Vehicle Description
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THE ULTIMATE "BARN FIND"
One owner?
Promotion car for Ford in Honolulu, Hawaii
Extensive service records since 1965
289 V8 Engine with 4-speed manual transmission
The idea of removing weight and adding more power has been around
for decades for racers, squeezing any last performance out of their
car as possible. Carroll Shelby took this to heart with his street
car and created an American icon and masterpiece that the world now
knows as the Shelby Cobra. A lightweight, hand formed aluminum body
mated to a powerful Ford engine yielded a power to weight ratio
that approached race car territory and most importantly, was street
legal. The cars were an instant hit, receiving rave reviews about
its performance and handling, thus cementing the Cobra into
Americana automobile history.
This 1964 Shelby Cobra is one of AC Cars' second-generation Mark
II's produced from 1963 to 1965. The Ford 289 was new to the Cobra
for 1964, and before the introduction of the 427 the 289 was the
standard bearer for Cobra in America. The Shelby 289 Cobra
dominated the USRRC with only one loss in three years of
racing.
Billed to Shelby American on 6/25/63, CSX 2150 was shipped to N.Y.
on July 3rd, 1963 aboard the SS American Challenger. The 289 Cobra
later arrived at Shelby America to the Special Promotion Department
with an off-white exterior color, and red interior. The Cobra was
fitted with a chrome air cleaner, aluminum rocker covers, chrome
hood latches, front grille guard, rear bumper, chrome exhaust tips,
wind wings, sun visors, heater, seat belts, luggage rack, and white
sidewall tires. The total price was $5182, and the car was sent to
Hawaii in September 16th, 1963 to be used as promotional vehicle to
the Honolulu Ford Dealership. In June of 1964, CSX 2150 would
return to Shelby America and be fitted with a new softop, front
bumper, guards, and new carpet. It was then sold to Beverly Hills
Sports Cars in March of 1965, who then passed it to Coventry
Motors, in Walnuts Creek, CA.
David Halstead was an electrical engineer who lived in Danville, CA
and worked in San Jose, CA. A true car enthusiast, his family
recalls Mr. Halstead being a fan of racing and motorsports. In
1965, Mr. Halstead owned an Austin Healey that used as a daily
driver. With the amazing California weather, a convertible was the
right choice to enjoy the 1-hour drive from his house. During this
same year, Mr. Halstead wanted to change his Austin for something
else. He went to test drive a Corvette, and XK-E before making his
decision on something else. Mr. Halstead headed to Coventry Motors
in Walnut Creek, where they had advertised a Shelby Cobra for sale.
It was then that Mr. Halstead learned about CSX 2150 being a promo
car in Hawaii and it was now available. Mr. Halstead traded his
Austin Healey plus some cash for his new to him Shelby Cobra.
During the first year of ownership, Mr. Halstead stated that the
cobra needed some work, including a repair to stop the rattling in
the muffler. Mr. Halstead took the car back to the dealership,
where they would send out the car for repair. Due to the amount of
work needed, the Cobra stayed overnight at this shop, where it
would disappear during that event. After filing a police report,
the Shelby was found on the side of the freeway just a few miles
from the shop. Later on, it was reported that one of the employees
from this shop had taken the car out in a joy ride, but did not
know how to change gears, therefore over revving the engine and
damaging it along with the clutch and transmission. Mr. Halstead
sued Coventry Motors and won the lawsuit, where they replaced the
engine and transmission with a new 289 engine provided by Shelby
America.
Over the next 20 years, Mr. Halstead would use his cobra as a daily
driver, where he kept his own maintenance and swore to never leave
a car overnight at a shop. He would write down his mileage each
time he would get gas and kept these records for the next two
decades. In the 1970s, Mr. Halstead move his family to New Mexico,
the family recalls loading the Cobra in the moving van as it was so
light. During their time in New Mexico, Mr. Halstead decided to
paint his Cobra from white to green, as it was easier to spot
during the snowing days. In 1976, the family moved back to San
Jose, CA.
Having driven his Cobra over 100,000 miles, Mr. Halstead would
attend different car shows, but never raced his Cobra. His children
recall using the car to attend weddings, and family gatherings. In
the 90s, Mr. Halstead would stop driving this Cobra as a daily
driver, and only drove it over the weekends. He would show the car
and give rides to his family and friends. The car would also
participate in gatherings and shows with the Nor Cal Shelby Cobra
Club. In 1997, Mr. Halstead and his son drove down to Monterey, CA
for the Monterey Historic Auto Races, where they got to do a few
parade laps around Laguna Seca.
Over the past 20 years, Mr. Halstead was astonished at the
attention and prices in which Cobras were heading. He mentioned
doing a restoration to the car in the next few years to come, but
it was never done. Mr. Halstead would allow his 16-year old
grandchild to take the Cobra on a joy ride. After his passing, the
family decided to pass down the car, and reach out to Bruce Canepa
to help with the sale of CSX 2150.
A car that remains with a family since new carries a significant
amount of provenance and naturally lots of memories. Overflowing
with character, and the patina only adds to the story, and with a
refreshed mechanical inspection, this Shelby Cobra presents a
unique opportunity for its next caretaker to write a new
chapter.