1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Information and History

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Roadster

Unveiled in 1965, the Anglo-U.S. Shelby 'Cobra 428' was the most brutish muscle car ever. Former race driver Carroll Shelby got the notion that a simple way to make a really hot car would be to slip a small Ford V-8 into the aluminum body of the British made AC 'Ace.' AC had introduced the 'Ace' roadster in 1953 and in 1960 they were in danger of losing their source for engines. Shelby's little notion grew into one of the most successful specialty cars ever produced. As with all true sports cars, there are few amenities on the Cobra -- What you see is what you get! But what you get is a racing machine with power to spare. In 1964, the Shelby Daytona Cobra (a hardtop model) won its class at LeMans. The car was the first of Carroll Shelby's successful car designs, which also include the Shelby 'Mustang' and the Dodge 'Viper.'

This car was restored by the owner, who completed everything (except the paint) working weekends for five years. The car was assembled to duplicate the original racing appearance. The car has been to Willow Springs and the California Speedway for club events. The car has also received awards at the JBA show, the Saleen show, National City car show, and others.

Collection of Howard Gire

Source - SDAM

S/C Replica
Chassis Num: CSX 3198R

This 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C was first sold a Japanese buyer who was under the impression he was buying a real and original Shelby Cobra. The seller had stamped a fake CSX number onto the vehicle. It was not until the vehicle was shown that the owner was informed that he had purchased a fake. The value of the vehicle dropped by about 80% of what was paid. In all respects, the vehicle is as close to the original as possible. It is outfitted with a Ford FE big-block engine and a top-loader four-speed manual gearbox. It has an independent front and rear suspension with four-wheel disc brakes. It is finished in British Racing Green with a black leather interior.

It was offered for sale at the 2006 RM Auction in Monterey, Ca where it was estimated to sell between $50,000-$60,000. This is a far cry from what an original would sell for and provides enthusiasts the opportunity for owning a vehicle that is very close to the original. It was offered without reserve and bidding only reached $41,250. The lot was sold with the new owner getting a bargain.

If you ever go to a drag strip and a fortune enough to see a Shelby Cobra on the line, it's a good bet that it will be the first across the finish line. Or at least that is what I thought too. A very powerful engine matted to a light weight body seems like the perfect combination for rocketing this small beast ahead of anything else brave enough to challenge it. The Cobra has a flaw, and this became immediately apparent when the light turned green. The driver. What I though was a sure thing actually proved to be the opposite. The Cobra barely left the line when the challenging vehicle had already traversed the quarter mile. The Cobra had barely moved an inch, but it had laid down enough rubber for a hundred of miles worth of traveling. What happened was all that power was sent to the rear wheels and the vehicle just sat in one spot as its mighty engine growled and white smoke quickly formed around the wheels. Carroll Shelby truly created a monster, one that is hard to tame.

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Roadster
Chassis Num: CSX3176

This car was owned and raced by Len Cunningham from San Diego, California. In the sixties, the car was orange with gold wheels while racing in the SCCA. It was then sold in 1978 to Jim Southard. It was then at SAAC-3 in Pasadena in August of 1978 where it was awarded 'Best Competition 427 Cobra' that it was repainted white with one red and one green stripe. The car has not been painted since then.

The car was then sold again in 1979 to Morgan Warner and purchased by Robert Andersson in 1980. The car was exported to Sweden and raced until 1985, with total placings as follow: 2nd overall in 1982 and 1983; first in 1985.

Then in 1985 the car was brought back to the USA and placed in storage until 1998 when it began to participate in historic racing. Today's owner is still Robert Andersson.

Roadster

By late in 1963, the leaf spring 289 Cobra roadster was losing its supremacy on the racetrack. A so-called MKII was developed powered by a 390 cubic-inch Ford FE motor but it didn't work. The MKIII featured a whole new coil spring chassis-designed with Ford's help topped by a wide fender roadster body with a gaping radiator opening to help cool the massive Ford 427 'side oiler' motor now installed. Production began in January of 1965 and approximately 300 cars were built to include a number of competition versions, some thirty-one of which remained unsold until they were de-tuned and made street legal. These cars were subsequently labeled 'SC' for 'semi-competition.'

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Roadster
Chassis Num: CSX4005LA

This Shelby Cobra 427 is chassis number CSX 4005LA. It has a fiberglass composite body, aluminum fender close out panels front and rear, 4-inch diameter DOM steel tube frame, original Shelby four-wheel independent suspensions with dual A-arms and coil over shocks, Baer racing brakes with dual piston calipers, Dana 44 gears, and a Shelby Salisbury 3.45 radio differential. The engine is a Shelby/Roush Performance 427IR V8 that offers 550 horsepower. There is a 23 gallon fuel cell, Goodyear Eagle GT II P295 50R15 tires, and original style Trigo aluminum pin drive 15-inch wheels. The interior features signature Shelby gauges, fuel pressure gauge, original style wood steering wheel, Shelby vinyl seats, and five-point Simpon seat belts.

