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[COB6051]

I've recently come across some fantastic period racing images by British amateur photographer Mike Dodman that feature COB6051 in competition. At the time, this AC 289 Cobra was owned by Vic Hassall of Birmingham UK and often driven by himself or Chris Mayman.

Even though the car was raced extensively back in the day, Dodman's pics of COB6051 are the only ones I've ever come across on the interwebs. I haven't seen any images since the Cobra was purchased by Nick Green of Datchet UK circa 1970. If you have any photos to share, please post them for all to enjoy.

Brian

Midland Automobile Club, Silverstone (Mar 1968):




Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb (Jun 1969):




Curborough Sprint Course (pre-1969):

I just received an email notice announcing the return of the ol' SnakeBytes newsletter, and have downloaded the first new issue.

I don't want to start any rumours, but it prompts me to ask: What does this mean for The Shelby American quarterly magazine?

Will the SnakeBytes newsletter replace The Shelby American, or will SAAC members now receive both?

Lew Spencer drove a 427 Cobra street roadster in the California SCCA's Braille Rally in the mid-to-late 1960s. As the event name would suggest, Spencer's navigator Ken M. was blind.

I haven't yet been able to identify the serial number of this particular Cobra, or the month/date the rally took place. The two round taillamps would place it somewhere in the CSX3200-3300 series.

I would appreciate any information that would shed some light on this.

Possibly the most famous original full-competition 427 Cobra roadster is coming up for auction at Mecum Kissimmee on Jan 18, 2025.

Nicknamed "Ollie the Dragon" for its tendency to spit flames through the hood scoop, CSX3009 is arguably the most successful big-block racing Cobra of all time. It won 60% of the races it entered and clinched the 1966 ARRC A/P Championship (driven by Ed Lowther) as well as the 1973 and 1974 SCCA National Championships (driven by Sam Feinstein). The car was meticulously restored to its 1965 Essex Wire Team livery by Mike McCluskey from 2009 to 2015.

Pre-auction estimate TBD.

[P/1052]

Unless I'm mistaken with my chassis identification, P/1052 is set to cross the auction block at Mecum Kissimmee, Jan 2-14, 2024.

According to the catalogue description, this original MkI road car hasn't been seen publicly in nearly 30 years and was just restored by RUF Automobiles.

See Lot R799.2 at: www.mecum.com/lots/1106987/1966-ford-gt40-mki-road-car/

[CSX3349]

Sorry to say that I found a couple boo-boos in the latest edition of The Shelby American magazine.

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1. This short article about the 427 Cobra that Peter Klutt showed at Pebble Beach last month erroneously refers to the car as the one Barn Find Hunter Tom Cotter uncovered in 2018. That particular car was CSX3278. The car Klutt showed at Pebble was CSX3349 (not CSX2249), the Penn Brothers drag car.

You can watch the Hagerty Barn Find Hunter episodes featuring CSX3278 here:

• Part 1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlRKSmHgzdE
• Part 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t4aO-XuUHY
• Part 3: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnU9jcOEE2o



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2. This short article tells the story of how Marilyn Monroe had been interested in buying a pink Cobra shortly before her tragic death. Now I can't say whether or not the text/story is true, but the accompanying image definitely isn't. It's a joke photo I created back in May 2021. I had modified a real photo of Marilyn reading the script to "Niagara" to look like the cover of the AC Cobra chassis manual.    This joke photo has gone mildly viral. I've since learned it was also used on a cover of the AC Owners Club magazine last year.

I've just come across this photo which was taken May 29, 2018, in SoCal and shows the late Rush drummer Neil Peart with his long-time drum kit setup man Lorne "Gump" Wheaton. As you can see, there's a lovely 289 Cobra in the background.

I know Peart was a rabid motorcycle fan, but am wondering whether he also owned a Cobra? If so, did Peart own an original CSX2000-series Cobra or a high-quality replica? If it's original, which CSX is it? Or does the Cobra belongs to Wheaton?

I've asked Wheaton via Twitter to confirm whose Cobra it is, but haven't gotten a response.

Grateful for any feedback from my fellow Shelby enthusiasts.