1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster

 

 

MECUM

 

Every Shelby 427 Cobra is rare simply by nature, but everyone knows that within that context, some reach the level of “exceptional”, a fact Carroll Shelby acknowledged when he signed the glovebox door of CSX 3301 with the inscription,

One of the rarest
CSX3301
Carroll Shelby

The first car in the third production group of 427 Cobras, this sparkling White roadster was completed at AC Cars for delivery directly to Ford Advanced vehicles in Slough, England. As such, it was never invoiced to Shelby American and did not show up in American DMV records. Factory equipped with Smiths gauges, a hardtop, 428 engine and Sunburst wheels, it was purchased new by a Mr. Franck of Paris, France, who sold it to GT40 owner Jean-Pierre Van Den Doorn, also of Paris.

Van Den Doorn placed it in his private collection and the car was seldom seen for years, until it was sold to The Vintage Car Store in Nyack, NJ in August 1977. It then went through the hands of Kirk White and then Larry Megibow, who sold the car along with a substantial bank lien to Dan Turman in 1979.

In 2001 CSX3301 was completely restored by HRE Motors in Freeport, NY, who returned it to its original White with Blue stripes, Black side pipes and chrome roll bar, and it remains the same today, with the odometer showing 10, 872 kms or 6,755 miles. The interior is outstanding, showing as new, and the engine compartment is completed to a very high standard. As Shelby noted, this is an especially unique 427; it is also gorgeously turned out and exceptionally well detailed. In addition to its listing in the Shelby American World Registry, documentation includes photos of the original ledger at AC Cars.

 

 - 392 built
- 6,755 miles
- CSX3301 was the first car in the third production group of 427 Cobras
- Completed at AC Cars for delivery directly to Ford Advanced Vehicles in Slough, England
- Never invoiced to Shelby American and did not show in American DMV records
- Factory equipped with:
- Smith gauges
- Hardtop
- 427 CI 8 cylinder engine
- Sunburst wheels
- Purchased new by a Mr. Franck of Paris, France who sold it to GT40 owner Jean-Pierre Van Den Doorn of Paris
- It arrived in the US in New Jersey August 1977