In 2008, this Shelby Cobra 427 was offered for sale at the Hilton Head Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by Worldwide Auctioneers. It had an estimated value of $165,000 - $195,000. As the gavel fell for the third and final time, bidding had failed to satisfy the reserve and the lot was left unsold.

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Roadster

When health issues temporarily took Carroll Shelby off the race track, he began expanding his idea for a V-8 powered, aluminum-bodied race car. His resulting combination of the Ace roadster chassis-produced by Auto Carrier of England-and the new Ford 260 cubic-inch V-8 engine became the legend known as the Cobra.

By 1962, Shelby Cobras were entering the racing industry and a year later were beating the already-established Corvette Stingrays. By 1964, Shelby Cobras were finishing higher than Ferrari GTOs. In late-1964, a prototype Cobra powered by Ford's 427 cubic-inch, 500 horsepower, V-8 engine was built, debuting in January 1965 at Riverside international Raceway.

The 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 featured a new tubular coil spring chassis engineered by Ford designer Klaus Arning, but was still based on the Ace chassis. The body was modernized with flared arches-allowing for a wider track and larger tires-and a straight-bar grille replaced the honeycomb style.

The formula for the success of the Cobra came through a man named Carroll Shelby adapting a powerful Ford engine into a nimble, British sports car.
A.C. Cars of Thames Ditton in Surrey, England had been producing the Ace since 1954. It was designed by John Tojeiro and featured an independent suspension by transverse leaf springs. The tubular frame body of the vehicle took its styling cues from Ferrari. The original engine used in the Ace was a 1991 cc, over-head-cam engine designed by John Weller, the founder of AC, in the 1920s. In 1956, an optional Bristol engine became available. This was a BMW derived, 1971 cc six-cylinder engine that was capable of producing 125 horsepower. With the Bristol engine, the Ace captured many victories on the race tracks around the world. It even won the SCCA Class E championship three years in a row.

In 1959, Bristol ceased its six-cylinder engine production. When Bristol stopped supplying A.C. with the engine, the production of the Ace ceased. Carroll Shelby quickly negotiated a deal where A.C. would supply him with the chassis. Now all Shelby needed was an appropriate engine. In 1961, Ford introduced the 221 cubic-inch small block engine. This was a new lightweight, thin wall-cast, V8 engine that produced 164 horsepower. Shelby approached Ford about the use of the engine for the 2-seat sports car. Ford agrees.

In February of 1962, a 260 HiPo engine and Borg-Warner four-speed manual gearbox was fitted into the aluminum-bodied Cobras. The AC Shelby Ford Cobra was complete.

In April of 1962, the first Cobra with chassis CSX 2000 was painted yellow and shipped to the New York Auto Show where it appeared on the Ford display. The vehicle was an instant success and attracted much attention. Orders came faster than Shelby could build. The prototype CSX 2000 was continuously being repainted for magazine reviews. The purpose was to create an illusion that more Cobras existed.

In 1963 the engine size increased to 289 cubic-inches. Rack-and-pinion steering was added to the vehicle.

Two Cobras were entered into the grueling 24-Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Carroll Shelby himself drove one of the vehicles. Ford had refused to provide an engine so Shelby, with the help of A.C. cars and Ed Hugus, prepare the cars. One of the Cobras managed to capture a seventh place finish, a major accomplishment.

Dan Gurney became the first American driver to win an FIA race in an American car when he won the Bridgehampton 500KM race in September of 1963 while driving a Cobra.

In 1964, the Cobra returned to LeMans where it finished fourth overall and first in the GT class.

Near the end of 1964, the Cobra 427 was unveiled to the press. If featured a new tubular, aluminum body, coil spring chassis, and a 427 cubic-inch, 425 horsepower engine. The car was able to go from zero to 100 mph and back to zero in less than 14 seconds. This combination captured the FIA World Championship for Ford in 1965.

In 1965, Ford discontinued its support of Shelby's racing program and the Cobra 427 production ceased after only 160 vehicles had been produced. AC continued to produce the AC 289 until 1968.

In 1967, the last 427 Cobra was built and in 1968, the last 427 Cobra was sold by Carroll Shelby.

Ford had shifted their resources to the new GT40 and modified Mustang programs. In 1966, three GT-40 Mark II's crossed the finish line at Le Mans capturing first, second, and third.

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