Shelby Built 1 of 50 50th Anniversary FIA Cobra Shelby 331 V8 490 HP TKO600

SUMMARY

If you're a car enthusiast, you know all about the iconic empire built by Shelby's legendary Cobra. From 6-figure originals to fiberglass replicas, the word "Cobra" can represent anything from a sinuous boulevard cruiser to a hardcore track star. With that in mind, every dynasty has a Sultan, and, for the Cobra, that Sultan is a classic like this 1 of 50 50th Anniversary Shelby 289 FIA. Commissioned and sequentially numbered by Shelby American of Las Vegas, Nevada, this surly beast combines storied heritage with killer looks, excellent build quality and unbeatable provenance. If you're searching for a fresh twist on an old favorite, forget about project cars pieced together from leftovers. And forget about sloppy replica builds that shame their fabled predecessors. Call your friends at RK Motors Charlotte and pick up this razor-sharp roadster. It's pristine, rare and ready to rock and roll!

HISTORY/BUILD

In the summer of 1964, Shelby 289 FIA Cobras entered competition in the World Manufacturer's Championship to battle storied competitors like Chevy, Jaguar, Ferrari and Aston Martin. Combining a robust, powerful American engine with a featherweight chassis, the cars graced winner's circle in the hands of legends like Ken Miles, Dan Gurney, Phil Hill and Bob Bondurant. Today, over 50 years later, the original FIA 289 Cobras are some of the most valuable classics ever produced. And, as a fitting tribute, Las Vegas's Shelby American decided to honor those icons with 50 sequentially numbered copies of this 50th Anniversary CSX7000 roadster.

Beginning life as hand-laid fiberglass, CSX7972 was sprayed in requisite Viking Blue 2-stage and shipped to Windsor, California's DenBeste Motorsports for final assembly. That enduring pigment was augmented with a Maroon FIA stripe and decorated with meatballs and sponsor decals that replicate the look of CSX2301: the car Bob Bondurant and Lew Spencer piloted to victory. Functionality was ensured by bright halogen lighting, a polished Monza-style fuel filler and a stainless-trimmed windshield that's wedged between Cobra wind wings, tinted visors and polished wipers. Appropriately minimalist add-ons include black quick lifts, billet badging, an FIA-spec roll bar and a bullet-style driver's mirror. And today, rolling less than 550 miles since its 2014 debut, this classy Cobra strikes a perfect balance between outrageous looks, serious performance and excellent attention to detail.

ENGINE

Twist the car's chrome hood ties and you'll find $27K worth of Shelby small block that builds on the fiberglass body's theme of world-class performance at any cost. Cast to 289 cubic inches, stroked to 331 cubic inches and assembled by the pros at DenBeste, this famous Ford powerplant twists stout 10.4 to 1 compression into 490 horsepower and 459 lb./ft. of torque. At the top of the balanced, blueprinted and dyno-tuned mill, eight polished stacks marry wind with fuel that's supplied by braided stainless hoses and four Weber carburetors. The resulting air/fuel mixture makes its way from a period-correct Cobra intake to lightweight Shelby heads, which hide custom pushrods and aluminum roller rockers under polished breathers and finned valve covers. A custom-grind cam rocks those rockers while a Callies Compstar crank spins sturdy H-beam rods under Mahle PowerPak pistons. At the front of that cam, an MSD Pro-Billet distributor sequences fire through 8mm Shelby plug wires. As combustion is sparked, resultant gases are jettisoned through fabricated headers. That combustion's cooling is provided by a beefy aluminum radiator, which stores coolant in front of a large-diameter puller fan, a small Harrison overflow and a high-flow water pump. Coated Clevite bearings, a proven Carter fuel pump and an Optima gel cell battery join a tough Melling oil pump and an 8-quart oil pan to ensure the high performance small block has endurance and longevity. And quality ancillary components, like a period-correct dipstick, a Motorcraft voltage regulator and a reliable Holley fuel regulator, give the impression that someone really sweated the details during this incredible roadster's build.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

One of the best things about buying a professionally built, Shelby-designed Cobra is the impressive hardware underneath. Fully sorted and completely detailed, the car's 3-inch, Drawn Over Mandrel frame and fully independent suspension are ready to hit the toughest track you can find. Behind the stalwart 289, a Tremec TKO600 5-speed hangs opposite a Kirkham TorqueTrak differential that's stuffed with 3.54 gears. 11-inch vented discs combine with dual-piston Shelby/Wilwood calipers to provide confidence-inspiring stops. Modern rack-and-pinion steering makes low speed parking almost as easy as high speed sweeps. Exhaust makes haste through large side-exit pipes. And power meets the pavement via original-style Pin Drive wheels, which spin 225/65R15 Avon radials in front of 275/55R15 Avon radials.

INTERIOR

Cobra interiors have always been simple, and this roadster's purist nature shines like a fresh coat of wax on its glossy blue fenders. Firm bucket seats stretch tight leather hides between fresh safety harnesses. In front of those seats, a leather-wrapped dash founds requisite Stewart Warner telemetry and a serialized plaque between a chrome mirror and a retrofitted Kirkham fuel pressure gauge. At the sides of that dash, cut back doors hang more leather beneath traditional chrome handles. Below those doors, fade-free carpet frames simple hand controls in 50th Anniversary-exclusive floor mats. In front of the driver, a wood-rimmed steering wheel spins polished spokes around a 50th Anniversary-exclusive horn button. And behind the passengers, a surprisingly spacious trunk features a 50th Anniversary-exclusive mat.

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

With impressive performance, classic looks and incredible provenance, this pristine roadster provides unmatched exclusivity. Combining a slick fiberglass body and massaged aluminum engine with 21st century build techniques, it's a virtually new, highly authentic example of one of the most desirable Cobras ever produced. Don't miss this opportunity to own a spotless, turnkey Shelby that's just as rare as vintage, and probably more fun to drive!