Henry Ford formed the Ford Motor Company in 1903, and the brand has been going strong to date. 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 cars have evolved with innovation while remaining largely 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 once in a while, the brand builds cars that are far from budget-friendly or available in massive 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 have curated a list of the most expensive Ford cars sold at auction.
10 1969 Shelby GT500 Convertible - $742,500
Owning a car worked on by the legendary Carroll Shelby is one of the top ten achievements by any self-respecting gearhead. But only a 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 at Scottdale to claim ownership of this 1969 Shelby GT500 Convertible owned and driven by Shelby.
It was one of only 247 units making it a rare find even in its days. Under the hood is a c.i.d 428ci Cobra Jet V8 pushing 335 hp.
9 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. Nicknamed Eleanor, the car wasn’t even an original Shelby but a fictional remake based on a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback by Cinema Vehicle Services.
It was Cage’s primary beauty car of three made, with two destroyed during filming. It became an instant Hollywood hero in 2000 and inspired similar replicas.
8 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake - $2.2m
Every serious Shelby collector must have been on high alert when the only 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake went on sale in 2019. That probably explains why one guy paid double the odds to drive away with the at the 2019 Mecum auction at Kissimmee.
It sold for $2.2 million, setting the 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 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 IndyCar championship in 1965 and 1966 by storm as a rookie on his 1965 Brawner Hawk Ford Dean Van Lines Special car.
The fully restored award-winning classic racer went to auction at the Mecum auction and sold for $2.2 million.
6 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 saw Steve McQueen, one of Hollywood’s most popular car aficionados, chase down a bad guy through the streets of San Francisco. The green muscle car in question was 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, including commissions, making it one of the most expensive unrestored Ford cars ever.
5 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 R Prototype - $3.85m
The 1965 Mustang GT350 R Prototype is a genuine piece of automotive history after marking Carroll Shelby’s enlistment to Ford. No wonder it sold for $3.85 million at a Mecum auction in 2020, rising to $4.07 million, including buyer’s commission.
Miles at Green Valley Raceway in Smithfield in 1965. It is currently the most valuable Mustang
4 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 that Ford reworked to become street-legal sports cars. In 1967, it went for $18,000, making it one of the most expensive cars in the 1960s. That translates to about $160k in 2022, but this is nothing close to what the car is worth today.
Ford built only seven examples of the third generation of the original Ferrari killers, and they have fetched as much as $ 5 million.
3 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 have continually survived in its original form sold for $7.65 million at the RM Sotheby auction in 2019.
It was built for Shelby America as a test and development car and driven by legendary drivers like Ken Miles, Carroll Shelby, and Jim Clark
2 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. It was the exact car that came third at the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, raced by Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson.
It is a rare car, and the fourth of eight Mark II copies built, a genuine Le Mans legend and a People’s Choice Award winner at the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
1 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 solid history backing its hefty value, 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 a lot of street cred among car collectors and helped the GT40 to its massive price tag.