Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 51
1962 Shelby Cobra 289 50th Anniversary Chassis no. CSX8982 Engine no. 12K3120
Sold for US$179,200 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 51
From the Estate of James Messenger
1962 Shelby Cobra 289 50th Anniversary
1962 Shelby Cobra 289 50th Anniversary
Audrain Concours Auction|29 September 2023, 16:00 EDT|Newport, Rhode Island, International Tennis Hall of Fame
1962 Shelby Cobra 289 50th Anniversary
Chassis no. CSX8982
Engine no. 12K3120
Chassis no. CSX8982
Engine no. 12K3120
363ci OHV Ford Small Block V8 (see text)
Quad Weber IDA Downdraft Carburetors
Est. 500bhp at 6,500rpm
5-Speed Tremec TKO Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
*The 33rd of 50 built celebrating 50 Years of the Cobra
*An Official Shelby product with 'CSX' chassis designation
*Finished by Shelby specialists Taormina Motorsports
*Astonishing performance from a 500 horsepower small block V8
THE SHELBY COBRA
Carroll Shelby is one of the most celebrated, controversial, and iconic characters in American motoring, and his outward persona of the laid-back Texas chicken farmer masked a shrewd racer and businessman, who, in the early 1960s was determined to build an American sports car to take on the might of the Europeans.
Using the superbly balanced British AC Ace as his basis, Shelby hunted for a suitable power plant to replace the pre-war derived AC and Bristol engines. His proposal to GM was quickly rebuffed to avoid conflict with the Corvette. Ford, however, was all-ears to the concept. The compact "Challenger" small block V8 was just launched, and the new head of passenger cars, Lee Iacocca, was eager to shake Ford's stodgy image. Shelby struck a deal and the rest, as they say, is history – except it was hardly that simple. Shelby and AC Cars did considerable development work to strengthen the John Tojiero-designed chassis to handle twice the output of the original AC six, and the car underwent a rigorous development program. When Dave MacDonald obliterated a field of Corvettes, Jaguars, and Porsches to give Cobra its first racing victory at Riverside Raceway in 1963, the Shelby Legend was born, and still shines brightly today.
THE CAR OFFERED
To honor the Golden Anniversary of the original "Slab Side" Shelby Cobra in 2011, Shelby American announced a limited run of just 50 special edition models, highlighting the beauty and purity of the original design with the latest development of the 289 chassis. Designated 'CSX8000' series, these beautiful roadsters joined the official Shelby hierarchy, with inclusion in the Shelby American World Registry, and as a testament to the Cobra's interminable popularity with collectors and enthusiasts worldwide, the entire 50 car production run was spoken for within 48 hours.
Like all the 50th Anniversary models produced, CSX 8982 wears a fiberglass body finished in Shelby Black over wine red leather upholstery. This collector-owned example is in superb condition, showing just 1,184 miles on the odometer. It was first delivered from Shelby American to marque specialist dealer Denbeste Motorsports of Windsor, California, and then shipped to fellow Shelby specialty shop Taormina Motorsports, of San Carlos, California, for finishing and driveline installation.
The early Slab-Side styling lends an almost demure appearance, but the engine is anything but. Lurking beneath the bonnet is a small-block Ford, bored and stroked to 363 cubic inches, fed by a quartet of downdraught Weber IDA carburetors for a rating of approximately 500 horsepower. Helping get all those ponies to the ground is a 5-speed Tremec TKO 600 and Eaton TrueTrac differential.
With that sort of grunt and the appeal of a strict, 50-car production run, there is no doubt this gorgeous 50th Anniversary Cobra will uphold the Shelby legend for another half-century.
Quad Weber IDA Downdraft Carburetors
Est. 500bhp at 6,500rpm
5-Speed Tremec TKO Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
*The 33rd of 50 built celebrating 50 Years of the Cobra
*An Official Shelby product with 'CSX' chassis designation
*Finished by Shelby specialists Taormina Motorsports
*Astonishing performance from a 500 horsepower small block V8
THE SHELBY COBRA
Carroll Shelby is one of the most celebrated, controversial, and iconic characters in American motoring, and his outward persona of the laid-back Texas chicken farmer masked a shrewd racer and businessman, who, in the early 1960s was determined to build an American sports car to take on the might of the Europeans.
Using the superbly balanced British AC Ace as his basis, Shelby hunted for a suitable power plant to replace the pre-war derived AC and Bristol engines. His proposal to GM was quickly rebuffed to avoid conflict with the Corvette. Ford, however, was all-ears to the concept. The compact "Challenger" small block V8 was just launched, and the new head of passenger cars, Lee Iacocca, was eager to shake Ford's stodgy image. Shelby struck a deal and the rest, as they say, is history – except it was hardly that simple. Shelby and AC Cars did considerable development work to strengthen the John Tojiero-designed chassis to handle twice the output of the original AC six, and the car underwent a rigorous development program. When Dave MacDonald obliterated a field of Corvettes, Jaguars, and Porsches to give Cobra its first racing victory at Riverside Raceway in 1963, the Shelby Legend was born, and still shines brightly today.
THE CAR OFFERED
To honor the Golden Anniversary of the original "Slab Side" Shelby Cobra in 2011, Shelby American announced a limited run of just 50 special edition models, highlighting the beauty and purity of the original design with the latest development of the 289 chassis. Designated 'CSX8000' series, these beautiful roadsters joined the official Shelby hierarchy, with inclusion in the Shelby American World Registry, and as a testament to the Cobra's interminable popularity with collectors and enthusiasts worldwide, the entire 50 car production run was spoken for within 48 hours.
Like all the 50th Anniversary models produced, CSX 8982 wears a fiberglass body finished in Shelby Black over wine red leather upholstery. This collector-owned example is in superb condition, showing just 1,184 miles on the odometer. It was first delivered from Shelby American to marque specialist dealer Denbeste Motorsports of Windsor, California, and then shipped to fellow Shelby specialty shop Taormina Motorsports, of San Carlos, California, for finishing and driveline installation.
The early Slab-Side styling lends an almost demure appearance, but the engine is anything but. Lurking beneath the bonnet is a small-block Ford, bored and stroked to 363 cubic inches, fed by a quartet of downdraught Weber IDA carburetors for a rating of approximately 500 horsepower. Helping get all those ponies to the ground is a 5-speed Tremec TKO 600 and Eaton TrueTrac differential.
With that sort of grunt and the appeal of a strict, 50-car production run, there is no doubt this gorgeous 50th Anniversary Cobra will uphold the Shelby legend for another half-century.
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