The Shelby American (Summer 2022)

ocky Meisel has owned CSX2386 for more than forty- five years. That puts the man/car relationship in a sig- nificant ownership category – differ- ent from a ne’er-do-well or dot-com millionaire who has paid a King’s ran- som for their car within the past cou- ple of years. He paid $8,500 for it. No question that was a lot of money by 1975 standards, but a pittance when compared to today’s money-squared Cobra values. He’s always driven the car. It’s the only thing he knows to do with it. If he was afraid to drive it he probably wouldn’t own it. Rocky is a Pennsylva- nia farmer and he is routinely seen in the area behind the wheel of his Cobra. It’s got a bit of history: it was the Pennsylvania State Hill Climb record holder. The car was originally purchased by Rydal Volkswagen (Rydal, Pennsyl- vania) and leased to Dr. Herbert Ecker. He submitted a warranty claim to replace the engine before selling it to Jack Strouse (Williamsport, Penn- sylvania). Strouse campaigned it in several hillclimbs in Pennsylvania and set the fastest time at the Hershey Hillclimb. Strouse was eventually crowned Pennsylvania State Hillclimb Champion. Meisel recalled going to watch Strouse race the Cobra when he was 12 years-old. ” I had planned on purchasing a Cobra back in 1974, right before the cost really began to accelerate. I just knew it was ‘now or never.’ The prices in Hemmings had risen from $3-$4k to $5-$6k, and I’d decided it was time. The next time I looked they were up to $7-$8k, and being a Pennsylvania farmer I felt even more pressure to find one before they were out of reach. When I’d locate one for sale, I’d run it by my neighbor, Jack Strouse, who had previously purchased two Cobras. The SHELBY AMERICAN Summer 2022 64 — Jim Kreuz jim.kreuz7@gmail.com R