Vehicle Description
1964 AC Shelby 289 Cobra MKII Roadster
Year 1964
Make AC Shelby
Type 289 MK II Cobra Roadster
Chassis No CSX-2462
Engine Casting No C40E-6015C
Engine Casting Date 4D22 (April 22nd, 1964
Gearbox Date Code 3-30-64 (March 30th, 1964)- T10 Borg-Warner
Rear Axle Unit No 238
Rear Axle Date Code A64 (January 1964)
Final Drive Ratio 49/13 (3.77:1)
Steering Box Date Code 9 63 (September 1963)
Alternator Date Code May 25 1964
Radiator Expansion Tank Date Code April 5th, 1964
Invoice Date May 26th, 1964
Shipping Date June 1st, 1964
Ownership 1964 AC Cars to Shelby American Motors
1966 Shelby American Motors to Hi-Performance Motors of Los Angeles
to Arlo Meyer of North Seminole, Florida (1st private owner)
1973 Arlo Meyer to Randall Almiral of Hemlock, Michigan (2nd
private owner)
2007 Randal Almiral to Symbolic International of La Jolla,
California
2007 Symbolic International to current owner, Chicago, Illinois
(3rd Private Owner)
CSX-2462 was invoiced new to Shelby American Motors on May 26th,
1964 for internal team use as a road car. It was a as a standard,
left-hand-drive MK II road-version completed in the standard colors
of white with black trim as well as a black soft-top and optional
black hard top, AM Radio and 64-spoke, chrome-plated "knock-off"
wire wheels. It was dispatched one week later on June 1st, 1964 and
sent by ocean vessel, S.S. Loch Loyal to Shelby American Motors,
Los Angeles, California.
Upon arrival Phil Remmington's team of specialists as with all
arriving Cobra's corrected any shipping deficiencies and installed
a 289 cubic inch, 306bhp Ford Hi-Po V8 and four-speed T10 manual
gearbox.
As noted, instead of being sold to a client, 2462 was instead
retained by Shelby American and dispatched to the FORD Motor Car
Company regional offices in Sebring, Florida where it was assigned
demonstration duties. CSX-2462 would remain in Shelby inventory
longer than just about any other road-version completed. It
remained in Florida for more than a year until late in 1965 when it
was shipped back to Shelby American Motors in Los Angles. It
remained in inventory there again for another six months, until
finally being sold for the first time on May 10th, 1966, nearly two
years after being completed.
Interestingly it appears that during this time frame the car was
likely loaned to MGM Studios, also possibly for promotional work
for the recently released Elvis Presley / Ann Margret film, "Viva
Las Vegas" which had been released shortly before (U.S. movie
release date: May 20, 1964) the car was completed. The film
features two Cobras and while the car was not in the film, MGM may
have used the car in post film promotional work. In December of
1964, under work order, 13298, Shelby American invoiced MGM Studios
for the expense of a complete repaint of the car. The invoice was
closed on August 13th, 1965. Upon completion of the work, the car
was listed in Shelby American Motors inventory as "One Used Ex-Ford
Cobra." The car remained in Shelby inventory in Los Angeles until
finally being sold through Hi-Performance Motors of Los Angeles,
California on May 10th, 1966, just shy of two years after being
completed.
The original selling invoice price was $4,300. Surprisingly the car
was purchased as a "new" vehicle by Arlo Meyer of North Seminole,
Florida. At the time of purchase the car had been fitted with Weber
Carburetors, American Alloy wheels and flared fenders, all likely
done while the car was being used by MGM Studios and or after
Shelby American refurbished the car after it was returned from MGM
Studios.
Meyer kept the car for several years and had it painted "Candy
Apple Red." He then offered the car for sale in 1973 for $8,250. At
the time of the sale, the car retained both the original soft and
hard tops but it was now painted red while retaining the original
black interior.
The car was purchased shortly thereafter by Randall Almiral of
Hemlock, Michigan for a selling price of $8,250. Almiral, the car's
second owner would keep the car for the next 34 years covering some
40,000 miles during his ownership. At some point, Almiral had the
car stripped and painted silver and fitted with a red interior
which was again later changed back to black.
During Almiral's ownership, he shared with other Cobra enthusiasts
that he had been told the reason the car had the unique flared
fenders was as a result of Shelby fitting the American Alloy rims
and that California driving codes required that the tires on a
vehicle not extend past the bodywork of a vehicle. Many thought the
flares were fiberglass but repairs performed many years later by
Mike McClusky confirmed they were steel. McClusky returned the
wheel openings back to their original stock appearance and also
fitted correct wire wheels back to the car. This was like the first
time the car was seen in this original appearance since it was
completed back in the late Spring of 1964.
In January of 2007, this Cobra joined a very prominent West Coast
collection which then undertook a very sympathetic restoration
retaining all of the rare original components. Work was carried out
by the well known specialists, Collin Comer, Mark Allen and as
noted, Mike McCluskey.
Today, this rare, rack & pinion, 289 Cobra remains one of the most
correct examples in existence having never been raced or damaged in
any way (save for the wider fender repair back to stock).
Interested buyers are welcome to contact me to arrange for
inspections and test drives.
