1965 Shelby Cobra 289 news, pictures, and information

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Roadster
Chassis Num: CSX 6057

From 1962 through 1965, 579 Shelby-AC Cobra 289s were assembled in the U.S. In 1965, 15 left-hand drives, like this one, were built in Britain for sale in Europe. Shelby America Automobile Club records indicate #CSX 6057 was sold to Mr. D.N. Weir of Roda, Spain, but the exact location had not been known for decades. The current owner found the car in original condition and purchased the car from Mr. Kenneth Crawford of Richmond Hill, GA, in May of 2004. Mr. Crawford owned the car for 35 years. The car was restored to its original color combination in seven months.

A Ford 289 V-8 engine developing 271 horsepower for the street version or 325 horsepower for the track version, capable of top speeds of 135 mph and 150 mph, respectively, powers the Cobra. The car is capable of zero to 100 mph in 10.6 seconds. The chassis consists of independent front and rear transverse-leaf suspension; Girling disc brakes; wire wheels; weighs 2,100 pounds and sold for $5,995 in 1963-1964.

Between 1963 and 1965, Cobras racked up 17 GT victories and established 42 international records. In 1965, the Cobra 289 won the world GT championship.

Roadster
Chassis Num: CSX 2540

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 engien 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. 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), who 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 Gatsbey'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., December of 2001.

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Roadster
Chassis Num: CSX 2540

The Honey West Cobra

CSX 2540 was loaned out by Shelby American in 1965 for use in the Honey West TV Detective Series starring Anne Francis.

The car was sold by Shelby American in 1966 as a 'used car' for $3900.

- Original Equipment-Restored to Original Specs and in Reserve
- 289 HP and Aluminum T-10 Transmission

- Current Equipment-Built-up Race Engine
- 425 HP 302 Cubic-inch with Bellanger 351 Headers and Aluminum Fly Wheel

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Roadster
Chassis Num: CSX 2610

COX #2610 is a 1965-model 289 FIA competition roadster, built by A.C. Cars, Ltd., at the company's Surrey, England, plant. Originally built as a 'COX' left-hand drive car for export to Europe, the car was re-bodied by the factory to FIA competition specifications in the 1990s. It is believed to be the last 289 car built at the Surrey factory on the original A.C. Cobra Bucks.

COX #2610 is an aluminum bodied, leaf-spring FIA Roadster, finished in Cobra competition team colors (Viking Blue with a red racing nose stripe), with a black interior. It is powered by a Weber-carburetor 289 CID Ford engine, with a top-loader four-speed transmission.

COX #2610 was initially retained in England by A.C. Cars, Ltd., as a company display car, and was eventually acquired by Gabriel Diaz of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and imported into the U.S. in 2003. In 2005, the car was acquired by Archie Urciuoli of Casey Key, Florida.

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This is one of the legendary 289 Cobra's. It is characterized by simple design, lightweight and scarily fast. Many Cobra buffs consider the 289 option more desirable than the 427 because it was more lightweight and more nimble in handling.

Only 654 289's were built with a number of them being written off for racing or hard use over the years. The first 75 cars had the 260 cubic-inch engine installed and later small block cars had the 289 cubic-inch engine with 271 horsepower installed or you could order an optional engine with 380 horsepower.

The current owner is the second owner of the car having purchased it in 1974. It has just over 39,000 miles on the odometer. The car is equipped with the rare dealer installed hard top and radio delete and no heater.

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Carroll Shelby's accomplishments as a race driver include breaking land speed records at Bonneville in 1954 for Austin Healey and winning the 24-Hours of LeMans in 1959. As a team manager, Carroll was a part of the FIA World Grand Touring Championship as well as Ford GT Victories at LeMans.

In 1960, Carroll got out of the driver's seat and turned his attention to design. The result of this vision was what is considered perhaps the greatest sports car and one of the fastest road cars ever constructed - the Shelby Cobra. The aluminum-bodied 289 and 427 Cobra models made Carroll Shelby a household name in the 1960s.

This automobile has been club raced since new. It is fully restored.

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Roadster
Chassis Num: CSX 2494

Carroll Shelby's Shelby American Company built several Shelby Cobras to race in the U.S. Road Racing Championship series (USRRC) in 1964 and 1965. This was the Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA) first professional series and the timing was just right for the Shelby Cobras. This is CSX2494, wearing racing number 97, which made its debut late in the 1964 season, winning at Mid-Ohio with Bob Johnson driving. The car raced twice more that season, then ran the full 1965 season, posting four GT-class victories, all with Johnson at the wheel.

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Roadster
Chassis Num: CSX2452

By pairing a car chassis from the small British manufacturer AC with a small block 289 cubic-inch Ford engine, Carroll Shelby created one of the most recognizable sports car in the world, the Shelby Cobra.

Because of the tremendous racing success Shelby had with these cars, they were an immediate hit; even Steve McQueen ordered one. Cobras sold for less than $6,000 new; in total, there were about 500 289 Cobras made from 1963 to 1965.

Shelby Cobra CSX 2452 has been restored to its original color with chrome wires and a hardtop by Precision AR of Newburyport, MA. This car was originally purchased by Dan Gerber of Gerber baby food. Mr. Gerber has enjoyed a widely varied career including professional race car driver, auto dealer, high school teacher, editor, journalist and award-winning American non-fiction author and poet.

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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1965 Shelby models
Shelby Cobra 289 Stage I
Shelby Cobra 427
Shelby Cobra Daytona
Shelby Mustang GT 350 R Competition

1965 Shelby Concepts
Shelby Cobra 427 Competition Prototype CSX 3002