Messages

[1966 Shelby 427 Cobra]

226

Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / UK Cobra bound for US auction this summer...

« on: May 28, 2012, 01:53:26 »

Looks like one of the handful of original 7-litre Cobras in the U.K. might find its way to a new home...
   
   CSX3216 is set to cross the auction block this summer at the Gooding & Company sale in Pebble Beach CA, August 18-19, 2012.
   
   Here's an excerpt from Gooding & Company press release dated May 23, 2012:
   
   1966 Shelby 427 Cobra
   Carroll Shelby’s iconic 427 Cobra is indisputably one of the most recognizable and iconic American sports cars ever created.  The 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra that will be offered at the Pebble Beach Auctions is just one of 260 road cars produced. An excellent representation of what collectors look for in an authentic Cobra today, CSX 3216 has a genuine, date-coded 427 FE big block engine and has been extensively restored to its original livery of Wimbledon White over an  original, beautifully-patinated, black interior.  The car is equipped with a complete file of documentation dating back to its first owner.  Its estimate is $750,000 - $950,000.
   
   CSX3216 looks quite different now that it's been restored to original specification (according to the press release).
   
   It's gone from looking like this when it was at Maxted Page in Essex...
   
   
   
   
   
   ...to looking like this.
   
   
   
   

[CSX2001]

227

Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / Cobra 50th event at NHRA Museum (Pomona CA)

« on: April 25, 2012, 01:00:43 »

One of the year's big celebrations took place this weekend at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California, where dozens of Cobra owners gathered for a 50th anniversary reunion put on by the Team Shelby Pacific Coast Division.
   
   In all the event attracted 1,000 visitors, 150 cars including Cobras, Shelby Mustangs and more, and such luminary guests as Parnelli Jones, Bob Bondurant, Pete Brock and Don Prudhomme.
   
   Click here for more info: http://www.museum.nhra.com/apcm/templates/general.asp?articleid=50030&zoneid=41
   
   Autoblog USA has posted a wonderful gallery of 60 photos: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/shelby-cobra-50th-anniversary-reunion/#photo-4979419/.  Here are some highlights.
   
   The very first production Cobra (CSX2001)
   
   
   
   The Shelby driving school car (CSX2005)
   
   
   
   Two original-owner cars (CSX2006 owned by jazz musician Herbie Hancock, and CSX2227 owned by Hank Williams)
   
   
   
   
   
   A 289 FIA factory team race car (CSX2259)
   
   
   
   The only Stage 3 factory-prepped Dragon Snake (CSX2427)
   
   
   
   Three 427 competition/semi-competition roadsters (CSX3016, CSX3026 and CSX3047)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   And two Cooper Monaco King Cobras (CM/1/63 and CM/6/64)
   
   
   
   

228

Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / Does anyone recognize this 289 Cobra?

« on: April 06, 2012, 01:18:56 »

Can anyone identify the chassis number of this 1964 289 Cobra?  Is it an original, or is it a replica (Hawk, ERA, other)?
   
   These photos were taken Oct 2011 during the "10000 tours du Castellet" at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France.  The car was driven in this event by Michel Lecourt and Raymond Narac, but neither is listed in the SAAC registry as the car's owner.
   
   The registration EBY 518B appears to be valid and corresponds to a 1964 4.7-litre AC, according to the DVLA website.
   
   
   
   
   
   The car seems to be running a Ford Racing 351W crate motor.  The prop rod for the hood (bonnet) doesn't look original to me, but maybe I'm wrong abut that.
   
   
   
   I posted the same question over at the SAAC forum, but haven't got any answers over there yet.
   
   Thanks for looking.

[PRESS RELEASE: Cobra 50th Anniversary to be Featured at 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion]

229

Cobra (Thames Ditton) Forum / Cobra featured marque at Monterey Historics 2012

« on: August 25, 2011, 16:27:08 »

The AC/Shelby Cobra will be the featured marque at next year's Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca, to celebrate the car's 50th anniversary.
   
   Brian
   
   ****************
   
   PRESS RELEASE: Cobra 50th Anniversary to be Featured at 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
   
   MONTEREY, Calif., August 21, 2011 – Cobra, one of the most recognized and iconic names in the motorsports and automotive worlds, will be the featured marque at next year's Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion on August 17-19, 2012. Today's announcement was made at the closing awards ceremony by Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca who was accompanied by the growl of a Cobra driving on stage.
   
   Created by Carroll Shelby in 1962, the original Shelby Cobra quickly established itself as the dominant American competitor on the international sports car racing scene, narrowly missing the World Sports Car Championship in 1964 and winning the championship in 1965, a remarkable achievement "from scratch" against established European competitors. This success was prompted by a strong partnership between Carroll Shelby and Ford Motor Company. Shelby chose Ford engines to power his cars that consistently outperformed its competitors.
   
   Next year will be the 39th year of historic racing at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Carroll Shelby was honored in 1997 at the formerly-named Monterey Historic Automobile Races®, and 2012 will be the first time the Shelby Cobra will be featured.
   
