Vehicle Description
Shelby Cobra 427
CSX 4206
Raven Black
Owned by Dario Franchitti, 3 time Indy 500 winner and 4 time
IndyCar champion
Shelby CSX4000 continuation cars
Titled as a 1965 Shelby Cobra
Rare aluminum-bodied example
Extremely period-correct Cobra
Low original mileage of 8,449 miles
Documented Maintenance
Period NASCAR 427 side-oiler V8 engine
Top loader 4-speed transmission
Powerful, lightweight, and an American icon, the Shelby 427 Cobra
was the brainchild of sports car builder Carroll Shelby. While the
original CSX3000 series of 427 Cobras ended production in 1967, the
insatiable appetite for Cobras from the public around the world did
not. During this time, many companies tried to make similar
examples using Shelby's tried-and-true formula of lightweight cars
with massively powerful engines, but were never true Shelby Cobras.
Then in 1996, almost three decades after the last original 427
Cobra rolled off the production line, the new CSX4000 series was
born. Now being sold by Shelby American, Inc., no Cobra kit
manufacturer or licensed car could offer what the American company
now could: True Shelby authenticity.
CSX4000 series cars were offered in both fiberglass and
aluminum-bodied forms with the aluminum examples being rare, mostly
due to almost doubling the purchase price of the car due to their
labor-intensive hand-formed panels. Continuation cars were
delivered to authorized dealers as rolling chassis for final
fitment of the engine and transmission, allowing the new owner to
choose a power plant and transmission of their choice.
Completed by Shelby American, Inc. on June 5th, 2001, this
aluminum-bodied Cobra would then be shipped to All Pro Cars in
Muncy, Pennsylvania. Titled as a Shelby 427 Cobra, Evan and Candace
Harris would become the first owners, with their ownership spanning
over almost 15 years. The Harris' would take the Cobra in for
routine maintenance throughout their ownership and with all of the
work being performed by the same shop, H.R.E. Motorcars, Inc. in
Freeport, New York.
The couple opted for quite possibly the only logical choice for the
Cobra: a real NASCAR side-oiler V8 engine. Often referred to as
"The Cobra engine", this engine was only made in 1965 and was
considered "the race engine". Built by Tony Feil Competition
Engines in Raritan, New Jersey, the engine pushes out over 500
horsepower and pound feet of torque. Side pipe exhaust with a
muffler and no baffling, just like how S/Cs originally were,
creates a pure, unadulterated symphony of 427 cubic inches
roaring.
While many continuation Cobras might be spec'd as a generic build
with emphasis on only power and presence, CSX4206 not only does
these things but also its defining signature: it's extreme
period-correctness. Options such as the NASCAR engine, top-loader
transmission, single-stage "Raven Black" paint are more obvious
than its smaller pieces. The engine bay is virtually
indistinguishable from an original Shelby Cobra due to the
attention to detail, correct items, fittings and finishes that it
contains. Items like the NOS FOMOCO dual plane intake, NOS iron
medium rise heads, original pulleys, dual Holly 550 carburetors
(with brass floats), correct details, the correct fuel pump
canister, the correct "English" tail light lenses, with many more
that makes this Shelby the example of a period-correct, modern-era
built Cobra.
In 2016, Dario Franchitti, four time IndyCar champion and three
time Indianapolis 500 race winner, would purchase the car having
only accumulated 8,277 miles in 15 years. Wanting the most accurate
CSX4000 series Cobra for his personal collection, 4206 was able to
fulfill that requirement in spades.
Now retired from racing and raising a family, Dario realized that
the Cobra was not the most practical car. Friends for many years,
Dario asked Bruce if he find the next worthy owner for this
one-of-a-kind example of Shelby's continuing legacy. Shortly
afterwards, the Cobra arrived at Canepa with only 8,314 miles on
the odometer and the Raven Black Cobra was meticulously inspected.
The flawless paint hardly needed any time to having a
concours-level shine. The engine bay, underside and interior were
hand cleaned, ensuring all of the period-correct finishes and
fittings were presented in their best light. Now this authentic
Shelby Cobra, owned by Dario Franchitti, 3-time Indianapolis 500
winner and 4-time IndyCar champion, with ample performance and
period-correctness that rivals original Shelby 427 Cobras, is ready
for its next owner.
