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Tom Payne placed an order for a red Shelby Cobra that was approved on June 18th of 1964 by Jacques Passino, vice president of Ford Motor Company Special Vehicle Division. That June, Shelby American Inc. (SAI) began to build CSX2430 into a factory-specification competition car. The modifications mirrored those of the team cars and included a hood scoop, a chrome roll bar, 6.5-inch Halibrand front wheels, 8.5-inch Halibrand rear wheels, flared fenders, modified wheel wells, Koni shock absorbers, front and rear sway bars, front and rear competition brakes with coil-air scoops, quick jack points, side pipes, dual long range fuel tanks, 3.5-inch Monza snap-open fuel cap, a racing seat, a Sun tachometer, a fuel pressure gauge (in place of a clock), a differential cooler and engine oil cooler, an electric Stewart Warner fuel pump, a cross-mounted aluminum Harrison header tank, and a full race-spec 289 with Webers, 12:1 compression, and a 9-quart oil pan.
On July 30th of 1964, the car was flown to Detroit for delivery. The Competition Roadster was billed to the Ford Motor Company for $9,250 plus delivery. It remained the property of Ford and was subsequently run as an SAI factory-sponsored car. Upon delivery to Payne, the new Cobra was put to immediate use and saw its first outing just two days later. Sadly, the car failed to finish that weekend at the Lynndale Farms SCCA Divisional.
The following weekend, the car took 3rd in the manufacturers' class at Meadowdale. This result was repeated at the USRRC event at Mid-Ohio on August 30th. Nearly a month later, Payne raced it at the Greenwood SCCA Divisional, taking home 1st in A Production.
During the 1964 Speed Week in the Bahamas, Payne raced the car as part of the SAI team. Payne finished 5th overall and 2nd in GT in the Tourist Trophy Race. He finished 9th overall in the Governor's Trophy Race; and finally, in the Trophy race, he finished 25th overall and 1st in their respective GT grouping.
The first race for the car during the 1965 season was at Mont Tremblant where Payne won 1st in GT. The following month, SAI team drivers Dan Gerber and Tom Yeager ran the Cobra at the USRRC Road America 500 earning 33rd overall and 5th in GT. At the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport, Payne finished 11th overall. At Mont Tremblant, he finished 7th overall. From there, it raced at Nassau, where Bob Grossman drove the Cobra to 5th overall and 1st in GT in that year's Trophy race.
In 1966, Ford sold the Competition Cobra to John 'Scotty' Addison who raced the car that season in SCCA competition before selling it. For the 1967 season, Dan Schlames was the new owner and had it painted yellow. It was also fitted with a full-width roll-bar in red to match the now red side pipes. The car was raced in several local Michigan SCCA events. It would remain in Mr. Schlames care for over a decade before it was offered for sale. Around 1980 it was purchased by Ken Eber of Armonk, New York. It remained in Mr. Eber's care for two years before it was sold to Rick Nagel of Dallas for the sum of $70,000. Mr. Nagel returned the car to its original red appearance and raced the car with some success. In 1984, at the Texas vintage Challenge, he drove the car to an overall victory. Later that year, Carroll Shelby was given the Competition Roadster to drive at the Texas Can-Am Challenge, potentially marking the last time Shelby drove a race car in competition. It set a lap record at the vintage races in Kansas City and achieved three more wins at regional SCCA races in 1984 and 1985.
In 1985, Steven Volk purchased the car. Volk commissioned Bill Murray of Longmount, Colorado, to restore the Tom Payne Cobra. During the work, the car was finished with the intent that it could be vintage raced if desired. It was given a five-point harness, a more modern fuel delivery system, a fuel cell, an updated exhaust system, and adjustable A-arms. Upon completion of the work, the car was put on display at the Shelby American Collection where it stayed until 2010 when it was acquired by the current owner. Since that time it has seen limited use and has been properly maintained.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013
On July 30th of 1964, the car was flown to Detroit for delivery. The Competition Roadster was billed to the Ford Motor Company for $9,250 plus delivery. It remained the property of Ford and was subsequently run as an SAI factory-sponsored car. Upon delivery to Payne, the new Cobra was put to immediate use and saw its first outing just two days later. Sadly, the car failed to finish that weekend at the Lynndale Farms SCCA Divisional.
