A rare 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Dragonsnake, one of just four built, was the top seller at Worldwide Auctioneers’ sale held Saturday in Auburn, Indiana.
The purpose-built Shelby factory drag racer with the jutting fender flares reached $1.3 million, including buyer’s fee, in an auction that saw 49 cars sold out of 62 offered for a total of $4,840,000, including fees, and a 79 percent sell-through rate. The auction, held at the National Auto & Truck Museum, capped off the weeklong Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival.
The sale of the Dragonsnake, serial number CSX2472, came after what Worldwide described as a “bidding frenzy” of contenders both on the phone and in the room. The Cobra is in largely original condition with low mileage, a known history of four owners and an impressive competition record.
Classic cars from the 1920s and ’30s made up the next five highest sales, with a 1933 Lincoln KB Convertible Victoria with coachwork by Brunn – one of just three known to exist – sold for $324,500, and a 1935 Packard 1208 Convertible Sedan with styling by Dietrich that went for $253,000.
Another interesting classic result was that of a 1923 Stutz Speedway Roadster that won a class award at the 2015 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance award winner, and sold Saturday for $209,000.
“We were fortunate to have a diverse selection of very high quality cars again at this year’s auction,” Rod Egan, Worldwide partner and auctioneer, said in a news release. “The room was packed with bidders and you could feel it in the air; you kind of knew it was going to be a fun evening.”
On Friday, Worldwide hosted the second annual Next Gen Education Program, a four-hour workshop for students and at-risk youth from the Auburn area. The program uses the vintage automobiles and the auction setting as a forum to inspire students and help them pursue personal growth, the auction house said. Many of the students helped judge at the ACD Club annual meet Saturday morning at Eckhart Park alongside the ACD judges.
The Top-10 sales at the Worldwide auction were:
• 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Dragonsnake, $1.3 million
• 1933 Lincoln KB Convertible Victoria, $324,500
• 1935 Packard 1208 Convertible Sedan, $253,000
• 1930 Cadillac V16 Transformable Limousine Brougham , $220,000
• 1923 Stutz Speedway Roadster, $209,000
• 1936 Cadillac V-12 Series 85 Convertible Sedan, $198,000
• 1991 Ferrari Testarossa Spider, $148,000
• 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 Convertible, $143,000
• 1952 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A, $134,750
• 1965 Chevrolet Corvette 396/425 Roadster, $115,000
(All results include auction fees)
Worldwide’s next auction takes place October 23 and 24 in Fredericksburg, Texas, featuring the estate of Ron Brown with 101 vehicles as well as automobilia.
