- Documented in the Shelby American Automobile Club Registry
- Originally delivered with numerous desirable Shelby factory
accessories and performance options
- Featured in MGM productions including Viva Las Vegas, The
Killers, and Herbie the Love Bug per the Shelby American Automobile
Club Registry
- Winner of First Place in the Popular Vote 289 Cobra class at
SAAC-11 in 1986
- Long known within enthusiast circles and featured on the cover
of AACA magazine, Antique Automobile September/October 2009
Few American automobiles carry the same mystique and raw appeal as
the Shelby Cobra. Born from Carroll Shelby's inspired combination
of lightweight British sports car engineering and dependable
American V8 power, the Cobra became one of the most successful and
influential performance cars of the 1960s. Its competition success,
explosive performance, and unmistakable styling quickly cemented
its status as a legend both on the road and on the racetrack.
Today, authentic leaf spring Cobras remain among the most sought
after American sports cars ever produced.
We are proud to offer this 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra, chassis CSX2254,
a well-documented example of the marque. According to the Shelby
American Automobile Club Registry, the Cobra was originally
finished in white with a red interior, and billed to Shelby
American on November 29, 1963, before being shipped aboard the SS
Ebre and invoiced to Coddington Sports Center of Santa Rosa,
California in February 1964. Significantly, the car was extensively
optioned from new, equipped with numerous desirable Shelby
accessories including dual four-barrel carburetors and intake
manifold, front and rear sway bars, chrome roll bar, Smiths heater,
aluminum rocker covers, Goodyear Blue Streak tires, and a large
capacity oil pan. Such equipment reflected the Cobra's dual-purpose
nature as both a formidable street machine and highly capable
competition car.
Among the most fascinating aspects of CSX2254's history is its
connection to several iconic MGM film productions during the 1960s.
According to Gary Pike, through the SAAC Registry, the car was
originally purchased through a leasing company and subsequently
used in Hollywood productions including Viva Las Vegas, the
legendary 1964 musical starring Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret; The
Killers, the stylish 1964 crime film featuring Lee Marvin, Angie
Dickinson, and Ronald Reagan in his final acting role; and Herbie
the Love Bug, part of Disney's enormously successful franchise
centered around the beloved Volkswagen Beetle character. While
Cobras have long been associated with celebrity culture and
motorsport glamour, few examples can claim direct ties to such
recognizable films and stars of the era. This unique Hollywood
provenance sets CSX2254 apart from many other surviving Cobras and
adds an intriguing layer to its already compelling history.
Following its early years in California, the Cobra passed through
the hands of numerous enthusiasts and collectors who continued to
develop and personalize the car in the spirit of the period. During
the 1970s and 1980s, CSX2254 received a comprehensive restoration
and a variety of performance enhancements typical of serious Cobra
ownership at the time. Richard Dwyer treated the car to a full
restoration, refinishing it in lime green while fitting a rebuilt
289 engine with headers, a high rise intake manifold, fresh black
upholstery, and new soft top. Subsequent owner Steve Baker further
developed the Cobra with GT40 cylinder heads, roller rockers, an
Aviaid oil pan, Weber carburetion, six spoke Halibrand style
wheels, a driver's roll bar, and white side pipes, creating a
highly aggressive and visually striking interpretation of the small
block Cobra.
By the mid-1980s, the Cobra had become a well-known presence within
the Shelby community, earning First Place in the Popular Vote 289
Cobra class at SAAC-11 in Dearborn, Michigan in 1986. The car later
appeared on the cover of the September-October 2009 issue of AACA
magazine, further reinforcing its standing among recognized and
documented Shelby automobiles.
Importantly, several original identifying numbers remain present on
the car today, including the hood and trunk latch stampings,
details closely scrutinized by knowledgeable Cobra collectors and
restorers. These surviving factory markings further support the
authenticity and continuity of this well documented example.
Included in the sale are a pair of film posters that the car was
featured in, The Killers and Viva Las Vegas.
Today, CSX2254 represents the quintessential early Cobra. Its
star-studded history, period competition inspired upgrades, and
appearance in prominent enthusiast circles all contribute to its
appeal. Like many Cobras, the car evolved over decades of
enthusiastic ownership, reflecting the way these cars were used,
enjoyed, and modified during their active lives rather than
preserved as static objects.
Few sports cars deliver the same visceral experience as a small
block Cobra. Compact dimensions, immense V8 power, and razor-sharp
responses combine to create one of the most exciting driver's cars
of any era. For collectors and enthusiasts alike, CSX2254 offers
the opportunity to acquire an authentic and highly charismatic
Shelby Cobra with a fascinating Hollywood history and unmistakable
presence.
Offers welcome and trades considered.
