Vehicle Description
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Competition For Sale - One Of The Best
Independent Competition Cobras LMC is very proud to offer for sale
this 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Independent Competition Car The Shelby
Registry has historically made a distinction between official
Shelby prepared racers and Cobras campaigned in competition by
privateer owners, referring to the latter as Independent
Competition Cobras. As advancements became available, earlier cars
were frequently upgraded by privateers or the factory to meet the
demands of the race track and the stiff competition. Under private
ownership, this 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 was used to help win the SCCA
B/Production championship in 1966 as well as many other races in
that period. The car offered here was billed to Shelby American on
7/16/63 and shipped to Los Angeles on 7/22. Its original owner Tex
Asche ordered it in Princess Blue with a Red interior. Before being
modified for racing purposes, this new 289 Cobra appeared in a Lark
cigarette commercial at the 1963 12hrs of Sebring. From 1963-65 it
competed in SCCA races under Tex Asche's ownership with Bob Thorpe
at the wheel taking home both 1st and 2nd place finishes. At this
point it had become a full-fledged competition car and was given a
unique set of 5-spoke American wheels with spline drive Rudge hubs.
Additional changes included rounded front and rear flares, Koni
shocks, an oil cooler, hood scoop, wind screen and driver's roll
bar. During this time it was also repainted from Princess Blue to
Guardsmen Blue. A large oval opening was cut into the sheet metal
below the standard grill to provide additional cooling. In 1966 it
was sold to Richard Coates and under his ownership the car competed
in SCCA events in the southeast, again driven by Bob Thorpe
(Pompano Beach, FL) with Jim Etter serving as a crew chief. The
car's original 289 was soon replaced with a Weber-Carbureted race
version from Shelby American. Etter recalled the car winning many
races around the southeast as well as winning the SCCA B/Production
crown in the SE division in 1966. After winning the championship,
Mr. Coates would retire the Cobra from racing duty and use it for a
few years on the street. Mr. Coates would own this Cobra for over
40 years until it was sold to us here at Legendary Motorcar. Upon
arrival, the team here at LMC was extremely pleased with the
originality and condition of this Cobra. From there we did a
complete restoration to return this special example back to its
former racing glory. Since the restoration was completed, it has
seen zero miles of road use and has been always stored in a
climate-controlled facility. This special Cobra is listed in the
Shelby Registry as well as being accompanied by a dossier of
spectacular period photographs. Today this example remains as one
of the most original independent 289 competition Cobras and is also
one of the best-looking liveries on any competition Cobra.
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