Another original Shelby Cobra is about to cross the auction block at RM Sotheby’s this coming weekend and is ready to fetch more than $1M.

Everytime original Shelby Cobras cross the auction block, it’s always big news for classic car collectors as these one of a kind snakes have been appreciating in value since they were first made in 1963. According to RM Sotheby’s in an official auction listing for their upcoming Amelia Island event this coming weekend (Mar. 10, 2018) they’ve got the quintessential barn find 1963 289 Shelby Cobra ready to cross the auction block and it’s expected to fetch over $1M. Check out a couple of photos of this one of a kind American classic and just how pristine is it for yourself below.

What’s noteworthy about this particular Cobra is the way it changed hands over the years. Starting in 1963, this Cobra was painted in off-white and featured a red leather interior along with Class “A” accessories and a luggage rack for the grand total price of $5,415.50. That’s about $45,000 converted to 2018 dollars.

Destined to be used as a promotional vehicle, this 289 wasn’t meant for hard racing, which adds to its low mileage history and collectibility.

After landing in a Ford District sales office in Iowa, it was bought by a chemist from Indianapolis about six years later. It was repainted bronze, driven for a couple of thousands of miles then stored in a barn for the next 23 years.

After being discovered under a tarp in good condition in 1993, it was sold to a Cobra Collector who then resold it to another Shelby Expert who really brought it back to its former glory (including that iconic paint job.)

As an aside, with 20,000 miles on this engine and having sat for the better part of a quarter of a century, this new owner got it running within 15 mins with a new battery and fresh fuel.

About ten years after that, it was sold again to its current owner where it’s been maintained for the last 13 years.

Now, it heads to auction destined to be sold for more than a million and kept in the loving hands of another car enthusiast.

998 original Cobras were made. 343 Cobras came with the desirable 427 cubic inch Ford V8 with more than 400 HP while the rest were 289 cubic inch Cobras that, although they fetch five times less than the 427s, are auctioning off at more than a million dollars today/

The RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction kicks off on the 8th with a public preview that extends to Friday. The actual auction goes down on the 10th starting at 10:30 A.M. ET.

I’ll be keen to see how much this 289 fetches when the last call is made.

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