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While in hibernation during the 37 years, 2079 experienced some bumps and bruises while sitting in the garage. During a tremor (mild earthquake) a box fell from the rafters above the car not once but twice leaving a dent on the right front fender as well as a dent on the nose just in front of the leading edge of the hood. Then there was a splash of some type of fluid that marred the left rear fender (about the 2 o'clock position of the rear flare) those three mishaps will be eventually addressed. Other than those three issues the beautiful British Racing Green Lacquer Paint (yes Lacquer) is simply stunning.

There are other priorities at the moment. As for the interior, if anyone has seen ( I'm sure everyone has) photos of Carroll Shelby's CSX2000 original deteriorating seats, 2079's seats are just as in similar condition.

I'm hesitant to post any photos of 2079 just yet other than me returning from taking 2079 from a quick spin on my last visit. You guys know me when it comes to posting photos. I've got quite a few of the ongoing process of CSX2079 over the past several years.

To Be Continued...

Cheers,
~Earl J

As a  preface, I've been meaning to post this since mid-August between SAAC 43 and the Rolex Reunion down Laguna Seca this past summer. I promised Vern I would. Here it is mid November. I also wanted to confirm a few more details with Tom C. without further delay . Oh, by the way this will be an ongoing update on CSX2079.




Well, first off CSX2079 I believe is the 5th original 289 (CSX2074 being the last 260 car). I've been working with Tom C. and 2079 off and on for the past 4-5 years now. We've been going at it in a very casual way.  Tom C. has owned  CSX2079 since 1974. He's a long time NorCal SAAC and Cobra Club member from the 70's. I only work on it when I'm home - here in California and when our schedules allow, hence the slow progress.

Unfortunately, the information (for 2079) which was submitted to Ned Scudder for the Cobra Registry  in the late 80's/early 90's prior to the '97 Registry is inaccurate; and was not submitted by this owner. Whomever submitted the Registry information during that time period is a mystery. In the meantime 2079 stayed as the same vehicle since the early '80s, and Tom C. made a conscious decision not to bring his car to club events.

Fast forward to 2013. I was Vice President of NorCal SAAC at the time and during our holiday party that year, Tom C. walked up to me and said he was referred to me by Mike Camicia. He introduced himself and asked me if I would consider looking at the Webers on his 289 Cobra. The Webers in the car needed some attention. My first thought was; I thought I knew a good 85-90% of our region members, NorCal had 500+ members at the time and secondly a club member walks up and says he has an original 1963 Shelby Cobra. I'm like...Ooookay... tell me more.

As it turns out, we coordinated a date to view his car. This was the first time I'd seen CSX2079 in person. Quite a unique car. This started as a red exterior/black interior slab side cobra (now British Racing Green, vintage photos looks almost black) that had been modified in the late 1960's by the previous owner. In trying to understand what the previous owner  (Marty N.) had envisioned, Marty described it to Tom C. this way: (quote) "I wanted a serious roadster" (see vintage photos), and a serious roadster it had become.

First off, the front and rear wheel wells were flared (nicely, but not stock) to accommodate large Good Year Blue Streaks. This was the first thing I noticed. Next were the gorgeous polished alloy Borrani wire wheels with knock offs. I then noticed the bumpers and nose guard and emblem holes had been closed for a super clean 60's look. They were hanging on the garage wall. Lastly these unique side vents in the front fenders were added behind the front wheels, certainly not the stock louvers. (early cars had no vents at all) My first thought, "what the heck are those?" but they do grow on you after a while in a good way.

Okay, the interior is pretty Spartan: bare aluminum interior panels are painted an unusual light green shade. I immediately thought of that military green paint they used to paint the interior of USAF fighter planes,  some kind of oxide protecting paint. In addition to overuse of this dark grey indoor/outdoor carpeting under the wheel wells to prevent rock chips. This car was never driven in the rain. This carpet had also been applied to the interior foot box, floors and transmission tunnel sides. It was even used under the front and rear fenders flares for rock protection.


Tom rarely drove and brought 2079 out. Of the few times, which took some convincing, the late Lewis Downs recommended Tom bringing it to a few club events. This was in the early 1980's. Since then life continued on with married life,  career, kids, college and so on. CSX2079 sat dormant until Tom and I crossed paths.

To be continued...

Cheers,
~Earl J


p.s. I was informed, these two vintage photos were taken by Lynn Park back in 1974 when he came up from southern California to see 2079. These shots were taken on Marty N.'s front lawn.

While in hibernation during the 37 years, 2079 experienced some bumps and bruises while sitting in the garage. During a tremor (mild earthquake) a box fell from the rafters above the car not once but twice leaving a dent on the right front fender as well as a dent on the nose just in front of the leading edge of the hood. Then there was a splash of some type of fluid that marred the left rear fender (about the 2 o'clock position of the rear flare) those three mishaps will be eventually addressed. Other than those three issues the beautiful British Racing Green Lacquer Paint (yes Lacquer) is simply stunning.

There are other priorities at the moment. As for the interior, if anyone has seen ( I'm sure everyone has) photos of Carroll Shelby's CSX2000 original deteriorating seats, 2079's seats are just as in similar condition.

I'm hesitant to post any photos of 2079 just yet other than me returning from taking 2079 from a quick spin on my last visit. You guys know me when it comes to posting photos. I've got quite a few of the ongoing process of CSX2079 over the past several years.

To Be Continued...

Cheers,
~Earl J