Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America's Fort Lauderdale
event, March 31-2, 2017.
Chassis No.
CSX2442
Estimate:
$1,000,000 - $1,150,000 US
The Shelby AC Cobra represents one of the last of the old-style
large front engine sports cars. The notion of producing a
crossbreed sports car in the 1960s was, at its core, quite simple.
While British manufacturers retained the edge in styling, road
holding, and superb braking, American firms held a distinct
horsepower advantage. This "best of both worlds" concept was, of
course, nothing new. Postwar Allards, Cunninghams, and Nash-Healeys
used the same basic premise. Carroll Shelby, however, considered
chassis from Austin-Healey, Jensen, and Bristol before settling on
AC, after hearing that the builders of the stylish and sturdy Ace
had lost their engine supplier when Bristol ceased production.
Attractive, lightweight, and proven, the AC Ace could, by Shelby's
thinking, be turned into a successful production racer by replacing
its aging six-cylinder engine with a powerful, deep-breathing V-8.
In September 1961, Shelby wrote Charles Hurlock, of AC Cars, to
propose a hybrid car using the AC sports car body and chassis. "I'm
interested," wrote Hurlock, "if a suitable V-8 could be found."
Shelby moved quickly when Editor Ray Brock, of Hot Rod magazine,
told him of Ford's new, lightweight small block V-8. Soon after,
Shelby had an early 221-cubic inch example installed in a stock AC
Ace. In fact, the V-8 weighed just slightly more than the
six-cylinder Bristol.
Ford engineer Dave Evans then offered Shelby an even better
solution. A high-performance 260-cid small-block V-8 was already in
production for Ford's Falcon, and two engines would be on the way
to him soon. They were immediately sent by airfreight overseas, and
on February 1, 1962, Carroll Shelby flew to England to test drive
the new Shelby "Cobra." The rest, as they say, is history.
According to the fourth edition of the World Registry of Cobras &
GT 40s, the 1965 Shelby Cobra, CSX 2442, was originally billed to
Shelby American on April 14, 1964, and it was shipped to Los
Angeles on May 26 aboard the SS Diemerdyk. Cobra CSX 2442 was
invoiced on August 19, 1964 to Rossetter Ford, Inc. in Peoria,
Illinois. The Registry continues with " 1 Cobra-Ford, chassis #CSX
2442, Red/black" at a price of $5,195.00 with Class A accessories,
including a luggage rack, wire wheels (the Registry states
"chrome," but it is shared that this car has actually had painted
wire wheels from day one), whitewall tires, a hardtop, side
curtains and freight for a total of $6,070.05. The car was
delivered to Illinois via Shelby transporter. The car's record
continues that 2442 was sold to Lyle D. Groenwold of Peoria,
Illinois on October 30, 1965.
Fairly early on, CSX 2442 experienced a minor accident in the front
end. The original owner didn't get the damage repaired, and the
Registry mentions the car being repossessed. The next caretaker of
the Shelby would have the car for nearly 50 years; he conveys that
he acquired CSX 2442 from the bank. At the time he got the Cobra in
August 1966; it was still damaged, painted blue and had competition
wheel flares.
The long term caretaker of this exceptional machine was an
experienced paint and body man and did the repair work. At that
time he painted the car a 1961 Chevrolet metallic copper shade.
Along with the wheel flares, the Cobra had a rollbar and fuel cell
and was driven in this configuration for approximately seven years
when the owner moved west to Arizona and CSX2442 was put in storage
with 21,000 miles on the odometer in 1973. Forty-three years on,
the odometer now reads only 25,952 miles.
It is reported to have remained there until the 1990s when it was
retrieved for a restoration by this same caring owner. The car
appeared for sale in the fall of 1998 listed as being "from the
ground up" restored back to its original colors, with original
engine and the equipment in place. He decided against selling CSX
2442 at that time and the Shelby ended up with 50 years of
ownership from this single owner, and it continues to be presented
in the form as originally intended.
Presented in an outstanding manner throughout; CSX 2442 runs with
its original 289-cid, 271-hp V-8 engine fitted with an original
Ford cast-iron intake manifold with Autolite carburetor. The engine
block number is the one on the original AC Cars chassis tag. The
transmission is a four-speed manual with the aluminum T10
date-coded case (3-30-64); the brakes are four-wheel discs fitted
with painted knock-off wire wheels with AC two-eared spinners. The
AC Cars chassis tag with CSX 2442 is in the engine compartment,
plus the trunk latch and driver's side hood latch both are stamped
with "2442," as are the doors.
In every quarter looked, CSX 2442 has original components in
abundance. Beginning with the original grease gun mounted in the
engine bay, there is also the original Elliott windshield, original
leather seats, original dashboard leather, original Stewart-Warner
instruments (plus clock), original AC wood-rimmed steering wheel,
original Impact competition seatbelts, windwings (both with Cobra
markings) , shaded Cobra-labeled sunvisors, AC brake and clutch
pedals, side curtains, soft-top with top irons, factory hardtop,
tonneau cover, luggage rack, factory-style original exhaust tips,
cockpit mirror, cockpit grab bar, eggcrate grille, front and rear
bumpers with guards, AC Chassis Instruction book, jack and
handle.
Exceptionally well-presented and restored by the man who has had it
since nearly new; CSX 2442 has been devotedly cared for and is one
of but a few Shelby AC Cobras that has experienced such long term
ownership. Any Shelby AC Cobra is certainly worthy of inclusion in
the collections of discerning aficionados of postwar American
muscle; CSX 2442 has all the ingredients to be welcomed amongst the
finest.