The most expensive muscle car sold at auction is, on the headline numbers, Steve McQueen’s 1968 Ford Mustang GT from the film Bullitt, which brought $3.74 million with fees at Mecum Kissimmee on 10 January 2020, just ahead of a 1971 Hemi ‘Cuda convertible that hammered at $3.5 million in 2014 (as of October 2026). The newest big result is a second Hemi ‘Cuda convertible, sold at Mecum Kissimmee in January 2026 for $3.3 million with fees.
This list ranks seven muscle cars by price paid at auction, with fees noted where known. It is hard to compare a hammer price with a total that includes fees, so read the basis column. Our old list put a $4 million Hemi Barracuda on top and a $2.2 million Green Hornet prototype second. We found no auction result for either, and the $2.2 million figure belongs to a different car, the Super Snake.
| Rank | Car | Price (USD) | Sale date | Sold at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1968 Ford Mustang GT “Bullitt” | $3.74 million (with fees) | 10 Jan 2020 | Mecum, Kissimmee |
| 2 | Hemi ‘Cuda convertible, 4-speed (1971) | $3.5 million (hammer) | 13-14 Jun 2014 | Mecum, Seattle |
| 3 | Hemi ‘Cuda convertible, automatic (1971) | $3.3 million (with 10% fee) | Jan 2026 | Mecum, Kissimmee |
| 4 | 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake | $2.2 million | Jan 2019 | Mecum, Kissimmee |
| 5 | 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird | $1.65 million (high bid) | 2022 | Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas |
| 6 | 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona (426, 4-speed) | $1.32 million | May 2022 | Mecum, Indianapolis |
| 7 | 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 | $1,094,500 | Year not confirmed | Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale |
1. 1968 Ford Mustang GT “Bullitt”: $3.74 million
The fastback driven by Steve McQueen in the 1968 film sold at Mecum Kissimmee on 10 January 2020. The hammer price was $3.4 million, and buyer’s fees took the total to $3.74 million. At the time it was the most money ever paid for a Mustang at public auction, beating the old record of $2.2 million. The buyer was not publicly identified.
How we valued it: total including buyer’s fees as reported on the sale day.
2. Hemi ‘Cuda convertible, 4-speed (1971): $3.5 million
Mecum’s first Seattle auction, on 13 and 14 June 2014, produced a record for any golden-age muscle car after an eight-minute bidding war. It is a numbers-matching 1971 Hemi ‘Cuda convertible with a four-speed manual, one of only four built that way for the US. Only seven Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles were built for 1971, which is why they top every list.
How we valued it: hammer price of $3.5 million as reported; the buyer’s fee was not stated, so the total paid was higher.
3. Hemi ‘Cuda convertible, automatic (1971): $3.3 million
The first Hemi ‘Cuda convertible of the 1971 model year, finished on 9 September 1970, sold at Mecum Kissimmee in January 2026. It is white with a 426 Hemi and a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic, and shows about 31,000 miles, 99 of them since a 2016 auction. The car was expected to bring at least $2.75 million.
How we valued it: $3.3 million including Mecum’s 10 percent buyer’s premium, as reported in January 2026.
4. 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake: $2.2 million
A one-off prototype built by Carroll Shelby as a Goodyear tire test car, with a 427 racing V8 from the Ford GT40. It averaged 142 mph for 500 miles on the tires, and could reach 170 mph. It was first sold for about $5,000. Mecum sold it in Kissimmee in January 2019 for $2.2 million, up from $1.3 million at Mecum in 2013.
How we valued it: reported sale price at Mecum Kissimmee; the buyer’s fee was not stated.
5. 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird: $1.65 million
Barrett-Jackson called a Hemi Superbird a world record when it reached a high bid of $1.65 million in Las Vegas in 2022. One report says the same car later hammered for only $418,000 at Mecum, so the record is a single night’s price.
How we valued it: high bid reported at the Barrett-Jackson sale; we did not confirm fees or the final total.
6. 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona: $1.32 million
A four-speed, 426-powered Daytona sold at Mecum Indianapolis in May 2022.
How we valued it: reported price from a motoring report; fees not stated.
7. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: $1,094,500
Only 69 ZL1s were built for 1969, with an all-aluminum 427 rated at 430 horsepower. Barrett-Jackson sold one in Scottsdale for $1,094,500, reported as the most expensive ZL1 at auction. We could not confirm the sale year in a source we opened. A different ZL1 at RM Sotheby’s Fort Lauderdale in 2016 sold for $404,250, which shows the spread between cars.
How we valued it: reported price at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale; the year and fee treatment are unconfirmed.
Records set in 2025 and 2026
The January 2026 Mecum Kissimmee sale produced the second-highest Hemi ‘Cuda convertible price on record at $3.3 million with fees. We found no muscle car that topped $3.74 million in 2025 or 2026.
Cars that did not sell
The 1968 Shelby EXP500 “Green Hornet” prototype, a one-off, drew a bid of $1.8 million at Barrett-Jackson in 2013 and did not meet its reserve. A Hemi Superbird failed to sell on a $400,000 bid in July 2025. These are not sales and are not ranked.
What drives these prices
- Production numbers. Seven Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles in 1971, one Super Snake.
- Film fame. The Bullitt Mustang is the top result on an ordinary Mustang’s body.
- Originality. Matching numbers and documented history add millions.
- The high bid trap. A reported high bid can be far above the next sale of the same car.
The habits that let people afford this
Short audio lessons on money, mindset and discipline, in the Alux app.
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What is the most expensive muscle car ever sold at auction?
On total price with fees, the Bullitt Mustang at $3.74 million in January 2020. A 1971 Hemi ‘Cuda convertible hammered at $3.5 million in 2014.
How much is a Hemi ‘Cuda convertible worth?
Two sold for $3.3 million to $3.5 million at Mecum, in 2014 and January 2026. Few were built.
What is the most expensive Mustang ever sold?
The Bullitt Mustang, at $3.74 million with fees in 2020. The Shelby Super Snake sold for $2.2 million in 2019.
What is the most expensive Camaro?
We found a 1969 ZL1 sold for $1,094,500 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. We could not confirm the sale year.
What was the biggest muscle car sale in 2026?
The Hemi ‘Cuda convertible at Mecum Kissimmee, $3.3 million with fees.
What is the difference between a hammer price and a total?
The hammer price is the winning bid. The total adds the auction house’s buyer’s fee, which Mecum puts at 10 percent in the 2026 report.
How we put this list together
We ranked muscle cars by verified auction prices, noting hammer versus total where the sources say. Results are compiled in an internal valuation model. Prices are approximate and change over time.
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Last updated: October 2026.
