1962 Shelby Cobra Roadster

This 1963 Factory Team Shelby Cobra was built at Shelby to full competition specifications with numerous special performance features that include 12:1 pistons, roller camshaft and lifters, and 48mm Weber Carburetors on a prototype intake manifold. It was first raced by Dave MacDonald at Riverside in 1963 and it won. This is the first Cobra ever tow in a race, the first Cobra to win an SCCA championship, in 1963, and the first Cobra to win a USRRC race overall, which helped secure the championship in 1963. In total, CSX2026 won eleven races during 1963 and 1964. Later, it spent many years at the Shelby American Collection in Boulder, Colorado. This Cobra is one of the most historically significant Cobras in existence, representing the time when the Shelby Cobra put its mark on the racing world for the first time. The current owner has restored the car back to its exact original specifications as it appeared on the track in Riverside, including the original tires from 1963.

CSX 2026 has been featured in numerous magazine articles and books, including Shelby Cars in Detail, Shelby Cobra, Cobra-Ferrari Wars and AC Cobra. It has been displayed at the Shelby-American museum in Colorado, and in 1989, was displayed at the SAAC-14 meet in Pocono where it was awarded 1st place in the Concours Competition class. At the 1991 SAAC-16 gathering in Charlotte, it was awarded a 1st place in the 260/289 Cobra Competition class. A Best of Show judgment at the Lime Rock Vintage Fall Festival, a win at the Baltimore Concours and an award at the Lime Rock SAAC meet followed, as did a new owner in early 1997. Later ownership included the care of Richard Scaife and then Roger Willbanks.

The car is in excellent condition, having not been campaigned since its restoration. This factory race car is nearly unique in its mechanical specifications, its racing successes, and its significant role in the reputation and growth of Shelby American.

CSX2026 is the first Cobra to win a race and a national championship. It was driven by Dave McDonald, Lew Spencer, Fireball Roberts, Jerry Grant and Bob Johnson.

The car is powered by a 300-horsepower engine fitted with four Weber 48 IDM carburetors. There is a four-speed Borg-Warner manual gearbox and four-wheel Girling disc brakes.

In 2010, this car was offered for sale at Gooding & Company's Scottsdale Auction in Arizona. Bidding reached $1,600,000 but was not enough to satisfy the car's reserve. The car was left unsold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2013