Vehicle Description
Chassis No. CSX 2234
Engine No. 3513
In Carroll Shelby's decorated career as a professional racing
driver, the Texan piloted some of the most competitive and
successful race cars ever to grace a circuit - the Maserati Tipo 61
'Birdcage,' Ferrari 750 Monza, and Aston Martin DBR1 to name just a
few. Retiring from driving at the pinnacle of international
motorsport after taking first place overall at Le Mans, Shelby
returned to the US in 1960 to begin the next phase of his career as
a constructor. If he had learned anything in his decade of racing
overseas, it was that lightweight, simple chassis construction made
race-winning cars. Fortunately for him, a tried and tested, nimble
British roadster had just lost its engine supplier. AC Cars, seeing
the potential to compete with the new Jaguar E-Type, and Ford,
eager to beat the Corvette, supplied the chassis and engine
respectively, uniting at Los Angeles-based Shelby-American Inc. in
a feat of automotive alchemy to become the legendary Shelby
Cobra.
Naturally, a number of alterations had to be made to the chassis
before shoehorning the 260 cu-in small-block V8 into the engine bay
previously occupied by a Bristol straight-six. A slightly thicker
frame, extra cross bracing, stiffer springs, wider wheels and
tires, and beefier gears, axles, and U-joints were all employed to
contain added power. It was enough, but only just, with Road &
Track writing in their test, 'With so much power on tap, the inept
or inexperienced could get into considerable trouble, but a
middlin'-good driver can certainly get the car around a racecourse
in a hurry.' After a brief run of 75 cars, Shelby saw fit to add
even more power, adopting a larger 289 cu-in V8 for 1963 and
redesigning the chassis once again to accept rack-and-pinion
steering. Shelby's more power, less weight formula proved to be a
success on the track and the street, as he knew it would - winning
the 1963 SCCA National Sports Car Championship, and selling faster
than Shelby American Inc. could build them.
According to the SAAC World Registry, chassis number CSX 2234 was
dispatched from AC Cars to Los Angeles, California on 20 November
1963. The bright Red over black leather Cobra was subsequently
transported to Shelby American Inc. in Venice, California where it
was mated to its 271-horsepower, 289 cu-in Hi-Po V-8 engine and
four-speed manual transmission. Before it left Shelby American, CSX
2234 was also generously equipped with numerous 'Group A'
accessories including aluminum rocker covers, a chrome grille guard
and rear bumper, chrome exhaust tips, wind wings, sun visors, a
heater, seat belts, a radio and antenna, five chrome wheels, and a
desirable four-barrel intake setup. Mark Downing Ford of Huntington
Beach, California received an invoice in the amount of $5,195 for
the Cobra on 21 January 1964. While the original owner is not
recorded, they are understood to have collected their new Cobra
directly from Shelby American Inc. and relocated with it to the
Eastern US. A known sequence of owners in Ohio, Alabama, Georgia,
and Illinois followed through the 1970s and 1980s, with the Shelby
Registry noting that by the late 1980s, CSX 2234 had been repainted
in its original Red, still retained its chrome wire wheels, and
remained 'as delivered' with the exception of a pair of aftermarket
exhaust headers.
In 1987, marque expert Bill Kemper purchased the Cobra at an
indicated 32,000 miles and embarked on a comprehensive, multi-year
restoration. Photo documentation of the work performed shows the
meticulous care that was taken to preserve the Cobra's important
components and accessories - including its correct twin-carbureted
289 cu-in V8 engine, four-speed manual transmission, and
differential - while also incorporating some discreet upgrades to
improve drivability. Finished in elegant black paintwork over a
matching interior, the renewed Cobra retained its attractive
factory options and gained Spax adjustable gas shock absorbers,
stainless steel brake lines, and a stainless steel side-exit
exhaust system. Additionally, original and correct number stampings
corresponding to the chassis number can be found on both the hood
and trunk latches, a telltale sign that this Cobra retains a high
degree of body originality.
Today, the stunning concours-level restoration remains in
exceptional condition with little indication that it has been 19
years since it was completed. Two-thousand-fifteen saw CSX 2234
join the highly discerning 'Silver Surfers' collection of legendary
musician Neil Peart. Among a coveted grouping of silver-liveried
Italian, British, and American GT cars, the Cobra stood out as the
only non-silver car and reportedly served as the centerpiece of
Peart's collection. The Rush drummer's tragic passing in 2020 was
followed by the sale of his cherished collection in August 2021, at
which time the Cobra entered into the care of the consignor.
Diligently well-preserved and cared for since Kemper's exacting
restoration, CSX 2234 represents a wonderful example of the humble
Anglo-American collaboration that took the automotive world by
storm. The original Shelby Cobra remains one of the most highly
sought-after and frequently replicated cars of all time. With only
655 small block 'leaf spring Cobras' ever assembled between 1962
and 1965, this well-optioned and beautifully restored example
boasting celebrity ownership history becomes all the more
remarkable. Offered with an array of original documents and
extensive photo documentation of the restoration, CSX 2234 is not
to be overlooked as it is certain to bring many more years of
adrenaline-filled fun.
