At the recent Auctions America by RM ‘Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale’ auction, the top seller was a barn-find 1963 Shelby Cobra (chassis no. CSX 2080), that sold for an impressive $467,500. This sale, apart from being an interesting look at original Cobra values, represents a unique opportunity to make a direct comparison between the rise in a collector car’s value and that of a traded commodity – gold. 

The matching-numbers CSX 2080 was just the fifth 289 Cobra ever built by Carroll Shelby. It was purchased by its second private owner in 1981...for $30,000 worth of gold coins. At that time gold was selling for roughly $460 per ounce. The car was driven only once by its new owner and then parked for the next thirty years. When it crossed the block in Fort Lauderdale, it was in very original, unrestored condition. 

Since 1981 gold values have fluctuated, but have steadily been on the rise over the last decade and reached an all-time high on March 2, 2011, closing at $1,437.20 per ounce. Based on the current gold market, that original investment of gold coins has more than tripled in value and would be worth approximately $93,730 today. The $467,500 selling price of CSX 2080, on the other hand, represents an increase of about 15 times that original purchase price of $30,000. That means the Cobra's earning power outperformed the gold market five times over. 

That prompted Auctions America President Donnie Gould to point out, “Recently the media has explored the value of collector cars as more than just items to drive and enjoy as a hobby. There is strong potential for beautiful and rare automobiles as tangible assets to offer good returns on a collector’s investment.” This 1963 Shelby Cobra proves that point. 

With the value of original Cobras rising exponentially over the years, it is no wonder that the Cobra is the most replicated vehicle in the world. Not all reproductions are the same, however, and Superformance has long stood above the crowd, officially recognized by Carroll Shelby as the only licensed reproduction in the world. Over 3,000 Superformance models have been sold, each and every one a fully licensed product that brings with it added value thanks in part to its officially recognized status. Superformance owners enjoy nearly the same level of resale confidence as owners of the originals, with some owners receiving more than their original investment when they part with their Cobras. Most owners are at least able to recoup their initial investment even though they have been able to enjoy the pleasures of owning and driving such a legendary vehicle for many years. 

Investing in fun and still making money (or at least breaking even) has been what many owners have experienced, and so can you. For more information about the Superformance lineup of iconic '60s race and road car reproductions, call 1-800-297-6253 today.