1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster

Reality television has caused many people to scour through their garages, attics, and barns to find rare gems of history. Unfortunately, the majority of these searches produce nothing more than heirlooms priceless to the families themselves and rarely to the world at large. However, one such garage find in Pennsylvania would yield a true treasure and a very intriguing, drama-filled story as well.

AC Cars would actually get their early beginnings around the turn of the 20th century. By the early 1920s, AC would have the first-ever car to cover 100 miles in an hour. This feat would be achieved at Brooklands in 1922 and would lead to AC's reputation expanding from then on.

Following the end of the Second World War, AC would design and build John Tojeiro's sportscar. This was a small, nimble design powered by a BMW-derived Bristol six-cylinder engine. And, while the car would be a respected competitor, the Bristol engine lacked the power of more modern engine designs.

The AC Ace had potential but didn't have the heart under the hood to make it all that it could be. That is where Carroll Shelby comes into the picture. AC had a need, as did Shelby. Together, the two would make one unforgettable sports car.

Carroll Shelby was quite familiar with racing, both on the North American and European continents. The Texan had been a part of the Aston Martin team that competed at Le Mans in the late 1950s and was well aware of the small, lightweight sportscar designs being produced throughout the European continent. In the United States, Ford's main competition was the Corvette. Shelby was backed by Ford and they looked to him to build a competitor to GM's sportscar.

Shelby figured a lightweight European design was the best approach and he was quite familiar with AC's Ace design having driven one earlier in his career. He would remember AC simply because of the strength of the car he drove and its overall handling. Therefore, he would approach AC about packing their Ace with a small block Ford V8.

An agreement would be reached and AC would begin fitting the Ford V8 into their small Ace. Now called the Cobra, the tiny roadster was capable of some truly mind-boggling speeds and would actually be allegedly attributed with introducing the speed limit on British highways.

Shelby American would be formed and construction of the Shelby Cobra would begin. Immediately, the Shelby Cobra would be taken to the track and would prove successful straight away. Initially, the first 75 of the Cobras would be powered by a 260 cubic inch engine. However, that would be replaced by a 289 V8. When prepared for the track, the 289 was capable of 370hp. The Cobra would absolutely destroy events filled with Corvettes, Jaguars, Porsches and other sportscars of the time. However, not all were prepared in race trim. Other examples of the hissing Cobras would be prepared for the street and private ownership.

Chassis CSX 2421 would be shipped to the United States in 1964 and would actually be listed to a Jerry Watson Ford of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Unfortunately, the car would quickly return to Los Angeles and Shelby's own dealership. Soon after it was sold.

The history of this car in the latter part of the 1960s would be subject to speculation. However, what is known is that the Cobra would find its way to Pennsylvania in the early 1970s. It would be the property of Bill and Kathy Armstrong. The Armstrongs were car aficionados and often took to the road and events together but in their own collector automobiles.

In the late 1970s, Mr. Armstrong would be called to serve overseas in the military. It would work out that his wife could join him. Therefore, the Cobra would be stored away while they were gone. The intention was the car would remain in storage until their return. The car would go into storage in 1978 and would remain there for decades to come.

The Cobra would remain virtually undiscovered for more than three decades until its current owner happened upon it. Ready for a return to the public eye CSX 2421 demonstrates a great deal of originality sporting matching numbers, original Stewart-Warner gauges, and original top and side curtains.

Still bearing its original color, CSX 2421 remains one of the very few 'original' 289 Cobras and provides a very simple and elegant look at the early days of the Cobra legend. legend.

Sources:
'Lot No. 179: 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra', (http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1065181). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1065181. Retrieved 10 February 2014.

'1963 Shelby Cobra 289 News, Pictures, Specfications and Information', (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z835/Shelby-Cobra-289.aspx). Conceptcarz.com: From Concept to Production. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z835/Shelby-Cobra-289.aspx. Retrieved 10 February 2014.

'A Brief History of AC Cars', (http://www.acownersclub.co.uk/ac_history.asp). AC Owners Club. http://www.acownersclub.co.uk/ac_history.asp. Retrieved 10 February 2014.

By Jeremy McMullen