Link: https://www.mecum.com/lots/1184981/1964-shelby-427-prototype-factory-team-cobra/ (https://www.mecum.com/lots/1184981/1964-shelby-427-prototype-factory-team-cobra/)
Auction Description:
Estimate: In Excess of $25 Million
CSX2196
The Prototype 427 Shelby Cobra
Ken Miles Shelby American factory team car
1 of 2 Cobras built in the USA at Shelby American, the other being the prototype Daytona Coupe
The only Cobra build with an improved Daytona Coupe chassis
Ken Miles' personal project to build the ultimate Cobra
One of the most important and valuable Shelby cars ever to be produced
Only 4,096 original miles from new
One of the most original factory team Cobras, retaining original chassis, body, engine, inner panels, brakes, suspension, radiator, gauges, chassis tag, pedal box, gas tank, original Rebat batteries, etc.
Adjustable Heim joint suspension, modified pick-up points to lowered chassis, tilted springs for more caster, all for high-speed stability and astounding handling
All special high-tensile aircraft hardware sourced in period for strength, which the car still retains
The first sports car that Ford fitted with the famous 427 FE engine
Original aluminum 427 sider oiler engine with larger cylinder sleeves due to the aluminum casting, making it a 390 CI engine
Original lightweight Ford experimental all-aluminum numbers-matching 427/390 side oiler engine, and this is the actual motor that was first in CSX2286 Daytona Coupe destined for LeMans and then installed into CSX2196
Original massive 58mm Weber carburetors; only 15 sets were ever produced
Engine built in period by Ford's genius special engine builder, Mose Nowland
Originally built as a 289-style Roadster with a 427 engine and raced as a factory Shelby American team car at Sebring
After Sebring, Shelby American stripped the chassis to its frame rails and A-frames, it was then lengthened by 3 inches
Chassis was then converted into a Daytona Coupe chassis, with back bone bracing and triangulation, highly modified and "Swiss Cheesed" creating a super lightweight, rigid chassis
Super lightweight one-off aerodynamic alloy body which flipped up like the Daytona Coupe front clip and nicknamed The Flip-Top Cobra, as confirmed by Pete Brock
Specifically built to beat the Corvette Grand Sports at the Nassau, Bahamas races
8-second lead on lap one at Nassau, obliterating the Corvette Grand Sports, Ford GT40s and Ferrari 275 Comp Speciale and 250 LM
No expense spared 4-year complete ground-up restoration by Legendary Motorcar using only original or NOS components to perfect 1964 Nassau specs
Original, impossible-to-find NOS Goodyear blue streak stock car special tires
Underside belly pans like on the Daytona Coupe for better aerodynamics
Other than the Daytona Coupes, this car featured the best aerodynamics of any Cobra
Weighs 1,800 lbs with 500 plus HP, an unheard of power-to-weight ratio for its time
Fundamentally a Daytona Coupe chassis with a one-off super-lightweight Roadster body, prototype lightweight engine, designed and built by Ken Miles with no rules
Shown on the lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Scored Premiere at the SAAC national convention
First in class at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
"It's the Ultimate Cobra" — Peter Miles
Peter Brock has stated that it is "...the most sophisticated engineering car that I think ever was done within the Shelby operation"
Internal Ford paperwork shows Ford went to the Bahamas to oversee the GT40 program, and seeing the success of this prototype 427 Cobra, Ford decided that the GT40 needed a 427 engine if they wanted to win LeMans
(https://www.saac.com/forum/gallery/44-101126142058.png)
Does anyone remember the funny nick name that some at Shelby assigned this 25 million dollar expected hammer price car?
The "Turd"?
Now - Expensive, Rare & Valuable "Crap"
Miles called it the TURD. While it was owned by Royal Kreiger it was known as the Pelican for some reasson. It was silver at SAAC1. If I remember the first engine in it was an aluminum 390. Funny they don't mention the crash that led to the rebody........
PS - I'd call it and the Coupe "rebodied" not built - they still retained their AC cars heritage.
Yep, Miles called it the Turd. CSX2300 is also on the block.
Since I'm "only" in my 60's, I plan to let all the dynosaurs die off and then I plan to buy a Coupe, Maybe the Turd, a few 66 GT350s'. I'll have to have fast cars to outrun the zombies.
that car certainly has an interesting history... it's fresh in my mind as it is the subject of the cover article in a recent issue of Classic Motorsports magazine.
I'm not sure if I should conclude anything... but we saw the car in-person at Legendary Motocars on a Tour in 2022, but were forbidden to take any photos.
Now it is on the Cover of a magazine and For Sale ???