It would be hard to ever overstate the significance of Shelby Cobra No. CSX 2000. It’s not only the first Shelby Cobra ever produced, but the first car that Carroll ever built, and therefore, the point of origin for the entirety of the Shelby brand; myriad Shelby Mustangs, the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40, the Cobra Daytona coupe, and numerous other paragons of American performance all owe a great debt to this car.
And on August 19th, Shelby Cobra CSX 2000 will be crossing the auction block at RM Sotheby’s Monterey event.
This relic of automotive history was built in 1962 to serve as a development prototype for the Ford-powered, AC-bodied performance roadster. It’s the same example that Shelby lent out to various publications for review in 1962, repainted a different color each time to trick the public into believing that it wasn’t one-of-one.
As RM Sotheby’s so eloquently put it, Shelby Cobra CSX 2000 is “the cornerstone on which Shelby changed the course of automotive history. It is the actual pen with which he signed his declaration of war and the idea upon which he built his company and revolutionized American racing – and the greater auto industry as a whole.” It’s also about as original as one can get, having spent 50 years in the ownership of Carroll Shelby himself, who never so much as repaired the drivers seat, now tattered and shredded.
Given the unique (and important) history of this Shelby Cobra, we anticipate the winning bid to easily reach eight digit territory. The real question is: by how much?
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