Description

Chassis No. CSX 2234
Engine No. 3513

*We are pleased to confirm that this Cobra retains its matching numbers engine and has an aluminum T-10 transmission with a casting date of 26 June 1963*

In Carroll Shelby's decorated career as a professional racing driver, the Texan piloted some of the most competitive and successful race cars ever to grace a circuit – the Maserati Tipo 61 'Birdcage,' Ferrari 750 Monza, and Aston Martin DBR1 to name just a few. Retiring from driving at the pinnacle of international motorsport after taking first place overall at Le Mans, Shelby returned to the US in 1960 to begin the next phase of his career as a constructor. If he had learned anything in his decade of racing overseas, it was that lightweight, simple chassis construction made race-winning cars. Fortunately for him, a tried and tested, nimble British roadster had just lost its engine supplier. AC Cars, seeing the potential to compete with the new Jaguar E-Type, and Ford, eager to beat the Corvette, supplied the chassis and engine respectively, uniting at Los Angeles-based Shelby-American Inc. in a feat of automotive alchemy to become the legendary Shelby Cobra.

Naturally, a number of alterations had to be made to the chassis before shoehorning the 260 cu-in small-block V8 into the engine bay previously occupied by a Bristol straight-six. A slightly thicker frame, extra cross bracing, stiffer springs, wider wheels and tires, and beefier gears, axles, and U-joints were all employed to contain added power. It was enough, but only just, with Road & Track writing in their test, 'With so much power on tap, the inept or inexperienced could get into considerable trouble, but a middlin'-good driver can certainly get the car around a racecourse in a hurry.' After a brief run of 75 cars, Shelby saw fit to add even more power, adopting a larger 289 cu-in V8 for 1963 and redesigning the chassis once again to accept rack-and-pinion steering. Shelby's more power, less weight formula proved to be a success on the track and the street, as he knew it would – winning the 1963 SCCA National Sports Car Championship, and selling faster than Shelby American Inc. could build them.

According to the SAAC World Registry, chassis number CSX 2234 was dispatched from AC Cars to Los Angeles, California on 20 November 1963. The bright Red over black leather Cobra was subsequently transported to Shelby American Inc. in Venice, California where it was mated to its 271-horsepower, 289 cu-in Hi-Po V-8 engine and four-speed manual transmission. Before it left Shelby American, CSX 2234 was also generously equipped with numerous 'Group A' accessories including aluminum rocker covers, a chrome grille guard and rear bumper, chrome exhaust tips, wind wings, sun visors, a heater, seat belts, a radio and antenna, five chrome wheels, and a desirable four-barrel intake setup. Mark Downing Ford of Huntington Beach, California received an invoice in the amount of $5,195 for the Cobra on 21 January 1964. While the original owner is not recorded, they are understood to have collected their new Cobra directly from Shelby American Inc. and relocated with it to the Eastern US. A known sequence of owners in Ohio, Alabama, Georgia, and Illinois followed through the 1970s and 1980s, with the Shelby Registry noting that by the late 1980s, CSX 2234 had been repainted in its original Red, still retained its chrome wire wheels, and remained 'as delivered' with the exception of a pair of aftermarket exhaust headers.

In 1987, marque expert Bill Kemper purchased the Cobra at an indicated 32,000 miles and embarked on a comprehensive, multi-year restoration. Photo documentation of the work performed shows the meticulous care that was taken to preserve the Cobra's important components and accessories – including its correct twin-carbureted 289 cu-in V8 engine, four-speed manual transmission, and differential – while also incorporating some discreet upgrades to improve drivability. Finished in elegant black paintwork over a matching interior, the renewed Cobra retained its attractive factory options and gained Spax adjustable gas shock absorbers, stainless steel brake lines, and a stainless steel side-exit exhaust system. Additionally, original and correct number stampings corresponding to the chassis number can be found on both the hood and trunk latches, a telltale sign that this Cobra retains a high degree of body originality.

Today, the stunning concours-level restoration remains in exceptional condition with little indication that it has been 19 years since it was completed. Two-thousand-fifteen saw CSX 2234 join the highly discerning 'Silver Surfers' collection of legendary musician Neil Peart. Among a coveted grouping of silver-liveried Italian, British, and American GT cars, the Cobra stood out as the only non-silver car and reportedly served as the centerpiece of Peart's collection. The Rush drummer's tragic passing in 2020 was followed by the sale of his cherished collection in August 2021, at which time the Cobra entered into the care of the consignor.

Diligently well-preserved and cared for since Kemper's exacting restoration, CSX 2234 represents a wonderful example of the humble Anglo-American collaboration that took the automotive world by storm. The original Shelby Cobra remains one of the most highly sought-after and frequently replicated cars of all time. With only 655 small block 'leaf spring Cobras' ever assembled between 1962 and 1965, this well-optioned and beautifully restored example boasting celebrity ownership history becomes all the more remarkable. Offered with an array of documentation and extensive photos documenting the restoration, CSX 2234 is not to be overlooked as it is certain to bring many more years of adrenaline-filled fun.