THE ULTIMATE ROAD GOING COBRA

If there was ever a car that truly embodied the phrase “there is no replacement for displacement,” the Shelby Cobra is it.

Fitting a 427 under the Cobra’s hood was an idea credited to Shelby American driver Ken Miles, as he believed it would help the Cobra stay competitive against Chevrolet’s big block Corvettes. The 289 Cobra proved to be an excellent and highly competitive racer, but the competition was slowly catching up, and Carroll Shelby needed something that would keep the Corvette in his rearview mirror. Ford’s 427-cubic inch engine was the perfect solution, and shoehorning that engine into the Cobra created a car with simply stupefying performance figures. With Ken Miles behind the wheel, a 427 Cobra completed a 0–100 mph sprint in an incredible 13.2 seconds, which was a performance car benchmark that would become the industry standard for years.

In order to keep the car somewhat civilized on normal roads, a host of modifications were made to better suit the car’s larger engine. A state-of-the-art chassis that utilized a coil-spring suspension rather than the earlier leaf springs was developed specifically for the 427 Cobra, while the existing 289 body was modified to fit on the new chassis and address the car’s wider tires and airflow needs with a wider mouth and scoop below the nose.

Further testing would reveal that the 427 produced a massive amount of heat, making the car almost unbearable in traffic, so additional ventilation was added for the engine and passenger compartments and the car’s cooling system was upgraded. Numerous other modifications were made during development, and some running changes were made during the production run, turning the 427 into a surprisingly excellent street car over time. Handling was responsive, and the interior also benefitted from more room over the 289 Cobras.

Just over 260 road going examples of the 427 Cobra were produced by the end of 1966, making them some of the most desirable American automobiles ever produced, not only for their rarity but also for their impact on car culture and the sports car in general.

CHASSIS CSX 3279

According to the Shelby American World Registry, CSX 3279 was billed to Shelby American on June 10, 1966, and is noted as being originally finished in Green acrylic paint with a black interior. It was also fitted with the 428-cubic inch Police Interceptor engine; this was an engine that found its home in roughly one hundred 427 Cobras following CSX number 3200. It was then billed from Shelby to Ron’s Ford Sales, of Bristol, Tennessee, for a total cost of $6,386.50.

Geoff Howard, of Danbury, Connecticut, would become the Cobra’s first known owner, after acquiring it in 1975 and fully restoring it in 1975 and 1976. It was at this time that the present 427-cubic inch, side-oiler engine with medium rise heads and dual quads was installed, replacing the original 428-cubic inch engine. This was a common practice for the Cobras that were initially outfitted with the 428-cubic inch powerplant at the time. The car was refinished in dark green, and following the completion of its restoration, it was offered for sale in early 1977 by Howard.

The car’s next owner would be Ken Brenneman, of Clerendon Hills, Illinois. Brenneman, looking to race the car but clearly realizing its value and importance, built a clone of CSX 3279 to full SCCA racing specifications, but it is not to be confused with the car on offer. Meanwhile, CSX 3279 would see limited street usage by Brenneman, and it was well preserved in his custody.

In 2000, it received a cosmetic and mechanical freshening to the tune of $30,000, and during this time, it was finished in blue with a single silver stripe and chrome side pipes and a competition fuel filler was added. Shortly thereafter, it was acquired in early 2002 by Donald C. Fort, of Jacksonville, Florida, and it is believed that the car was finished in its current shade of green with a single white stripe during his ownership.

Chassis CSX 3279 was purchased from Fort in 2008, and it has held a place of honor in Mr. Pack’s collection ever since. It still retains its original and highly valuable Sunburst wheels with Blue Dot tires, and it also comes with a set of Halibrand-style wheels that are shod in Goodyear Eagle tires. It is further accompanied by a Shelby American parts and accessories catalogue and 427 Cobra owner’s handbook.

Since its inception, the 427 Cobra has been considered to be one of the America’s greatest automotive creations, and it has proved to be an automotive icon. In particular, the 427’s performance and power was nothing short of legendary in its day, and its performance figures still compare favorably with the current crop of sports cars. This is a Cobra to be treasured and enjoyed by its next caretaker, as it is a proud example of one of the most iconic sports cars.