Shelby Cobra 427

A Shelby Cobra 427 in charcoal grey is rare. Only five left production like this. This one here is even rarer. It belonged to company founder Carroll Shelby from 1966 until his death in 2012. Four years later, the current owner could buy it from his estate. There is probably no car with an even closer connection to the world’s most famous chicken farmer. Much has already been written about the life of Carroll Shelby. The film “Ford v Ferrari” also skilfully portrays some aspects – with some cinematic liberties. In general, one can only take one’s hat off to his life’s work.

From the AC Ace to the Shelby Cobra

His time as an Army pilot in World War 2 was followed by a brief career as a professional racing driver. This was crowned by overall victory in the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Aston Martin DBR1. His Formula 1 stints were less successful. Due to a congenital heart defect, doctors finally advised him against active motorsport. Instead, he now implemented his plans for his own car, which had long been in his head. In 1961, he found an ideal basis for this in the light Ace at AC Cars in Great Britain. He had this sports car with a reinforced frame imported to the USA without an engine and planted a Ford V8 engine there. Disc brakes from the Jaguar E-Type and wider fenders ensured an independent appearance compared to the base car. Over the years, the resulting Cobra received various modifications.

The only Cobra Shelby kept until his death

It all started with 260 cubic inches (about 4.3 liters) of displacement and increased to 289 cubic inches (4.7 liters) by 1962. Finally, from January 1965, a weapon on wheels followed with the Cobra 427. From a seven-liter powerplant, Shelby got around 425 hp and 640 newtonmeters of torque. Shelby gained a good reputation through various race victories at national and international racing events. He exploited this with the road versions of his Cobras, which sold well. However, he kept the Cobra 427 shown in our picture gallery from the time of its completion in March 1966 until his death. Matching the Charcoal Grey paint, the car with chassis number CSX3178 received an interior in black.

Repainted twice

In 1972, Carroll Shelby turned his Cobra over to his friend, Cobra specialist Mike McCluskey for a restoration. As part of that work, the car received a repaint to ‘Guardsman Blue’ with gold accents on the nose. A few years later, Shelby had a more powerful 427 engine installed with an aluminium cylinder head and side oil feeders, as well as an automatic transmission. Thirty years after the first restoration, his company Shelby American in Las Vegas painted the Cobra red.

Restored to as-delivered condition

After Carroll Shelby’s death, it took four years before the current owner was able to purchase it. In the years that followed, a concours-standard restoration back to 1966 delivery condition took place at Legendary Motorcar Company. It wasn’t completed until 2019. Now, the only Cobra Carroll Shelby owned from production until his death is up for auction at Mecum Auctions. Between January 7 and 16, 2021, the associated event will be held in Kissimmee. The auction house didn’t provide any information on the expected hammer price.

Images: Mecum Auctions