A Shelby Cobra is holistically an enthusiast vehicle, made by the ultimate of enthusiasts for his fellow enthusiasts. In the early 1960s, after Carroll Shelby’s health and heart would force him to retire from racing cars himself, he attempted to create his own race car. He was, at the time, familiar with the creations of other companies combining the beautifully crafted and lightweight European bodies and chassis, then stuffing American muscle under the hood, and believed he could make one like those before, but better. His creation took the lightweight European AC Cars chassis and body, which would house Ford’s 260-cubic-inch V-8 engine, and thus, the fastest production car at the time—the magnificent road and race car—the Shelby Cobra, was born. But just like any other car and racing enthusiast, there was always room to make it… better. Enter the Shelby 289 Cobra.
Sure, the 289 would soon be one-upped by Ford’s 427-cubic-inch V-8 engine in the 1964 models, but it was the 289 that many Shelby enthusiasts would come to cherish most. The reasoning: although Ford’s 427 was more powerful, the 289 was a smaller, much lighter engine, making for a much more nimble car for utilizing on the roads and, especially, the tracks.
The first 289 born from Shelby’s stable was granted to a resident Californian—a Stanford scientist—Dr. Harrison “Hap” Horn. Dr. Horn, who at the time was working with Steve Jobs to create the first Macintosh Computer, had reached out to Shelby in 1963, inquiring upon the technical description and specifications of Shelby’s AC-Ford cars, as well as price and availability. Early in the correspondence, Horn had asked Shelby specifically about the engine, “Are you still using the 260 engine, or has it been replaced with the cored and bored 289 item?”
The 289 was in the works, but had yet to be married to one of the AC Cars chassis. But as luck would have it, because of Horn’s due diligence and yet-continued amending specifications and requests for his Shelby, once his car, CSX 2044, was ready for an engine to be added, the 289s were ready, and Dr. Horn would receive the very first Shelby 289 Cobra.
It is worth noting that Shelby American Automobile Club records and marque researchers indicate there was another vehicle, a 1962 260 Cobra show car, that would receive a 289 engine at around the same time Horn’s 289 was built, but Horn’s car unequivocally is considered, the first-ever 289 built from new.
While this car, chassis CSX 2044, is incredibly significant for its place as the first 289 ever wholly built, and the man who owned it, having been part of the building of the computer that would launch the same device you may be reading this particular story from, it is also one of the most well-documented Shelbys, ever. Horn’s meticulous record-keeping, perhaps due to his work as a scientist, saw him keep every piece of paper indicating anything and everything done to the car, from his letters between Shelby in crafting this car from scratch, receipts for bolts, to tickets as well. He also kept the notes exchanged with Peter Brock, the noted designer whose first job was working with GM and Corvette (the youngest designer ever hired to GM) before becoming Shelby’s first paid employee, who complimented Dr. Horn on his specifications.But most significantly, in that particular exchange, Brock would suggest that Horn “chrome” his roll-over bar, noting “painting it just won’t (we feel) look right.” That one suggestion would make for a key feature that makes this 1963 289 example stand out historically.
Understanding the significance of his particular Shelby, Dr. Horn was most scrupulous on selecting where and to whom his 289 should go, when he decided to part with it almost 40 years later. After some considerable research again (much like he did with Shelby when he ordered his car), Horn came to select Shelby collectors to offer his unintendedly well-preserved piece of Shelby history. It would land in the hands of well-known Cobra Enthusiast Lynn Park, before passing to its current owner’s hands.
It is not often that such stories collide to weave together such a unique and intricate story, especially when it involves the first of something ever made. But this 289, from its happenstance of creation and lengthy/involved ordering process, to its original owner’s significant place in history as well, makes for a backstory—a legendary tale of sorts that is difficult to replicate. A vehicle that only becomes available maybe once or twice in a lifetime. This highly original 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra example will cross the block in our 2024 Arizona auction on 25 January.
Carroll Shelby is a name synonymous with racing, performance, Ford, and Shelby American. The Le Mans-winning driver and notable performance car maker left a legacy that is still greatly admired and talked about to this day. As 2024 would have been Shelby’s 101st birthday, in honor of the man and his extraordinary talents, ModaMiami, in partnership with RM Sotheby’s, is hosting a special collection of Shelby’s vehicles–from his driving days to his game-changing production endeavors–through the show weekend. Join us in celebrating the life and legacy of Carroll Shelby. And for those of you who own a special piece of Shelby’s history, we’d love to display your car. Submit your Shelby vehicle today.
