Bring a Trailer to Auction 1987 Shelby Lancer
A 1987 Shelby Lancer with 1,500 miles is up for auction on Bring a Trailer, ending November 3, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Car Culture
Bring a Trailer is auctioning a 1987 Shelby Lancer with 1,500 miles on the odometer, with the auction ending on November 3, 2026. The car was built at Shelby's California operations, the only year California-built Shelby Lancers were produced.
Why it matters
The car is one of roughly 800 first-year Shelby Lancers, a limited production run that makes low-mileage examples rare. Its auction offers collectors a chance to acquire a preserved example of a specific model year tied to Shelby's California production.
The 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 175 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The car is listed with 1,500 miles and is numbered 590 of roughly 800 first-year examples.
The players
Bring a Trailer
Bring a Trailer is an online auction platform specializing in enthusiast and collectible vehicles.
Shelby
Shelby is the performance automotive company founded by Carroll Shelby that built the Lancer and Mustang variants.
The details
The car has air conditioning, power windows and door locks, leather seats, and a factory CD player. The current owner's father traded in a 1960s Shelby Mustang to acquire the Lancer.
Timeline
1987: Shelby Lancer built at Shelby's California operations, the only year for California-built examples.
1960s: The owner's father traded in a Shelby Mustang for the Lancer.
November 3, 2026: Bring a Trailer auction ends.
Roadmap
The 1987 Shelby Lancer marks the only year California-built examples were produced, a short-lived chapter in Shelby's Lancer lineage. Later Lancer Shelby models were built in Michigan, making this California run a distinct branch of the model's history.
Collectors seeking a low-mileage Shelby Lancer may find this auction a rare opportunity to bid on a first-year California-built example. Buyers should weigh the car's limited production and preserved condition against typical collector vehicle pricing.
The takeaway
Low-mileage, documented first-year examples of limited-production cars like the Shelby Lancer tend to attract collector attention. Buyers considering similar listings should verify provenance and production numbers before bidding.
What happens next
The Bring a Trailer auction ends on November 3, 2026, when the final bid and sale outcome will be determined.
Further reading
Explore more stories in Car Culture for context on collector vehicles like this Shelby Lancer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Car and Driver.
