By 1961, Carroll Shelby had established his reputation as a racing driver and, ready to kick it up a notch, he set out to build his own race car. Impressed by the combined agility and power of borrowed Cad-Allards, he set out to create the ultimate Anglo-American hybrid. AC Cars of Thames Ditton, England provided a nimble tubular frame and aluminum body in their Ace, highly reputed for its dexterity on the European circuit. Desirous of the visceral power of the Dearborn, Michigan-manufactured V-8, Shelby persuaded Ford to furnish their short-stroke 260-cubic-inch engine to complete the perfect union.

In 1962, a brilliant yellow Shelby Cobra was unveiled at the New York Motor Show. Sporting a four-speed manual gearbox, the prototype, chassis CSX 2000, weighed in at just 2,100 pounds and was campaigned across the United States.

In 1963, Shelby upped the ante with the Cobra Mk II, notably upgrading the little Cobra to rack-and-pinion steering with a high-output 289-cubic-inch V-8 engine capable of 271 horsepower. The new powerplant made the 289 Cobra capable of rocketing from 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds on its way to a 130-mph top speed. The superb power-to-weight ratio enabled the newcomer to take the American car market by storm and cement Carrol Shelby’s place in the pantheon of American automotive personalities.

The Shelby 289 Cobra presented here was billed to Shelby America from AC Cars on 21 October 1963 and dispatched to Los Angeles nine days later aboard the SS Loch Loyal. After receiving its engine and chassis upgrades from Shelby, CSX 2208 was invoiced to Broad Motors of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 8 January 1964. The car was factory-optioned with Class “A” accessories of aluminum Cobra valve covers, chromed 60-spoke wire wheels shod in whitewall tires, and a luggage rack for a total suggested retail price of $5,584.05.

The Shelby Registry reports CSX 2208’s first owner as a Philadelphia-area art collector who owned the car for mere months before selling it to local clothier Stanley Spritzler. In 1968, the Cobra was purchased by Lee Weinstein of Chatham, New Jersey as a high-school graduation gift to himself. Weinstein would use the car as daily transportation throughout the 1970s and go on to own the car for the next 47 years. In 1981, esteemed marque-expert Geoff Howard of Accurate Restorations in Danbury, Connecticut was commissioned to perform a thorough chassis and mechanical restoration. The car was maintained by Howard and Accurate Restorations at various points throughout the rest of the 1980s. Weinstein enjoyed and displayed the car regularly, keeping the Cobra registered and properly maintained until his passing in 2013.

Since moving into new ownership, CSX 2208 has been treated to a three-year full restoration to factory specifications by Classic MotorSports of Northville, Michigan. Colour Restoration of Loveland, Colorado was tasked with bringing the aluminum body back to factory specifications. For two years, Colour worked tirelessly massaging the chassis and removing old repairs before spending over 300 hours block sanding the body to ensure a mirror finish. The car was then cloaked in its rich factory-correct finish of Vineyard Green with the interior retrimmed in Saddle leather upholstery. Reams of invoices and receipts document the meticulous process from start to finish. Copies of the restoration documents and an original AC Cobra ownership manual are included in the sale.

Shelby 289 Cobras are rightly prized by true enthusiasts for their superior agility and purer driving experience. This example, with documented history from new and wearing a stunning restoration to factory specification, presents an opportunity to become one of the lucky few to experience Cobra ownership.