1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster

This Shelby Cobra, chassis number CSX 3359, is the next-to-last 427 Cobra produced. Shelby American billed the car on December 14, 1966. At the time, it was equipped with a 427 V-8 with a single 4V carburetor and finished in red with a black interior. It was ordered as a road car and sent to Pletcher Ford, of Jenkinton, Pennsylvania at $1,000 off dealer cost, and was trucked to Jenkintown on October 16, 1967. Pletcher Ford repair order no. 2020 records minor storage and shipping damage having been incurred, necessitating repair of the left-hand rocker panel, the Cobra emblem on the trunk lid, and replacement of the spare wheel and tire at a cost of $211.95.

The first owner of the Cobra was Frank W. Hultslander, of Norristown, Pennsylvania. It was driven sparingly before being consigned to Hexagon Motors, of London, in November of 1971. Hexagon Motors imported the car and purchased it themselves. It remained in storage from 1972 until 1976. The next owner was Richard Buxbaum, of Hinsdale, Illinois, who kept it for a short time. In 1978, it was advertised for sale at a price of $85,000. At the time, it had just 512 original miles. Jerome A. Shinkay, of Janesville, Wisconsin became the vehicle's next owner. In the early 1980s, it was advertised for sale. It was passed to James S. Ward, of Atherton, California, who resold it to the Ferrari dealer in Los Gatos. From there, it passed through the hands of Timothy Lewy into the ownership of collector John Mozart. In 1998, the Cobra was purchased by Lawrence Bowman.

In 2004, Mr. Bowman had the car restored. The mechanical components were rebuilt to their original specifications. The body was left on the chassis, but it was stripped to the bare frame and body shell, metal-finished, primed and repainted the original Monza Red. Much of the interior remains original. It wears its original 'sunburst' wheels riding on the original Goodyear blue dot tires.

Currently, the car has just 1,819 original miles.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014