1963 Shelby King Cobra Type 61M Monaco-Ford Sports Roadster

In 1963, Carroll Shelby decided to enter the USRRC Pro Sports Car Championship. He realized that his front-engined Cobras would not be competitive against the new rear engine race-cars.

Shelby ordered two Cooper Monaco's that had been strengthened for V8 engines. This car, CM/1/63 was the first to arrive at the Shelby shop, where it was fitted with a Cobra 289 engine and a Huffaker transaxle.

The first race, at Kent, Washington, had driver Dave MacDonald leading when the car overheated. A larger radiator was fitted, and MacDonald subsequently drove CM/1/63 to victory at the Riverside L.A. Times Grand Prix, and at Laguna Seca, winning the overall USRRC Championship for 1963.

In 1964, it was slightly modified and raced prior to the availability of the 1964 King Cobras. At Nassau, MacDonald DNF'd, but won the year's first USSRC race at Augusta. Ken Miles, Bob Holbert and other Shelby drivers also drove the car.

Following Dave MacDonald's untimely death at the 1964 Indy 500, the car was sold to Charlie Cox of St. Paul Minnesota. Cox drove it to several victories at SCCA races in the Midwest. He finished 12th at the 1964 Riverside Grand Prix.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2007