12 Most Expensive Mustangs Sold at Auction And Worth Every Penny

8. 1965 Shelby GT350 R: $990,000

As you may already know, Shelby started building Mustangs in 1965 as fire-breathing machines. They brought Ford some much-needed recognition and performance credentials. But, these cars were responsible for racing success. There were 34 “R” models they produced only in 1965. Ford sold them to privateers and racing teams all over America.

Those cars were not street legal and were purely for racing purposes – something that they did extremely well. The GT350 R had numerous modifications and was lighter, faster and sharper than the regular GT350.

Each example had numerous wins under its belt. In fact, every R model is an extremely valuable piece of Mustang and racing history. They rarely come up for sale but when they do, they achieve astronomical prices. That was the case in 2012 when a highly original GT350 R sold for almost $1 million. This car had only 4,900 miles on the clock, and the original transmission and engine.

All its important parts were well-known among Mustang aficionados. They raced it extensively but eventually put it into storage. This helped preserve its original condition, which affected the price.

9. Shelby GT500 Eleanor Movie Car: $1 Million

Would you pay a cool million for a Mustang? There were times when people would consider it impossible, but the most expensive cars have already exceeded that number. In May 2013, the famous car from the Gone in 60 Seconds remake sold for a million bucks, making history.

They released Gone in 60 Seconds in 2000. Despite an all-star cast, the only true star was the highly modified 1967 Shelby GT500 with the name “E” for Eleanor. Although they used several cars used for the shooting, “E” was the “hero car” for close-ups and promotional purposes. After the movie, the Eleanor soon became extremely popular.

Lots of companies produced and sold replicas with various drivetrains. Purists protested because they made several Eleanors using the real 1967 Fastback, which many considered blasphemy. Even though this car is almost 20 years old, its appeal is still strong. The lucky owner of the real Eleanor must’ve thought the same thing.

10. Shelby GT500 Super Snake: $1.3 Million

Back in 1967, Shelby was a busy man. He was producing Mustangs for Ford while managing racing teams, helping Ford win the Le Mans. Besides all that, he found the time to produce several interesting prototypes based on production Shelby Mustangs. One of those cars was the legendary Super Snake.

They produced this GT500 as a rolling laboratory to showcase the Mustang platform, as well as for testing Goodyear’s “Thunderbolt” tire line. Goodyear was proud to announce their Thunderbolt tires could run at 170 mph, so Shelby built a car capable of that speed. Using a Le Mans-winning race engine, he modified the transmission and suspension, creating the Super Snake.

The Super Snake was the ultimate 170-mph Mustang. Today, 170 mph isn’t uncommon for a top speed. However, back in late ’60s, most muscle cars struggled to reach 120 mph. The Super Snake debuted in 1967. It broke several production car records with Carroll Shelby himself behind the wheel.

The Super Snake was so successful, there were plans for production. But, when Shelby realized its price would be around $8,000, which was big money for 1967, he killed the project. Shelby knew nobody would buy such an expensive car at the time. Almost 50 years later in 2013, the one and only Super Snake sold for a record-breaking $1.3 million.

11. Shelby EXP500 Green Hornet: $1.8 Million

When talking about the most expensive Mustangs, it is important to mention the Green Hornet, even though they never sold it. Still, the car received the highest bid of $1.8 million, but that wasn’t enough to buy it. For those who don’t know, the Green Hornet is another experimental Mustang from Shelby’s heyday.

Although it wasn’t the only one, the Green Hornet had the most innovative features. It had a 390 V8 equipped with fuel injection, unique disc brakes on all four wheels, and an independent rear suspension. With this layout, the Green Hornet was a capable car that handled and stopped better than any other sports car on the market. Unfortunately, the cost of producing those features was too high. So, Ford and Shelby decided to go with more conventional technology.

Ford crushed most other prototypes like The Little Red 1967 Shelby GT500 convertible. However, the Green Hornet managed to survive in the hands of an ex-Ford employee. They restored the car. It is in perfect condition in the hands of the man who saved it from the crusher.

12. Ford Mustang GT390 Bullitt: Price Undetermined

One of the biggest Mustang legends is the Bullitt movie car. In 1968, the legendary actor Steve McQueen starred in this detective flick, playing a detective who drove a mean-looking 1968 GT390 Fastback. They used two cars during the shooting, but they destroyed one of them. They used the other for close-ups and promotional shoots. McQueen, a racing enthusiast, drove and modified it, preserving it for the future.

They later sold the surviving GT309 car. After several owners, it finally settled on the East Coast of the U.S. It is in the garage of a private owner who wants to remain anonymous and is fully aware of the importance of this car. Currently, the owner doesn’t want to sell it. But, when this car finally makes its way to the auction block, it will be the most expensive Mustang in the world with a price breaking all previous records.

If you happen to have a stash of money and want an iconic Mustang, perhaps you’ll be able to purchase one of these gems someday. It is nice to know some of the proceeds can benefit those in need, too.