427 Roadster From Carroll Shelby’s Personal Collection Hits Mecum, Brings Outrageous Money (It Was Just 1 of 5!)

What price can we really put on history?

While a lot of folks would probably argue that it’s impossible to put a price on history, it seems like Mecum Auto Auctions is able to do just that time and time again. At the end of the day, one of the awesome things about the market is that the highest bidder determines the value. Therefore, when a piece of iconic automotive memorabilia goes up for auction, he or she who deems it’s worth the most can bring it home.

This time, stepping up to the plate, we check in with a machine that would make an awesome addition to just about anybody’s collection. Seriously, if you care anything about automotive performance, it’s hard not to have a high level of respect for Carroll Shelby. We would spell out exactly why that is but chances are you’ve heard the story about a dozen times at least by now.

On the block recently at Mecum Kissimmee 2021, bidders would have the opportunity to take home a member of Shelby’s own personal collection. The car in question was a 1965 427 Cobra. The car is one of just five ever produced in charcoal gray. Over the years, the car had received its fair share of alterations from Shelby including a color change. However, with a thorough restoration, the machine has been restored all the way back to the 1965 specifications and condition.

We aren’t exactly sure if a restoration makes sense in this case or not. We would be inclined to think that a buyer would be more interested in having the car exactly as it was when Shelby modified it. However, I guess that somebody who knows better than us decided to pull the trigger on that restoration and it’s hard to argue with the results. When all was said and done and the machine hit the auction block, it would end up bringing $5.94 million.