Mecum’s auction in Monterey, California, is renowned for featuring vintage European exotics, making it less common to see classic American muscle cars like the 1969 Dodge Daytona. The affluent crowd around the Bay Area, largely influenced by the tech industry, significantly differs from the traditional industrial wealth found in the Midwest, evident in the types of cars and their auction prices in each region. For instance, a F8 Green 1969 Dodge Daytona Hemi four-speed, which sold at Indy Mecum in May 2022 for $1.3 million, previously held the record for the highest price paid for a Hemi Daytona. Remarkably, this same vehicle fetched a staggering $3.3 million this past weekend at Mecum’s Monterey auction, more than doubling its previous Indy sale price—a new benchmark for Hemi Daytonas. (For further information about this Daytona, check out our original MotorTrend story.)

On Saturday, August 17, the most fully equipped 1969 Hemi Daytona four-speed ever documented was showcased again. Its F8 green finish dazzled under the lights as the Bay Area’s wealthiest bidders contended for ownership. Lot S99 ultimately concluded a thrilling bidding contest, reaching an astonishing $3,360,000 (total price including fees). You might assume this is the highest price ever for a muscle car, or even a Mopar, but that’s not the case.

The record for the highest sale price of a Mopar belongs to a 1971 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda four-speed, which was auctioned by Mecum in Seattle in June 2014 for $3,850,000 (complete price including fees). Looking at muscle cars more broadly, Shelby’s original 1962 CSX2000 Cobra prototype, sold for $13.5 million (also at Monterey), could be seen as the priciest muscle car, although Shelby Cobras aren’t always classified strictly as muscle cars. Closer examples include the 1967 Corvette L88 coupe, which changed hands for $3.85 million at Barrett-Jackson in 2014. Regardless, it’s clear this Dodge Daytona ranks among the top in terms of value, with no dispute about it being a genuine muscle car.

Undoubtedly, Mopar Hemi cars are among the most coveted collector vehicles globally, but you might wonder what makes this particular model so exceptional. There were only 503 units of the 1969 Dodge Daytona produced, as Dodge manufactured just enough to meet NASCAR’s requirement of 500 cars for homologation. Interestingly, these cars were not hugely popular in their time, often remaining unsold at dealerships to the frustration of sales managers. Out of the 503 produced, only 70 featured the renowned Hemi V-8 engine, with a mere 22 equipped with the sought-after four-speed manual transmission. Of those, this F8 Green variant stands out as the most fully equipped Hemi Daytona ever made, solidifying its position as the most valuable of its kind.

While it might seem inappropriate to look at auction prices for the same model over time from the same auction house, it does highlight the significant wealth disparity in the Bay Area. When examining the overall value of all 1969 Dodge Daytona Hemi vehicles at Hagerty, we found a roughly 25% increase in value from April 2022 to today. In contrast, the value of this particular 1969 Dodge Daytona Hemi has surged by 158% during the same timeframe. This example demonstrates how those with the rarest cars can benefit by purchasing them in a smaller market (like Indy) and then selling them in a more affluent area (like Monterey). If the timing is right, substantial profits can be made. In this case, the seller realized nearly a $2 million gain over a 26-month period, after accounting for fees, storage, maintenance, and transportation costs. Let’s celebrate the seller’s success and extend gratitude to the fortunate new owner — both are certainly pleased this week!

Images courtesy of Mecum Auctions and Violet Cruz