Vehicle Description
1964 Shelby Cobra For Sale - Independent Competition Car, Great
History LMC is very proud to offer for sale this 1964 Shelby Cobra
289 Debuting at the 1962 New York automobile show with a bare
aluminum finish completed by hand with steel wool, the first Shelby
Cobra captured the full attention of both the public and the
motoring press. Carroll Shelby himself was already a LeMans winning
race car driver, and the 289 Cobra forged his reputation as a
world-class manufacturer of sports cars as well. Although the first
batch of Shelby Cobra road cars were powered by Ford's 260 cu in.
V8, once the 289 cu in. was introduced to production, after chassis
CSX2075, upgrades were constantly being implemented at AC cars and
Shelby American. Rack and pinion steering, improved rear axle
ratios, superior Stewart Warner gauges, Ford electrics and revised
body emblems all made the 289 Cobra a better built sports car. The
collector market places a high value on these 289s as they are very
rare and an incredible driving experience. This 1964 Shelby Cobra
289 was billed to Shelby American on 9/3/63 and shipped to the
Shelby headquarters on 9/12 aboard the "SS Dongedyk." This Cobra
was originally invoiced on 11/7/63 to FoMoCo General Office
Accounting to be used as a public relations vehicle. It was factory
ordered in British Racing Green with Class "A" accessories,
including chrome rocker covers, WSW tires, and a luggage rack, for
a total of $5,195.00. The car was then delivered via Shelby
transporter to the Ford District Office in Cincinnati, Ohio for
sales promotion use. It was returned to Shelby American roughly one
year later with some 7,700 miles on it. A Ford Motor Company
employee created a "Special Vehicle Performance Work Order" on
11/17/64, which estimated repairs totaling $1,286 to recondition
the Cobra for resale. This included new carpets, soft top, side
curtains, jack and handles, tool kit, Smiths clock, complete
exhaust system, wind wings, sun visors, carburetor, 5 wire wheels
and "G8" tires, luggage rack, dot fasteners, tach and sender, plus
metal work on the hood, grille surround, all four fenders, both
doors and rocker panels, upper trunk panel, deck lid, and a
complete repaint.Rather than recondition the car, Shelby American
sold it to Taylor American in "as-is" condition for $3,125.00 on
6/3/65. The car was then sold to a couple local racers in the
Bakersfield, CA area who took turns racing the car locally. Early
owners reported in 1974 the car was silver with a black interior
and retained its original 289 and had alloy wheels. In '85 it was
sold to long term owner Ronald O'Connor (Wauwatosa, WI) and by this
time it had been painted white with a black interior and it was
still equipped with performance upgrades including aftermarket
wheels with Blue Streak tires, Webers, a roll bar, brake scoops, a
hood scoop, an oil cooler scoop, Koni shocks, and side exhaust.
O'Connor restored the interior and gauges and added wide FIA flares
at the front and rear, with cutback doors, to accommodate 7.5"
reproduction Halibrands with race tires. He vintage raced the car
over the next 18 years where it was seen at the Road America
vintage races in the summer of '89, with the new flares in raw
aluminum. The Cobra was then retired from the vintage-race circuit
after the '03 season. In 2004, O'Conner had this Cobra
reconditioned as you see it today, where it was painted Guardsman
Blue with White LeMans stripes and a variety of modifications were
performed. It featured a 347 CID engine using an aftermarket engine
block, ported aluminum World heads, Wilwood brakes, adjustable
A-arms, a removable roll-cage, front and rear sway bars, a
stainless steel fuel tank, stainless steel headers mated to a 3"
exhaust system with tailpipes, FIA repro wheels, and Spax
adjustable shocks. This is a very rare and unique opportunity to be
able to purchase an independent comp 289 Shelby Cobra. It is
complete with full ownership history listed in the GT40 and Cobra
Registry. Do not miss this unique chance to own one of the world's
most recognized global sports cars accepted at most vintage races
around the world with one of very few period raced independent comp
cars. Additional Details: 1964 SHELBY 289 COBRA -