Once upon a time, Carroll Shelby had a vision of developing a European styled sports car featuring an American V8 engine under the hood. Since making his vision come true, the Shelby Cobra has become an iconic sports car recognized worldwide and highly sought after by collectors. Now is your chance to own a piece of motorsports history because this particular 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Mark I is up for auction.
It all started taking off when Carroll secured a partnership with AC Cars out of Surrey, United Kingdom in 1961. AC supplied a variant of their AC Ace model to Shelby which he would then complete in the United States using engines from Ford. They began with the 260 cubic-inch V8 but after building 75 Cobra models with that engine, they upgraded the V8 to a 289 cubic-inch powerplant.
This particular Shelby Cobra features the very desirable 289 cubic inch V8 engine. That’s not all though, at some point during its lifetime, this Cobra was modified for racing. Then, a new owner acquired the car in 2005 and began an extensive refurbishment of this legendary classic.
Some of the highlights include repainting the vehicle in Guardsman Blue, a rebuilt Holley carburetor, and rebuilding the four-speed manual transmission. There are also four-wheel disc brakes, a transverse leaf-spring suspension, and the dapper flat-head Cobra badges.
You will also notice the 15-inch wire wheels are painted silver. The engine roars through a dual-exit exhaust system with chrome tips and the car even features a luggage rack which is very convenient considering the trunk is so small. The vintage black leather upholstery is in great condition while providing you with a true nostalgic experience while sitting behind the wheel.
Purchasing this vehicle will also entitle you to the soft black top roof should you ever want to enjoy this Cobra 289 on a chilly or rainy day. With only 45,000 miles showing on the odometer and a recent refurbishment under its belt, this Shelby Cobra still has a lot of life left in it.
Of course, for how rare the Cobra is, most owners do not like putting a lot of miles on these cars. Can you blame them? Many Cobra models reach seven-figure price tags these days. Yet, you will have a difficult time finding a single Cobra owner who experiences buyer’s remorse.
If you think you want this slithering snake in your collection, you know what to do. To walk around your garage and see a 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Mark I is a priceless experience for any gearhead. Just know that you will have plenty of bidding competition should you choose to go after this Cobra.
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