1966 Shelby 427 Cobra S/C Alloy Continuation in Amelia Island, FL

Chassis No. CSX3203
Engine Date Code 5M6
Transmission No. HEH-BY 10072

By the time Carroll Shelby took the feisty small block Cobra to the world stage in 1962 to challenge the might of Ferrari in the hotly contested FIA GT Championship, the quest for more power was already weighing heavily on Shelby and his right-hand man, development driver Ken Miles. Ford's proven 289 cu-in V8 was nearing the peak of development, just shy of 400 reliable horsepower, but Shelby knew the Cobra needed additional grunt to stay competitive, especially on long, open circuits.

In the wake of an uncharacteristic drubbing handed out by the Grand Sport Corvettes during the 1963 Nassau Speed Week, the Shelby camp retreated to the drawing board. An earlier experience with a Ford 427-powered NASCAR Galaxie made an impression, and Miles felt the big Ford engine could suit the lightweight Cobra. Shelby tested the 427 in a hastily built leaf-sprung 289 chassis at Sebring, and despite less than developed handling, it proved blisteringly fast in a straight line-fast enough to convince Shelby, Miles, and Ford top brass that the 427 would power the next generation of Cobras.

Far more sophisticated than a "shoehorn job," Ford offered the services of its chassis engineers to assist Miles in reworking the Cobra to handle the big block's additional weight and power. Chassis tube diameter increased to four inches, and adjustable coil-over suspension was fitted all around. The bodywork grew dramatic flared fenders to accommodate the fat rubber required to handle the power. Once properly sorted, the 427 Cobra had comparable handling to the 289, coupled with astonishing straight-line performance-famously covering the 0-100-0 sprint in just 13 seconds. For decades to come, the 427 Cobra's near-mythical performance served as a benchmark for the ultimate sports car. Long after production ceased, it was still one of the fastest cars on the road-and they remain astoundingly quick, even by today's standards. It is, without a doubt, one of the greatest sports cars ever created, and the 427 Cobra enjoys a permanent place among motoring royalty.

One pitfall of putting such performance in the hands of mere mortals is that many 427 Cobras suffered at the hands of those ill-equipped to handle them. Many were damaged and rebuilt, driven hard and put away wet, and by now, most survivors have been restored to some degree. As such, original, largely unrestored cars are exceptionally scarce.

Chassis CSX3203 ranks among the best examples of a highly original, essentially unmodified big-block street Cobra. For many years, this car resided in the famous collection of Lynn Park, who, over 55 years as an enthusiast, collector, and racer, owned some 55 different Cobras, with as many as 10 genuine cars in his stable at once. Along his collecting journey, Park realized that original, unrestored cars were rapidly dwindling and resolved to find the best unrestored 289 and 427 he could, leading him to CSX3203. At the time he discovered it, 3203 was a highly original car showing no signs of crash damage or significant repairs, had just 23,000 miles on the odometer, and still wore much of its original paint along with a rare hard top.

Documentation tracks chassis CSX3203 from the time it was invoiced by A.C. Cars, Ltd., on 4 January 1966. In April of that year, Shelby American, Inc. had completed installation of the 428 PI engine and four-speed Toploader, and the car was invoiced and trucked to Broadway Motors of Kansas City, Missouri, finished in an appropriately sporty shade of Rangoon Red, and equipped with Sunburst wheels and a hardtop. The Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC) Registry shows CSX3203 was leased by Broadway Ford to Joseph Bixby, also of Kansas City. The car returned to the dealer several times for warranty work, and by October 1966, it had accrued just 4,600 miles. The next owner of CSX3203 was Stanley Patzel of Nebraska, followed by owners in Ohio and Oklahoma, with registration documents on file. The Registry notes that in October of 1974, it was in the care of Connie Moore, still in its original red paint, with a full width roll bar and small vents added to the front fenders, Sunburst wheels, and approximately 12,000 miles recorded.

In 1980, Moore showed CSX3203 at the SAAC-5 event in Dearborn, Michigan, taking home 1st place in the 427 concours class. In October 1986, Connie Moore sold the car to Lynn Park, with just 14,000 miles. Park set about rectifying minor inaccuracies by removing the incorrect roll bar and the small added-on fender vents and fitting Goodyear Blue Dot tires to the Sunburst wheels. Park showed it at the 1988 SAAC meet (SAAC-13) in Santa Rosa, California and once again took home 1st place in the concours Cobra class, qualifying it for the SAAC Senior Division. By 2004, the Cobra had just 23,000 miles, and in 2014 it was sold to a West Coast collection.

As offered, CSX3203 displays just over 25,000 miles and retains the exceptional originality that its past custodians have so fervently preserved. It has been noted that the car retains the majority of its original paint (some paintwork was commissioned by Park when rectifying the roll bar and side vents). Close inspection also shows various important numbers, including CSX3203 clearly stamped on the chassis, its original riveted on chassis plate with serial number inscribed by vibrating pencil, the original 428 Police Interceptor engine block with casting date 5M6 (6 December 1965), its original "BY" type 28-spline close-ratio four-speed "toploader" transmission with tag, and its matching body stampings on the door hinges, trunk latch, and hood latch.

Of the 260 big block cars produced, it is one of very few to wear a factory hard top, and also noted are believed to be the original carpets, seat covers, door pockets, dash, and windshield, all presented with a marvelous patina that reflects its years with experienced and thoughtful owners. Furthermore, it is offered with its original jack, grease gun, spare wheel, soft top and side curtains, and it rides on an original set of Sunburst wheels.

The opportunity to acquire an unrestored, highly original 427 street Cobra comes along rarely, and CSX3203 represents one of the best examples of the breed, ready to shine on the road and as the centerpiece of any prestigious sports car collection.