Shelby Cobra 289, 1963 Cobra 289 | Conceptcarz.com - Pictures, Pricing, Information, Wallpaper, History

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This Cobra is the last of the 'LeMans' series of competition cars. It was built during the fall of 1963, with the first Daytona Coupe. It has been raced every year from 1963 through 2005, except when it was being restored. It has never been driven on the road, but has competed in hundreds of races, including the first Nassau Trophy Race, the Daytona Continentals (where it finished 7th overall), and twice at the SCCA runoffs. THis car holds the lap records at Thompson, CT; Lime Rock, CT; Loudon, NH; and Blackhawk Farms, IL.

Carroll Shelby helped forge the motor racing link between the United States and Europe. He began as an accomplished racing driver who showed Europeans that Americans were not confined to oval tracks, became a driver for a European Formula One team, and won the 1959 LeMans 24-hour race. Although not an engineer, he 'married' the British AC chassis and a powerful Ford V8 engine to produce the Cobra, one of the most successful of all sports cars ever. The first Cobra was sold in 1962, and 75 more came off the assembly line that year, by which time the car had become homologated and was eligible for competition work. Through the next four years, the Cobra was campaigned successfully on both sides of the Atlantic, and by the time production ended in 1966, a total of 1,140 of these cars had been built. This example was sold new by Coventry Motors of Walnut Creek, CA, and was purchased in 2003 by its current owner from an Oregon Ford dealer who had owned it for 22 years.

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.

Photos grouped by event
Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca	Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance	Zippo U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen	2006 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

1963 Shelby Cobra 289
Year	1963
Make	Shelby
Model	Cobra 289
Engine Location	Front
Drive Type	Rear Wheel
Production Years for Series	1963 - 1965
Weight	2315 lbs \| 1050.1 kg
Combined MPG	0.00

Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown
Chassis Number	CSX 2085

Performance
0-60 mph	6.6 seconds.
1/4 Mile	14.4 seconds.
Top Speed	138 mph \| 222 km/h Similar top speeds

Engine
Engine Configuration	V
Cylinders	8
Aspiration/Induction	Normal
Displacement	4727.00 cc \| 288.5 cu in. \| 4.7 L.
Valves	16 valves. 2 valves per cylinder.
Horsepower	271.00 BHP (199.5 KW) @ 5750.00 RPM
Torque	312.00 Ft-Lbs (423.1 NM) @ 4500.00 RPM
HP to Weight Ratio	8.5 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio)
HP / Liter	57.7 BHP / Liter
	Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight

Transmission Information
Gears	4
Transmission	Manual

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1963 Shelby Cobra 289