American V8 powered classics held their own among European exotics at the 2026 Mecum Kissimmee auction, where nearly 100 vehicles sold for more than $1 million. While Ferraris accounted for much of the top-end activity, roughly 10 percent of the seven-figure results came from landmark American performance cars, underscoring continued demand for rare muscle-era machinery.
The headline American sale was a 1969 prototype Yenko Camaro, which brought $1,815,000. Finished in Olympic Gold, the car was the pilot test vehicle that launched Yenko Chevrolet’s dealer-modified Camaro program. During the muscle car era, Yenko and similar dealerships filled a performance gap left by factory restrictions, and this prototype marked the beginning of one of the most celebrated Camaro lineages. Its historical importance and documented past helped push it into the upper tier of the auction.
Another major result came from a 1971 Hemi Cuda convertible, one of just five automatics produced and among only 12 convertibles built during the model’s final year. Powered by the 426-cubic-inch Hemi V-8 and paired with an automatic transmission, the meticulously restored example exceeded its previous sale price, reflecting the premium placed on ultra-low-production Mopar models.
Shelby Cobras were also prominent. One was a narrow-hip 427 Cobra, one of only 32 produced, valued for retaining the elegant proportions of earlier Cobras while introducing big-block power. A second standout was a 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra Dragonsnake, notable as the only factory example equipped with a Stage III quadruple-Weber carburetion system. Built for drag racing, the fully restored car carried a detailed early ownership history and commanded a significant price.
Among race-bred icons, a Ford GT40 MkII ranked among the auction’s top three sellers. Chassis XGT-3 is one of only nine surviving MkII examples and one of three built with a factory lightweight chassis, making it one of the most original examples from Ford’s Le Mans–winning era.
Another 1969 Camaro also reached seven figures: a Baldwin Motion LS7 example ordered with understated exterior details and powered by the legendary LS7 engine, backed by an M22 four-speed and steep rear gearing. Only three Corvettes crossed the million-dollar mark, led by a 1967 L88 coupe, one of just 20 built, featuring a competition-focused 427 V-8.
Together, these results highlighted the continued strength of historically significant American muscle cars on the global auction stage.
https://www.hotrod.com/events/1969-prototype-yenko-camaro-sells-for-1815000-and-other-top-sales-at-2026-mecum-kissimmee