1965 CSX 1000 Series AC Cobra (1 of only 23)

1965 Shelby Cobra Description

For Sale CSX 1000 Series AC Cobra $440K

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Some iconic cars live on.

Jaguar produced continuation cars to complete the missing serial number cars for the fabled Lightweight E-Type, XK-SS and the D-Type. Aston Martin followed suit by producing a limited number of DB-4 GTs.

While there have been hundreds of replicas and kit carsbased onthe legendary 427 Cobra,only 23cars (known as the 1000 series Shelby AC Cobra)qualify as proper continuations of thefamous427 Cobras from the mid-60s:

In 2004Carroll Shelby International, Inccontracted with ACMotor Holdings Ltd.to construct 150 cars, at the rate of 50 per year, using the original AC wooden bucks from four decades earlier. The plan was to produce both 289 and 427 cars,

After only 23 427 models werefabricatedthe manufacturing ceased.CSX 1013 was the last car actually delivered.Perhaps it was the excessive time to fashion the hand rolled aluminum bodies, Shelby’s impatience, or AC’s financial collapse, that brought on the sudden curtailment of the run. The real cause is speculation.But the13 cars produced have become the stuff of urban legend.

The car featured for sale was ordered bythe latePaul Andrews who, at the time, owned a Cobra collection valued at $10M and was himself a licensedShelby Cobra dealer. CSX 1007 was specially ordered to duplicate his personal Brewster Green “427 Street’ car.

What makes CSX 1007 even more unique is that it is only 2 of the 23 AC bodied cars that were ordered as “427 Street” models.This fact has been verified by Gary Patterson, the CEO of Shelby Automobiles.Whereas the 427 SC cars are famous for theirleg cooking side pipes, rollbar, hood scoop, no gas gauge or glove box, huge quick release racing gas cap, and jack holds on all four corners, the “427 Street” was a lesser produced, moreuser friendlyderivative.

The “427 Street” featured front and rear bumpers, smaller gas cap, glovebox, gas gauge, side curtains, soft top, storage cubbies in the door panels and behind the seats, no roll bar or hood scoop, a more finished interior, and exhaust pipes that exit below the rear fenders. They also used Pete Brock designed Sunburst wheels in place of theHalibrands. The beautifully flared fenders and clean body design is, in every sense, automotive art.

Years ago, Dennis Kirkham inspected the car and confirmed that the aluminum body was not formed by Kirkham Motorsports in Provo, Utah.

The car was meticulously completed to original 427 specifications by Mike McCluskey, in Redondo Beach, California from 2007 to 2009. Mike is a renown Cobra restorer and was responsible for maintaining and building Carroll Shelby’s personal vehicles. To enhanceoriginalityit was fitted with proper Smith instruments and a genuine, original 427 wooden steering wheel and center cap. Side curtains, a soft top andtonneaucover were made by Robbins Upholstery in Los Angeles, California. The top and the side curtains have never been installed.

The engine is a 427 FE Side Oiler built to duplicate the performance of a 1965 car, with approximately 425 horsepower. Given the2,600 curbweight, the power to weight ratio is still impressive. From what information is available on the other 23 1000 Series AC Cobras, CSX 1007 may be the only one completed with a period correct iron block engine. The block even has a date code to help facilitate registration. The engine build was the task of Southern Automotive. It hascorrectchrome valve covers. The Holley carburetor is an ultra-rare “Le Mans” bowl unit like the ones used on the Factory Ford GT-40 race cars.

The Sunburst wheels are aoneoffset.Laboriously milled from a solid block of aluminumin the 1990s, the rears are wider than the fronts (the original Sunbursts were the same width front and rear). The wheels cost a steep $10,000 each ($40,000 for the set)which prevented the owner from producing additional units for sale. Paul Andrews boughtacar just to secure the wheels. Recently, the owner ordered a set of 5 new, reproduction Sunburst wheels which will be included in the purchase. Why have another set of Sunburst wheels? They have not been available for over 50 years. Specialty items sometimes are available only for short runs. It’s prudent to snag them while they can be bought. This way the carcarwill have5matchingwheels for display purposes. Currently, the spare is an original Sunburst wheel from the 1960s.

Instead of having to deal with the aging or even brittle metallurgy from 1965, CSX 1007 is essentially abrand newcar. It has 40 miles on it. Why? It ran great in the valley below, but when brought to nearly 7000 feet altitude it would hardly run. The owner just let it sit in the front of his car collection for 10 years. It is still on the original MSO.

In conclusion, this is an extraordinary opportunity to purchase an essentially showroom fresh “427 Street” AC Cobra as they were offered by Shelby Automobiles in 1965.

It is a rolling, automotive sculpture – the last vestige to a quickly disappearing Analog Age. An in-your-face, ears, nose and smell, Zen experience that defies any sense of subtlety and will stimulate a plethora of vivid, cherished memories.

Life is short. This is the real deal.

The price of admission is $440K.The low end of the NADA guide for this genuine AC manufacturedaluminum body Cobra (not Kirkham). To grab the correct NADA evaluation follow the link and add the aluminum body to the vehicle options. Or see the provided image. https://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/1965/Shelby-American/Cobra/CSX-1000-Continuation_/Values

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