The following weekend, the car took 3rd in the manufacturers' class at Meadowdale. This result was repeated at the USRRC event at Mid-Ohio on August 30th. Nearly a month later, Payne raced it at the Greenwood SCCA Divisional, taking home 1st in A Production.
During the 1964 Speed Week in the Bahamas, Payne raced the car as part of the SAI team. Payne finished 5th overall and 2nd in GT in the Tourist Trophy Race. He finished 9th overall in the Governor's Trophy Race; and finally, in the Trophy race, he finished 25th overall and 1st in their respective GT grouping.
The first race for the car during the 1965 season was at Mont Tremblant where Payne won 1st in GT. The following month, SAI team drivers Dan Gerber and Tom Yeager ran the Cobra at the USRRC Road America 500 earning 33rd overall and 5th in GT. At the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport, Payne finished 11th overall. At Mont Tremblant, he finished 7th overall. From there, it raced at Nassau, where Bob Grossman drove the Cobra to 5th overall and 1st in GT in that year's Trophy race.
In 1966, Ford sold the Competition Cobra to John 'Scotty' Addison who raced the car that season in SCCA competition before selling it. For the 1967 season, Dan Schlames was the new owner and had it painted yellow. It was also fitted with a full-width roll-bar in red to match the now red side pipes. The car was raced in several local Michigan SCCA events. It would remain in Mr. Schlames care for over a decade before it was offered for sale. Around 1980 it was purchased by Ken Eber of Armonk, New York. It remained in Mr. Eber's care for two years before it was sold to Rick Nagel of Dallas for the sum of $70,000. Mr. Nagel returned the car to its original red appearance and raced the car with some success. In 1984, at the Texas vintage Challenge, he drove the car to an overall victory. Later that year, Carroll Shelby was given the Competition Roadster to drive at the Texas Can-Am Challenge, potentially marking the last time Shelby drove a race car in competition. It set a lap record at the vintage races in Kansas City and achieved three more wins at regional SCCA races in 1984 and 1985.
In 1985, Steven Volk purchased the car. Volk commissioned Bill Murray of Longmount, Colorado, to restore the Tom Payne Cobra. During the work, the car was finished with the intent that it could be vintage raced if desired. It was given a five-point harness, a more modern fuel delivery system, a fuel cell, an updated exhaust system, and adjustable A-arms. Upon completion of the work, the car was put on display at the Shelby American Collection where it stayed until 2010 when it was acquired by the current owner. Since that time it has seen limited use and has been properly maintained.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013
2018 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival
Sale Price :
USD $1,774,290 (£ 1,359,000.00)
2014 RM Auctions - London
Sale Price :
USD $1,952,160 (£ 1,176,000.00)
2013 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $2,000,000-USD $2,500,000
Sale Price :
USD $1,485,000
2009 Mecum - Original Spring Classic Auction - 22nd Year
High Bid (Lot was not sold)
USD $1,300,000
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Shelby Cobra 289
(Data based on Model Year 1964 sales)
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX 2208 Sold for USD$1,655,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX 2171 Sold for USD$995,000 2022 Broad Arrow Auctions : The Passion for the Drive | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX 2247 Sold for USD$1,132,500 2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1964 AC Cobra 289 Chassis#: C0X 6014 Sold for USD$995,000 2021 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX2234 Sold for USD$1,160,000 2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX 2328 Sold for USD$995,000 2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster Sold for USD$935,000 2021 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster Chassis#: CSX2416 Sold for USD$1,760,000 2019 Mecum : Indianpolis | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX2210 Sold for USD$714,500 2019 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX2246 Sold for USD$1,050,000 2019 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale Arizona | |
1964 Shelby Cobra 289ci Competition Roadster Chassis#: CSX 2430 Sold for USD$1,774,290 2018 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX2271 Sold for USD$1,045,000 2018 Gooding & Co. : Amelia Island | |
