This Unique 1966 AC Cobra May Get $2.7 Million USD at Auction

The forensic analysis verified the car's identify, concluding a protracted mystery.

Bonhams Cars

An iconic artifact of American racing history is poised to be auctioned. A rare 1966 AC Cobra 4.7-Liter Two-Seat Competition Hardtop Coupé is anticipated to fetch up to $2.7 million USD at Bonhams’ forthcoming Goodwood Revival: Collectors’ Motor Cars and Automobilia auction on September 13, 2025.

Bonhams Cars

This is not merely a historic automobile; it is a certified competition hardtop coupé, one of only two dispatched to compete in the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans. The auction house's item description states that chassis No. CS 2131 is one of the first five right-hand drive AC Cobra chassis constructed prior to November 1963. Its identification was obscured by time until a recent forensic magneto-photographic examination, undertaken in September 2024 by Neil Bainbridge of BS Motorsport, definitively verified the chassis number.

Bonhams Cars

At Le Mans, the vehicle, operated by Ninian Sanderson and Peter Bolton of the AC Cars factory team, was a formidable competitor. Equipped with an aluminum hardtop roof to enhance aerodynamics, it reached 160 mph on the Mulsanne Straight and covered an impressive 2,592 miles at an average speed of 108 mph, finally securing seventh place.

Bonhams Cars

The renowned Cobra, regarded as one of the most authentic surviving AC/Shelby American Cobras, is showcased in the traditional livery of the Bell & Colvill team, including a robust 440 horsepower, 4.7-liter V-8 engine. The transition from racing legend to a lost piece of provenance, and now a completely authenticated historical item, renders its auction a unique opportunity to acquire a tangible representation of motorsport history.