Cobras and Coupes

“The World Championship Roadster” Cracked paint? Dents? Scratches? It’s history, and it’s a priceless, proud and original world champion. One of the most desirable of all Cobras, CSX2345 was one of five 289 “FIA” roadsters. The museum’s most original competition car has survived unscathed for 50 years, just as it was when Bob Bondurant booted…

“The Ken Miles Car” Talented mechanic and standout driver Ken Miles was born in Britain. He raced motorcycles and cars in his home country, but is best known for his career with American racing teams – in 1953, he won 14 straight SCCA victories shortly after he moved to the U.S. Commonly known as the…

“First FIA Win Cobra” This 1963 Factory Team Cobra Le Mans Roadster was the first Cobra to “draw blood” in the famous Cobra-Ferrari Wars of the 1960s. Three Factory Team cars were built specifically for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. Designated “Cobra Le Mans,” these three cars had more than 40…

Tom Benjamin’s 427 Roadster “Coming Full Circle” Once you drive a 427 Cobra, you’ll never forget it. And once you sell one, you’ll always regret it. That’s the case here, as this one is back in the hands of its original owner. Besides the 31 early 427 S/C models and 19 competition cars, 260 427…

“The Slalom Snake” The Slalom Snake (or Slalom Special, as it was first known) was marketed by Shelby American as a street Cobra fitted with the appropriate options for autocrossing. At least two such cars were built in late 1964, placing them among the last 100 289 roadsters. Since the introduction of the more powerful,…

“The Mack Yates Cobra” Among the experienced Corvette racers seduced by the Cobra in 1963 was Mack Yates. This Kirkwood, Mo., car dealer had done well with his Corvette that year, winning SCCA’s Midwest Division A Production Championship. In 1964, having seen the immense advantage that the Cobra held in the class, he won that…

“The British Version” The racing community is tightly-knit, especially in England, so in late 1963, Ford dealer John Willment – then running Ford-engined Formula 1 cars for driver Frank Gardner and racing Cobra CSX2131 – heard that Shelby planned to build a series of Cobra coupes. Since he had co-driven this hardtop roadster to a…

“Cobra Roots” The Collection recognizes the Cobra’s British roots by displaying this A.C. Ace, the antecedent of the Cobra. This seductive shape started it all. Auto Carriers began in 1902, when John Weller, supported by London merchant John Portwine, started building three-wheeled delivery vehicles. Cyclecars and passenger cars followed, their designs influenced by Napier and…

Carroll Shelby, under a contract with Rootes Group of England, built the 1964 Sunbeam Tiger 289 prototype, a high-performance V8 version of the Sunbeam Alpine roadster. The production Tiger was very close to the prototype developed by Shelby American. This Tiger, with serial number B9470035, is one of seven competition “Works” Tigers built by Rootes to compete in international rallies....