Friday 1st July 2016

First Shelby Cobra goes to auction

'CSX 2000' is RM's star lot at next month's Monterey sale - best have deep pockets!

---

For American car nerds, 'CSX 2000' is the Holy Grail. For general car nerds, it's certainly one to be aware of. Because CSX 2000 is the first Shelby Cobra, the car owned by Carroll Shelby his entire life and the car that created an automotive legend.

Because everyone knows the Cobra, right? It sits in the annals of automotive history alongside the Mini, the Beetle and the Miura as one of the four-wheeled icons that even non-car people recognise. To have the original car offered for sale is rather a big deal, then.

The car was built in 1962, when Shelby famously equipped an AC Ace with a new 260 cubic-inch (4,260cc) Ford V8. CSX 2000 was then Shelby's original press and marketing car, repainted on several occasions to give the impression for many months that production was in full flow. When it was finally let loose on American media, Road & Track returned with some absurd figures: 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, the quarter-mile in 13.8 seconds (at 112mph) and a top speed of 153mph. The Cobra legend was born!

Under Shelby's ownership until his passing, CSX 2000 was used as a promotional car, as a training tool and as a motor show attraction. It is without doubt the most significant Cobra around. A long-standing agreement between the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust and RM means the car will now be sold to a dedicated (and very wealthy) Cobra collector at the Monterey sale, taking place from August 19-20.

The car is in fact so important that it goes to auction without an estimate published. It has to be several million, surely? It goes to show the calibre of this auction that cars like a BMW M1, Ferrari Daytona and a Maserati Quattroporte 'Prototipo' haven't even made the featured lots. See the auction catalogue here, and best of luck if you're fortunate enough to be bidding on anything!

[JohnGoodridge]

Several million? Given that a Daytona Coupe went for $7.25m and the GT40 record is $11 (all some years ago) I think this *could* be in with a chance of a record. Yes, it lacks competition history, but it's historic significance is unparalleled.

[100SRV]

What a pretty little car, I love Cobras - wish I could afford one.

[Lowtimer]

Yes, so much nice looking than the later ones. A lovely thing.

[emicen]

Saw the car in the flesh a couple of years ago, its really quite a piece of history. Would think 8 figure price tag is likely.

[PetrolAholic]

I love the raw, unrestored look. The interior looking a little shabby. It really gives the impression that it was used by mr Shelby, I hope it doesn't get restored and just stays as it is!

[aeropilot]

Deserves to be been placed on permanent loan/donated in a national museum collection rather than being sold.....

I think it will sell for LOTS....hopefully not to be restored, and will be kept with all that historic patina intact.

[Krikkit]

That looks absolutely magnificent, the last thing that car needs (or will probably get) is a restoration.

Leave it as Carroll did.

[AMGJocky]

What an utterly sensational looking thing.

[Chris Stott]

Incredibly pretty.

[RJO]

Great to see it hasn't been bastardised by fitting seatbelts. I hate it when I see a great classic spoiled that way.

[LotusOmega375D]

I hate the roll hoop more.

What's the image of the red 427 for? Is that another listing?

[R66STU]

RJO said:

Great to see it hasn't been bastardised by fitting seatbelts. I hate it when I see a great classic spoiled that way.

Whilst i really appreciate an original classic, I also appreciate safety, and the value of life. Like a lot of other people.. A period(ISH) set of harnesses / belts is not an issue in my opp, if you are going to be actually driving the car hard.

A family member once had a beltless classic car, it was not the initial crash that did the damage, it was being thrown from the vehicle..

[thegreenhell]

POTW please!

[Galsia]

That interior looks a right mess but it bet it is so comfortable.

[Fury1630]

Why's it in "American cars"? That's a British car which an American put an American engine in & then bought the rights surely?

So it's a British car.

[LotusOmega375D]

I guess the CSX chassis numbers are American (Shelby) and the COB chassis numbers are British (AC).

[ikarl]

$42m

(my guess)

[aeropilot]

LotusOmega375D said:

I guess the CSX chassis numbers are American (Shelby) and the COB chassis numbers are British (AC).

As a huge Cobra fan since seeing (or rather hearing it first!) one barrelling down the A309 just up the road from the AC factory, when I was a small kid.

And I've always thought of them as American (regardless of the chassis numbers)

[Monty Python]

First thing that struck me was how narrow the tyres were - I bet that would be a handful in the dry (and forget about driving it on damp roads).

If I had the money and space a Cobra (replica) would take pride of place in it.

[chris_speed]

So is this likely the car that Mr Shelby put a $50 bill on the scuttle, floored it and told the passenger 'if you can reach it, you can have it'?