1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster

Chassis number CSX2119 was invoiced to Shelby American on April 30th of 1963. It was finished in Vineyard Green over a beige interior. It was shipped to Los Angeles on May 2nd aboard the Loch Avon. After completion at Shelby American in August of 1963, it was consigned to W.J. Janner, Car Sales Promotion, Ford Division, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan, and was shipped to Dearborn aboard one of the FoMoCo trucks along with other early Cobras CSX2083, 2085, 2120, and 2122.

The car was invoiced to Jacques Passino in September of 1963. It sold for $5,195 with Class 'A' accessories ($224.50), a luggage race ($30), and WSW tires ($32.50), minus the FoMoCo discount of $300. The total was $5,182. During this time, the car was fitted with the factory hard top, and used as a Ford executive demonstration car for promotion in the Michigan area.

During the latter half of 1964, the Cobra was returned to Shelby American after its promotional duties had been satisfied, and it was then sold to Metke Ford of Bellevue, Washington. The next owner was James C. Bargelt of Bellevue, Washington. Mr. Bargelt also owned CSX2459, a USRRC competition Cobra, which he was known to have raced from 1966 through 1968.

Mr. Bargelt drove the car to the USRRC Road Races at Kent, Washington, and received a dash plaque which is still fitted to the car. In 1966, he was involved in a minor accident to the left front, and was repaired with a factory fender from Shelby American. The new fender was painted - blended to match the factory paint on the rest of the car.

Michael W. Hyer of Mercer Island, Washington purchased CSX2119 in 1966 for $4,000. Shortly thereafter, he relocated to Blacksburg, Virginia, and brought the small-block Cobra with him. The car remained in his care until recently. During that time, it saw very little use and was kept in storage until the late 1990s. Currently, it has fewer than 11,300 miles from new.

Currently, the car has its original engine, factory original paint, original interior, hardware, and brightwork. It has factory accessories, such as the spare tire, complete tool roll with Shelby jack and grease gun, soft top with mounts, side curtains and tonneau cover.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014