Vehicle Description
Chassis No. CSX 2003
Although much ink has been spilled about Carroll Shelby's quest to
build a world-beating sports car, the true story reveals a complex
web of relationships, financial difficulties, and unsung
heroes-particularly James Edward "Ed" Hugus, whose Pittsburgh
dealership served as the birthplace of the first production Cobras
and whose financial backing made Shelby's dream a reality.
Shelby, a former champion racing driver initially best known for
his 1959 Le Mans victory with Aston Martin, retired from the
cockpit in 1960 and set his sights on creating an American sports
car to rival Europe's best. Hugus, likewise, was an accomplished
sports car racer-one of the few Americans to compete at Le Mans ten
times-and had opened his European Cars dealership in Pittsburgh in
1952. Both members of the post-war American sports car racing
fraternity, the two men frequently crossed paths at races, indeed
first discussing Shelby's fledgling sports car idea at Le Mans in
1959. On Hugus' suggestion that Shelby pursue AC Cars in England,
whose aging Ace roadster needed a new engine supplier, Shelby
seized the opportunity to install Ford's new small-block V8, but he
lacked the funding and facilities to begin production. Ed Hugus
stepped forward as Shelby's first ally-agreeing to promote,
finance, and even help build the first Cobras-a partnership that
would literally launch the legend of the Shelby Cobra.
According to Robert D. Walker's definitive biography Cobra Pilote:
The Ed Hugus Story, Hugus ordered the initial batch of modified AC
Ace chassis and had them shipped to his Pittsburgh dealership. In
early 1962, his best mechanics began installing the
high-performance Ford 260 cu-in V8 engines and Borg Warner
four-speed transmissions into these aluminum British bodies,
completing the very first Shelby Cobras for sale. In doing so,
Hugus personally financed the first seven Cobras and effectively
"saved Shelby's dream," becoming the first Cobra dealer and East
Coast distributor. The first Cobra, CSX 2001, was finished and sold
out of Hugus's facility, and the next several cars-notably chassis
CSX 2003 through CSX 2007-were likewise assembled at European Cars
in Pittsburgh before Shelby established his Venice, California,
base. This early effort was crucial to the Cobra's success: it
bought Shelby enough time to secure Ford's official backing and set
the stage for Shelby American's later triumphs on track and
road.
According to the Shelby American Automobile Club Registry, CSX 2003
was billed to Shelby American on 27 July 1962, and was shipped to
New York via boat, finished in white over a red interior. The
chassis, drivetrain, and assembly kit were subsequently invoiced in
the amount of $4,995 to Ed Hugus' European Cars in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, where it was completed in his workshop as one of the
first production Cobras. Tte prototype featured a four-barrel
Holley carburetor, black, unvented fiberglass footboxes and trunk
tray, a grease gun mounted on the right inner panel of the engine
compartment, Wilmot Breeden Budget Lock T-handle hood latches, and
5.5-inch silver-painted wire wheels.
Interestingly, Shelby Cobras: CSX 2001 - CSX 2125: The Definitive
Chassis-by-Chassis History of the Mark I Production Cars by Robert
D. Walker notes several inconsistencies with the remainder of the
SAAC Registry listing. Despite the registry stating that CSX 2003
was "shipped to Sebring 3/63 for use as a display car during race
week, and later sent to Dearborn for inspection by Henry Ford II,"
Walker contends that the car had already been consigned to Ford
Motor Company in Dearborn in early-1962. Alongside CSX 2004, Ford's
Special Vehicles Team in Dearborn evaluated the early Cobra as a
prerequisite to signing any formal manufacturing or racing
agreement with Shelby. Company engineers-including Henry Ford II
himself-inspected and drove CSX 2003 during this period, examining
its design and capabilities first-hand.
It was after this important testing period that the car was shipped
to George Reed's Racing Rats (RRR Motors) in Homewood, Illinois
(misidentified as Bill Reed of Chicago, Illinois, in the SAAC
Registry). In Reed's ownership, CSX 2003 was shown at the 12 Hours
of Sebring in 1963, while his second chassis, CSX 2051, was entered
in the 12-hour race.
Sometime after this appearance, Reed sold the early Cobra to
William "Bill" E. Webbe of Barrington, Illinois. After a ten-year
period of storage between 1969-1979, the car was removed and
treated to a restoration completed by renowned Cobra specialist
Bill Kemper of Barrington, Illinois, in late 1980. Still wearing
its original white with red interior color scheme, CSX 2003 was
advertised for sale in December 1981 with 22,000 miles and was
acquired by Jim Thompson of Illinois. The car appeared for sale
again in October 1987 with 23,000 miles and was purchased by Bill
Strakosch, owner of Wes Cadillac-Oldsmobile in Waterbury,
Connecticut. George Stauffer of Stauffer Classics in Blue Mounds,
Wisconsin, acquired CSX 2003 in 1988 and added dark blue Le
Mans-style center stripes to the car's white finish. Robert Walker
writes that, apparently unknown to the SAAC, the Cobra was then
purchased from Stauffer by Mead, Colorado, resident George Raterink
in the late 1980s.
The story of CSX 2003's current ownership began somewhat
serendipitously when the Virginia-based collector first acquired a
289 Cobra approximately one year prior to obtaining this
exceptionally early example in 1989. The previous owner of the 289,
who claimed to have been the car's original owner, later approached
the consignor seeking to repurchase his former Cobra. He agreed to
the proposition, but only under specific conditions: "only if you
find me another Cobra, and if I approve we can swap." The former
289 owner subsequently sourced CSX 2003 and presented it as a
potential trade.
Upon test driving the early Cobra, the current owner immediately
recognized its exceptional state of preservation, noting that the
car was in "pristine condition...very little had ever been done to
it." After taking possession, he made only one significant
alteration to CSX 2003 by electing to repaint the car to remove the
blue racing stripes that Stauffer had added, thereby returning it
to its original all-white livery as it had appeared when first
completed by Ed Hugus.
A few years after acquiring CSX 2003, the consignor received an
invitation through his daughter-a Ford employee at the time-to
attend a special event celebrating Carroll Shelby, hosted by Ford
Motor Company in Washington, D.C. At this gathering, he had the
honor of meeting Shelby personally, who examined the Cobra and
praised its exceptional condition. It was during this encounter
that Shelby signed the inner door of the glove compartment-the very
signature that the car bears today.
For the past 36 years, the consignor has cherished CSX 2003 as both
a driving machine and a piece of automotive history. Remarkably, he
used the Cobra as his daily transportation to the hospital where he
worked as a surgeon! This daily use continued for many years until
the Cobra's increasing value and rarity ultimately convinced him to
retire it to climate-controlled storage. Even in retirement,
however, the consignor and his sons would periodically exercise CSX
2003 on weekends, ensuring it remained in proper working order
while safeguarding its remarkable originality.
In recent years, as the owner's health has begun to limit his
ability to fully enjoy the car, he has made the difficult decision
to part with this beloved Cobra. His hope is that CSX 2003 will
find a new custo...for more information please contact the seller.
