Competition

AC Shelby Cobra Competition Roadster

First registration 06.1964

One of five original Shelby Cobra Competition

Current FiA papers

Swiss road registration with veteran entry

In the early 1960s, the fast Shelby Cobras caused a sensation in European motorsport and sparked the legendary competition between Shelby and Ferrari. The 1964 Cobra presented here was one of the FIA racing cars that competed at Le Mans, Goodwood and the Nürburgring.
The CSX-2301 chassis was delivered to Shelby American by AC Cars at the beginning of 1964. Still unpainted, the Cobra was already designed at the factory as a racing car with wide rear fenders. Under the direction of Carroll Shelby, the car – the third of a total of five – was given the FIA competition specifications and the iconic Shelby livery in Viking Blue. To distinguish it from the other team cars, CSX-2301 was given chestnut-colored racing stripes. After successful testing in Pensacola, where none other than Ken Miles (known to all from the movie “Le Mans 66” at the latest, when he “won” Le Mans alongside Carroll Shelby in the Ford GT40) took first place, and at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1964, the Cobra was shipped to Europe, where it was entered in all major races until 1966 – often with considerable success.
CSX-2301 took part in the Targa Florio, the 500 kilometers of Spa, Goodwood, Silverstone and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, among others. It also competed several times in the 1,000-kilometer race at the Nürburgring, but with limited success. On its debut in 1964, the number 99 with drivers Attwood and Schlesser achieved 23rd place.
At the end of the 1964 season, the Cobra changed hands together with team car CSX-2260. John Wyer, team manager at the time, sold both cars to Radford Racing. For the following season, the RR team fielded drivers such as Chris McLaren, Harry Digby, John Sparrow and Neil Dangerfield. At the BARC Goodwood Meeting in April 1965, the Cobra under John Sparrow achieved a second place in the “Sports Cars” and “GT” class – a promising start for Radford Racing.
A tragic event overshadowed the 1966 season: CSX-2301 was involved in a serious accident during free practice at Brands Hatch. Driver Tony Flory, who was due to drive his first race for Radford Racing, was killed. The remaining wreckage was kept by John Sparrow and later sold to Brian Angliss of Cobra Parts Ltd. in October 1977. Using the original parts and other spares, Brian rebuilt the Cobra, officially resurrecting CSX-2301.

This beautiful and brutal AC Shelby Cobra Competition was used very successfully by the last owner in well-known racing series. For example, several times in the Sixties’ Endurance by Peter Auto – 1st place, winner of the 2022 annual championship and 2nd place in 2024, and it was also entered in the 2023 Le Mans Classic.
Today, the AC Cobra 289 FIA is regarded as authentic testimony to the “Shelby-Ferrari War”, the bitter rivalry between Carroll Shelby and Enzo Ferrari. CSX-2301 leaves nothing to be desired, is ready to race and is waiting to revive its history at events such as the Le Mans Classic or the Goodwood Revival.

Errors, mistakes and prior sale reserved.