The Most Expensive Vintage Cars of the ’60s

The ’60s are considered a golden era for classic cars as some of the greatest and most sought-after models have come from the decade. Below, we’ll look at four of the most expensive vintage cars of the ’60s, from rare Ferraris to championship-winning Shelbys.

1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe

Many of the vehicles on this list are prototype racing cars, including the first entrant, the 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe. Only six of these Shelby coupes were ever built, all meant for endurance racing.

The 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe was a smashing success on the track. It won its class at the 12 Hours of Sebring two years in a row, the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the 1965 24 Hours of Daytona. Plus, it often got the better of its chief rival, Ferrari. The last 1965 Daytona Cobra Coupe sold at auction in 2009 for a whopping $7.6 million.

1962 Shelby 260 Cobra

While the 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra is certainly a beautiful and well-made car, it became one of the most expensive vintage cars of the ’60s because of its historical value. The model that sold for $13.75 million in 2016 was the personal car of Carroll Shelby himself, which he drove until his death.

The name Shelby is synonymous with world-championship-quality racing cars and extraordinary roadsters, so collectors were eager to capture this historically unique model. Most Cobra roadsters from this era sell for roughly $200,000, but the personal connection to Shelby gave this 1962 260 Cobra one-of-a-kind value.

1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

While another Aston Martin from the ’60s sold for more at auction, that was a racing prototype and not a car that’d be considered available to the public. However, the 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato was a little more available, just barely, with 20 models made in total.

The Zagato was lightning fast for its time, with a top speed of over 150 mph and its timelessly sleek British design. The rarity, incredible performance, and gorgeous design made the Zagato a sought-after car, so it fetched $21 million at auction in 2018.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO

If we wanted to, we could populate this list entirely with Ferraris as most of the incredibly costly vehicles from this era come out of Maranello, Italy. But for the sake of variety, we put in a few other models and saved the best for last. If there’s one thing we know about Ferraris, they’re expensive, but the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO tops them all as the most expensive Ferrari ever sold.

Even in 1962, this Ferrari was expensive, with a price tag of $18,500, or roughly $185,000 in today’s money. Each buyer even had to be personally approved by Enzo Ferrari himself! Over 50 years later, one of these prized models finally came up at auction, breaking the record with a winning bid of $48 million!

Conclusion

While we may not have these astonishingly expensive cars in our showroom, Ideal Classic Cars has an extensive selection of custom vintage cars for sale! Browse our inventory online or visit our Venice, Florida, showroom today!