The iconic Shelby Cobra rules as one of the world’s most-admired sports cars, familiar to everyone and with so many replicas out there that when you see a Cobra on the street, you automatically assume it’s a replica.
The Pick of the Day is most-certainly not a replica but an actual, low-mileage 289 roadster built by Carroll Shelby’s crew back in the day. The 1963 Shelby Cobra has had an easy life, according to the seller advertising the car on ClassicCars.com, kept in Hawaii and only driven occasionally.
“For more than 45 years, this beautifully preserved 1963 Shelby Cobra lived in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment in Hawaii, and was driven by the late owner when he visited his second home on the island,” according to the ad. “With less than 17,000 miles on the odometer, which are believed to be original, this lightly used and lovingly cared-for authentic Shelby Cobra has to be one of the most original on the planet.
“Unlike many of the Shelby street cars from the ’60s, this one has never been modified for the track, and is virtually unmolested.”
The Cobra, CSX 2081, has had one repaint and some minor paintless dent repair, says the seller, a dealer located in Garland, Texas, although the car is in Los Angeles and wears a Montana license plate. Go figure.
The chrome spoke wheels were added in the ’60s, the dealer says, and the Cobra still has its original windshield in place. The car comes with all its equipment, including convertible top, side curtains, tonneau, jack, tools, grease gun, etc.
While the Shelby still has its factory-installed Ford 289cid V8, 4-speed transmission and differential, it has a replacement Harrison replica radiator and the generator has been replaced with an alternator. The factory radiator and generator are available on request, the seller notes, as are the original wheels and tires.
“Here’s an opportunity to own a fully documented, original 289… Shelby Cobra, fully sorted and ready to show, or enjoy on a weekend cruise,” the dealer says.
An original ’63 Cobra in such clean, low-mileage condition would be the star at most collector car auctions, and this car is priced according at $985,000, or basically a million bucks. If everything is as described, it’s a great car and would be a sound investment.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Damned if tho’s bumper guards look like the ones on my Mustang…
could that be ??
I wish……
Montana registration, probably to an LLC, is to avoid high registration fees in Hawaii or California.
These prices are just insane! I get it but wow and trust me I have a muscle car and it’s crazy the prices and costs! Trying to obtain NOS parts for even the simplest of jobs is very costly. Still, this is a such a beautiful car, I hope it goes to someone who truly appreciates what they have and not focus on how much it cost!
Another seller trying to squeeze every last dollar out of a car. Original radiator, generator and wheels available on request? All the parts should come with the car just adjust the price or here’s a thought include them with the car at the current price (this is a particularly clean example but is on the high side considering one almost as nice with parts was a no sale at 790.) What would they do with them once the car is gone hang them on the wall?
I agree with Mr. Murphy. Hawai’i just rapes people on insurance/tags/registration on anything the govt thinks is valuable and the market will bear. Been there, done that. Paradise with a price, that’s our 50’th.
A sweet car that deserves to be driven, hard and often, as intended. If the anthropromorphization of automobiles, as exemplified so eloquently in the movie "Cars", is real, then that lil sweetie wants flogging, wants to rip, and will reward a sympathetic owner with the ride(s) of a lifetime.
Alas, she’ll disappear into some rich old f***’s collection, and never do exactly what her purpose was… how sad is that? Why? Drive it!
R