   The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is an annual tradition that hosts approximately 550 authentic and historic race cars from nearly every decade of motorsports history. The cars are divided into individual groups according to age and engine size, and each one must be period-correct in their presentation.
   
   Visit http://www.MazdaRaceway.com for additional information.
   
   Source: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
   
   ****************
   
   Here are some pics from the 2011 Monterey Historics, courtesy of AOL Autos.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

230

Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum / AEX93 for sale at RM Auctions Amelia Island

« on: February 23, 2011, 23:29:15 »

FYI -- AEX93, a 1956 Bristol-powered Ace roadster, is going to cross the block at RM Auctions' Amelia Island event on March 12 (Saturday), 2011.
   
   Estimated price is $135-175 thousand USD.
   
   Click here for details and pics:  http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=AM11&CarID=r187&fc=0

231

428 Frua Forum / What's the story with chassis MX1?

« on: April 30, 2010, 00:41:44 »

Does anyone here know the story behind this particular 427 Cobra?
   
   http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120563239793&si=tB9ruYY9JqyrobC5w22Qenr6TDE%3D&print=all&category=6472
   
   According to the eBay listing -- which is from a Missouri-based classic car dealer -- this particular car was produced by Brian Angliss from original AC chassis and tooling.
   
   The chassis plaque (is it original or reproduction?) assigns it the number "MX1."  The seller says this particular chassis is not documented in the SAAC registry (and I haven't verified against my copy).
   
   The ad makes some strange statements/claims.  It calls the car a "1968 AC 428 Cobra" when of course the MkIIIs were known as "AC 289 Sports" in Europe.  It says the chassis has a 96-inch wheelbase, which could've been just a typo or...
   
   Could it be that Angliss had rebodied an AC 428 Frua at some point, and called it the MX1?  Or is this one of the five Paramount chassis?  Or something else altogether?
   
   Any ideas?

[Banking on Brooklands]

232

General Forum / Click here to help save Brooklands race track

« on: April 03, 2010, 20:08:22 »

Just came across this website, which may interest you.
   
   Banking on Brooklands
   http://www.bankingonbrooklands.org.uk
   
   Launched on March 30th, 2010, Banking on Brooklands is an initiative developed by the Brooklands Museum to raise much needed funds to secure the future of the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit dating back to 1907. All funds raised will help the development of the Museum’s priceless collection of historic motoring and aviation exhibits and to enhance visitor facilities.
   
   Brooklands Museum features a vast collection of historic aviation and motorsports exhibits – including the first British-built Concorde – and attracts more than 110,000 visitors annually. Brooklands hosts many commemorative aviation and motorsports events as well as being a popular conference and banqueting venue.
   
   Brooklands Museum is managed by Brooklands Museum Trust, an independent charity formed in 1987 to establish a museum on this historic site.
   
   As well as safely buying a square-yard of history via this web site, you can also request a square-yard via post.
   
   Alternatively, if you would just like to send a donation directly to Brooklands Museum, you can securely arrange this via Justgiving.
   
   As a registered charity, Brooklands Museum Trust Ltd can reclaim tax on any donation we receive from a U.K. taxpayer under the Gift Aid scheme. This means that your donation, whatever size, will provide even more support for our vital preservation, restoration and education work...

233

428 Frua Forum / Cool website with AC brochures

« on: March 21, 2010, 00:14:08 »

I came across this cool website full of automotive brochures and just had to share the link, as they have a few scans of original AC sales literature.  Enjoy!
   
   *  1967 AC 428 "Frua"
   *  1994 AC Ace "Brooklands"
   *  1999 AC Cobra MkIV Carbon Road Series
   *  1999 AC Superblower
   *  1999 AC Superblower - different version
   *  2001 AC Aceca

234

428 Frua Forum / So what was the "A" in "CSX"?

« on: March 14, 2010, 01:16:57 »

Like many of you surely have, I've read that the "CSX" prefix in Cobra chassis numbers stood for:
   
       C - the third in the AC Ace series
       S - Shelby contract
       X - export
   
   ...and of course there were COB numbers for British market cars and COX numbers for European export market cars.
   
   I'm pretty sure that the AC Ace-Bristol cars had chassis numbers starting with BEX, or something like that.  So, which cars had their chassis numbers beginning with "A"?  Did the early AC-engined Aces use a B or A chassis number?  Or was A used for a different car altogether?

235

428 Frua Forum / Newbie from Canada saying "Hi"

« on: March 05, 2010, 12:17:03 »

I just joined this forum and wanted to make an introductory post to say "Hi."
   
   I am a frequent poster on several other Cobra forums and recognize a few of the usernames from this site too.
   
   I am a 100% certified car nut and am crazy for all things automotive.  But the AC/Shelby Cobra has been at the top of my list since I first saw one as a young boy in the movie, "The Gumball Rally."
   
   I bought my first "Cobra" last summer -- specifically a 2002 Superformance MkIII Sports -- and have been living the dream ever since.  It shares garage space with my 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata and my 1977 Triumph 750 Tiger motorcycle.
   
   Spring will be here soon in snowy Canada and the Cobra fever is starting to heat up.  Can't wait to fire 'er up again!