1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster

History of CSX 2587

White/black. Invoiced to Shelby America 10/12/64. Shipped to L.A. 10/23 aboard the 'SS Pacific Fortune'. 2587 was invoiced on 12/11/64 to Archway Motors (Baltimore, MD) as '1 Cobra-Ford, chassis #CSX2587, white/black' ($5,195.00); with Class A accessories, including WSW tires and a luggage rack (uninstalled) ($280.00); a radio and antenna ($45.00); a hardtop ($169.00); side curtains ($77); 5 chrome wheels ($105); an automatic transmission ($173); antifreeze ($3.55); and freight ($310), for a total of $6,358.55. The car was delivered to MD via Shelby truck. Its first owner was Gaines Allen of Bricklaying, Inc. (Washington DC.), who purchased it from Archway in 5/65. The car came back in 7/65 for warranty repairs to the tachometer, heater core, radio, and apparently loose or defective lower engine mounts, which allowed the driveline to contact the body. Allen sold 2587 in 1967 to Sun Motors, from whom it was bought by Wendy Hobson (DC). A good friend, Dodge Olmsted (Arlington VA), installed a 289 engine and 4-speed transmission he had removed from the wrecked CSX 2348 in 6/68. In 1969 Hobson offered the car for sale: 'Cobra roadster 1965. Second from last 289 built. The original white paint has some minor dents, otherwise cherry. Always garaged, never raced, rallied or abused. $4800.'

Ron Brown (Laurel, MD) purchased the car, and advertised it in 1971: '1965 Cobra 289, pure Shelby. New paint on perfect body, low mileage, F60-15's, mechanically perfect. Never raced. $6,000 firm.' It was sold to Don Fechner (Madison, WI). Duane Lehnert (IL) was the car's next owner, and from him, it was acquired by Bill Kemper (Barrington, IL) in 1975. Kemper restored the car, giving it new white paint, headers with side pipes, a finned aluminum oil pan and completion 289 heads. The car was advertised for sale in 12/75 at a price of $12,000. Mark Woodward (IL) bought 2587 and kept it until 1980, at which point he offered it for sale in the $40,000 range. The price was reduced to $32,000 by 9/80, and Bill Kemper repurchased it. In 1981-1982 the car again appeared in classifieds, for the 'best offer over $42K'. Kemper sold the Cobra to Quinton Dobbs (Atlanta, GA), whose son, Wesley, came to Illinois to pick it up and drive it home. There is a street in Atlanta named after Dobbs.

In May of 1998, he put it up for auction with The Great Gatsby's Auto Auction Co. The car was purchased by Sidney Tarwater of Northport, AL. Dr. Tarwater had it taken to Cobra Restorers of Crenshaw, GA., where he had a complete restoration done. He then sold the car to James Fillback of Montfort, WI., in December of 2001.