975 million.
Alan Raine from Cheshire, Wikimedia Commons
1962 Shelby Cobra
Chassis number CSX 2000 was the very first Shelby Cobra—the original car that Carroll Shelby picked up from the airport to fit a V8 engine into, giving birth to the Shelby Cobra line of British-made V8 engine cars. It was a development car and was first used for road tests in 1962, going from 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds. It sold for $13.75 million in 2016.
1935 Duesenberg Model SSJ
The short-chassis 1935 Duesenberg Model SSJ was one of the most highly coveted cars ever to sell at auction in the United States. Combining style, power, rarity, and desirability all into one package, the car produced 400 hp and sold for a staggering $22 million in 2018.
REVealed: 1935 Duesenberg SSJ, GoodingandCompany
The Top-Selling Muscle Cars In America
If you're a fan of muscle cars, some of these best-sellers might bring you back to the days of yesteryear, when muscle cars were all the rage and it was V8 engines as far as the eye could see. Now that we've covered American classics, let's go over some of the most expensive muscle cars ever.
1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2
GM dropped a hammer on the auto industry in 1970 by banning big engines. That only made the Oldsmobile 4-4-2 all the more desirable, sporting a 7.5L V8 engine that produced 370 hp. 1970 is the best model year for the 4-4-2 by far, and it sold at auction for $247,500.
1970 Pontiac GTO
It was in 1964 that the Pontiac GTO kicked off America's muscle car craze. But it was the "Judge" package, a 6.6L Ram Air-engined GTO, that sold highest at auction, fetching an incredible $1.1 million in 2023. It's one of only 197 built.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Powered by a 6.5L V8 (thanks to GM's ban on engines over 6.6L in size), the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro is a collector's item of the highest order. Despite being one of the most produced muscle cars in American history, this 500-hp 1969 Camaro is ultra-rare and has sold for $825,000 at auction.
FIRST LOOK - 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 - BARRETT-JACKSON, Barrett-Jackson
1970 Dodge Challenger
The 1970 Dodge Challenger was Dodge's entry to the American muscle car era extraordinaire, giving it one good year before emissions restrictions were brought in. Luckily, it exceeded all expectations, covering a quarter mile in less than 13 seconds and powered by a V8 engine. The "Black Ghost" is an infamous Challenger from that year, selling for $975,000 at auction.
1969 Ford Mustang
The 1969 Ford Mustang was a rare, revised version of the now-iconic pony car—a fastback SportsRoof design, with a 7.0L V8 engine to homologate the muscle car for NASCAR racing. Known as the Boss 429, this ultra-rare Mustang wasn't sold for long and Ford abandoned the project after producing 1,359 of these bad boys. The highest figure recorded for one was $629,000.
1970 Buick Gran Sport
Like driving a boat, the 1970 Buick Gran Sport was one of the largest, brawniest muscle cars you've ever seen. A performance version of the Buick Skylark, the 1970 Gran Sport featured a 7.5L V8 engine rated for 360 hp, selling at auction for almost $300,000, with a total price of $285,000.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6
The most powerful Chevelle SS ever built: the staggering 454 LS6, powered by an extreme 7.4L V8 that produced 450 hp. Just 4,475 of these were built and it's one of the rarest forms of the Chevelle SS—therefore, it once fetched $600,000 at auction.
Classicsworkshop, Wikimedia Commons
1969 Dodge Charger
Made famous by The Dukes of Hazzard (1979), the 1969 Dodge Charger was fitted with an ultra-rare Hemi R/T (road/track) V8 engine that performed excellently at the Daytona raceway as the aerocar—it was so fast that it got banned from NASCAR. Just 503 units of the '69 Charger were sold to the public and one sold at auction recently for a staggering $3 million.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
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