alianzaverdeporlaccionpacifica: Cobra

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The Mercer Cobra, may be ugly enough to cause eyes to bleed, dogs to cower, and designers to faint... but did you know it was built on a Shelby Chassis? CSX 2451 and a 289 went into this uggo

commissioned by the Copper Development Association from Virgil Exner’s designs in Esquire. Its design was drawn up by Virgil Exner and Virgil Exner, Jr.

Exner attempt at what a Mercer roadster would look like if they had stayed in business. The only reason the Cobra name is tied in is because they needed a frame and bought CSX2451 and a 289 Ford engine from Shelby to have this one and only Mercer built which makes it part of the Cobra history.

Although it bears a CSX number (as it should), it was born as a bare chassis at AC and had it's wheelbase stretched.
Shelby took the order from Exner, a US customer... but the finished chassis was drop-shipped from AC to Italy, where the new body was crafted.
So they didn't scrap any of "Shelby's stock of..Cobras" and this pup never saw SoCal.

info and photos from http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/92658-csx2451-mercer-cobra.html

I posted 2 photos of it a year ago, http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/08/have-you-seen-anything-uglier-than-this.html but didn't know then about the chassis info

For a full gallery and written analysis http://www.topspeed.com/cars/shelby/1965-mercer-cobra-roadster-ar113038.html

The first Shelby AC Cobra, still owned by Carroll Shelby, and one of the very few still a one owner Cobra

For a gallery of this car from last years SEMA http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/carroll-shelby-prototype-cobra-1.html

the other I know of two others, as CSX 2305 was a one owner, but just sold last month http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/10/one-owner-1964-shelby-ac-cobra-289.html

You ought to know I've already posted about them, and taken photos several times of the Hank's CSX 2227 http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/07/hassler-spring-was-to-counter-top-heavy.html ,

The most famous person and longest owner of a Cobra besides Carroll is Herbie Hancock CSX 2006 http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/03/herbie-hancock.html or read the story about Herbie and his Cobra at http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/96650-hank-williams-cobra-289-did-he-order-two-barrel-originally-2.html

Cobra Dragonsnake at SEMA

The Hooniverse is a mighty fun place... here is what Cobra Commander would drive

Those guys putting Hooniverse together are making such an enjoyable site, go check it out for a light hearted look at the Auto Enthusiast world http://hooniverse.com/

One owner 1964 Shelby AC Cobra 289 sells for 475,000

CSX 2305 is one of the few one owner Cobras that existed. found on http://jalopnik.com/5852452/one-owner-shelby-cobra-sells-for-475000

This original Shelby Cobra was purchased by Ed Johnson at Kansas City Ford in 1964. Johnson was the county Medical Examiner, and he raced and autocrossed the Cobra on a regular basis, earning numerous trophies and awards along the way. These awards, along with extensive documentation, will accompany the car to its new home.

I know of three others.

You ought to know I've already posted about them, and taken photos several times of the Hank's CSX 2227 http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/07/hassler-spring-was-to-counter-top-heavy.html , and a gallery of Carroll's CSX 2001 http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/carroll-shelby-prototype-cobra-1.html .

The most famous person and longest owner of a Cobra besides Carroll is Herbie Hancock CSX 2006 http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/03/herbie-hancock.html or read the story about Herbie and his Cobra at http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/96650-hank-williams-cobra-289-did-he-order-two-barrel-originally-2.html

Not many cars are Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes, and of the handful of them, this stands out

For another example of a Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe chassis being built into an equally rare car, http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/home-built-shelby-cobra-daytona-was.html where an independant racer bought a chassis from Shelby, and built the car to race.

Why did Dean Jeffries' Mantaray have a 289 Cobra engine? Cool story

Dean painted the first AC Cobra several times for Carroll Shelby.... painting it in different colors in order to fool magazine editors into thinking that many cars had been built... when actually only one prototype was.

So in appreciation Carroll gave Dean a 289 Cobra engine

Below is what it looked like in 1973 from http://www.huffreport.com/archives/oldpics/the70s.htm