Concept Cars Home
RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey
1903-1935
1936-1950
1951-1959
1960-1970
1972-2005
1960-1970 Vehicles
1960 Mercedes-Benz 220 Series
1960 NSU Prinz III
1961 BMW Isetta 300
1962 Maserati 3500 GTi
1963 Aston Martin DB4
1963 Ford Galaxie
1963 Goggomobil TL-400
1963 Messerschmitt KR200
1964 Biscuter 100
1964 Cooper Monaco
1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso
1965 Ferrari 275 GTS
1965 ISO Daytona 6000GT Prototype
1966 Ferrari 500 Superfast
1967 Maserati Ghibli
1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2
1970 DeTomaso Mangusta GT
1970 Subaru 360
 
  • Information on the 1964 Cooper Monaco
  • More photographs of the 1964 Cooper Monaco
  • 1964 Cooper Monaco

    1964 Cooper MonacoAfter the 1963 United States Road Racing Championship ended, Carroll Shelby knew his Cobras would not be competitive against the new rear-engined sports racers. He realized the prestige and publicity that the west coast races brought, so Shelby purchased a couple of John Cooper's newest sports racers, the Cooper-Monaco, and installed his Cobra race engines. After having problems finishing races in 1963, Shelby had Richie Ginther help sort out the 1964 King Cobras (as the press called them.) Their first race, the L.A. Times Grand Prix, proved the cars were competitive finishing 1st, 4th, 5th and 7th. The 1964 Shelby team car, CM/6/64, was painted Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White stripes and was driven by Parnelli Jones at the 1964 L.A. Times Grand Prix at Riverside to a first place finish. Parnelli tried for another win at the Pacific Grand Prix at Laguna Seca in October but crashed on the first lap.

    That was the end of Shelby's foray into modified road racing. The King Cobras had served their purpose and Shelby was busy with his 427 Cobras and the Ford GT40 project. The Cooper-Monaco had become obsolete in only two years, overshadowed by monocoque chassis, and alloy engined sports racers by Chaparral, Lola and McLaren.

    In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $600,000 - $800,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $425,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.

    Also photographed at :
  • Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion >> 5A : 1960-68 Sports Racing USRRC
  • Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion >> Cars of Parnelli Jones