1964 Shelby 289 'Lindauer Cobra' Chassis#: CSX 2344 Sold for USD$1,100,000 2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Chassis#: CSX2328 Sold for USD$1,089,000 2017 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX2411 Sold for USD$1,100,000 2017 Gooding & Co. : Scottsdale, AZ | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra 'CSX 2326' Chassis#: CSX 2326 Sold for USD$968,000 2016 RM Sotheby's : Monterey | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX 2433 Sold for USD$1,320,000 2016 Gooding & Company : The Amelia Island Auction | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX 2561 Sold for USD$1,072,500 2016 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX2208 Sold for USD$902,000 2015 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#: CSX2390 Sold for USD$1,155,000 2015 Gooding & Company - Arizona |
Shelby Cobra 289s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1964 Shelby Cobra 289's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra | CSX 2274 | 2024 RM Sothebys : ModaMiami | $1,100,000 | $1,300,000 | |
1964 SHELBY 289 COBRA | CSX 2289 | 2024 Gooding : Amelia Island Concours | $1,200,000 | $1,400,000 | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra | CSX 2234 | 2023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island | $1,000,000 | $1,200,000 | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster | CSX2416 | 2020 Mecum Auctions : Kissimmee | |||
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster | CSX 2245 | 2019 Bonhams : The Zoute Sale | $800,000 | $1,100,000 | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra | CSX 2216 | 2019 RM Sothebys : Monterey | $825,000 | $900,000 | |
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 | CSX 2328 | 2019 Bonhams : Amelia Island | $900,000 | $1,100,000 | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra | CSX 2216 | 2018 RM Sothebys : The Petersen Automotive Museum | $850,000 | $950,000 | |
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 | CSX 2328 | 2018 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | $1,100,000 | $1,300,000 | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra | CSX 2311 | 2017 RM Sothebys : London | $775,000 | $900,000 | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra CSX 2216 | CSX 2216 | 2016 Auctions America : Auburn Fall | $700,000 | $825,000 | $875,000 |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra CSX 2473 | CSX 2473 | 2016 RM Sotheby's : Monterey | $2,200,000 | $2,600,000 | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster | CSX2271 | 2016 Mecum Indianapolis | $800,000 | $1,000,000 | |
1964 Shelby Cobra USRRC Roadster | CSX2557 | 2010 RM Auctions Automobiles of Amelia Island | $1,275,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,900,000 |
1964 Shelby 427 Cobra Flip-Top Roadster | CSX2196 | 2010 RM Auctions Automobiles of Arizona | $1,450,000 | ||
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 CSX2430 | CSX2430 | 2009 Mecum Original Spring Classic Auction 22nd Year | $1,300,000 | ||
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 | CSX2242 | 2008 Dana Mecum's Original Spring Classic Auction | $510,000 | ||
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 | CSX2271 | 2008 Dana Mecum's Original Spring Classic Auction |
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2010 Ferrari 599 GTO Chassis#:ZFF70RDB000176113 Sold for $895,321 2022 RM Sothebys : Munich | |
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1961 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder By Vignale Chassis#:AM101 1295 Sold for $896,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
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1990 PORSCHE 962C Chassis#:962-163 Sold for $901,057 2021 Gooding & Company : Geared Online | |
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1931 Bentley 8-Litre Sports Tourer Chassis#:YX5116 Sold for $893,775 2019 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | |
1953 Abarth 1100 Sport by Ghia Chassis#:205-104 Sold for $891,000 2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
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1969 American Motors AMX/3 Chassis#:WTDO 363 2/55/55 Sold for $891,000 2017 Gooding & Co. : Scottsdale, AZ | |
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1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL GULLWING COUPE Chassis#:198.040.5500587 Sold for $902,000 2016 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction | |
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Chassis#:CSX2208 Sold for $902,000 2015 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours |
1964 Shelby Cobra 289
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