1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster

CSX 2167 is a 1963 289 Cobra Mark II with 30,500 original miles. It was shipped to Shelby American in Los Angeles on August 30th of 1963, aboard the SS Loch Garth. The car left the factory with options that included whitewall tires and a luggage rack for a total of $5,500.50. From there, it was sent by transporter to Gotham Ford in New York City to be used by Ford's District Office as a sales promotion unit.

The car was released from the Gotham dealership with little mileage in mid-1964. Gotham Ford sold it in June of 1964 and was returned for engine warranty work in July, indicating 1,350 miles. At the time, the owner was Mr. Liebowitz, of the Tarrell Building Corp. in Glen Cove, New York. In April of 1969, the car was purchased by Ray Cuomo of Huntingdon, New York. Cuomo had previously raced CSX 2009. At the time, CSX 2167 was fitted with Weber carburetors, chrome wire wheels, and cooling scoops underneath the front valence, which it retains today. In October of 1970, the car was sold to Pat Johnson of Virginia, who retained the car for a decade. Johnson sold it to Edwin Bunn, of Grundy, Virginia in 1980 and had it registered as 65COBRA.

In the mid-1980s, the car was treated to a restoration. The frame was sleeved to strengthen it, the engine brakes and suspension were rebuilt, and it was repainted in Emerald Blue, which was a non-metallic color. Other changes included an alloy fuel tank, a Holley carburetor on a Cobra intake, Dayton wire wheels with Goodyear tires, a new exhaust, and a new black vinyl interior. The work was completed in December of 1986 and at the time, the mileage totaled 21,132.

In October of 2001, the car was sold to Richard Cohen and Larry Smith, of Florida. A year later, Kay Hafner of Essen, Germany purchased the car. Soon after the purchase, it was sold to successful racing driver Frank Sytner in the UK, who registered it with the period-correct marker plate ANU 950A. It was subsequently offered by Gregor Fisken in the UK, who had it repainted in Guardsman Blue. Jon Savage, of Providence, Rhode Island, bought CSX 2167 in May of 2005 and brought the car back to the U.S. In 2007, it was sold to David Paulson, of Westlake, California.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale at RM Auction's Monterey, CA. sale. The car was estimated to sell for $600,000 - $700,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $627,000, including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012