Showing posts with label AC Cobra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AC Cobra. Show all posts
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
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
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
The Hooniverse is a mighty fun place... here is what Cobra Commander would drive
One owner 1964 Shelby AC Cobra 289 sells for 475,000
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
Have you checked out the Magnetic Brain lately? He's upped his game, and his site is looking awesome! His content was never less than great, but it's even better now!
Stop if you've heard this one before, woman is given a 60's race car, she stores it for 30's years while she works at a Sears warehouse (after losing the car she suicides), because her dad gave her the car, because he was a bodyguard, to a music legend who murdered a woman.(Phil Spector) Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX 2287's story
Yes, same car. Above is the 1964 Riverside race, from http://magneticbrain.blogspot.com/
in November 1965 when Shelby took it out of “retirement” to run at the Bonneville Salt Flats. They changed engines and tires, retained the Le Mans 2.88 gearing and they were ready. No special prep, no spare engine, minimal supplies. USAC really didn’t believe they were serious about running for endurance records. They were more than just a little surprised when drivers Breedlove and Tatroe clocked 1,931 miles, averaging 150 mph and breaking the record set by Bugatti in the 1936 Type 57G “Tank” . It set 23 national and international Stock Car Speed and Endurance records!
After Bonneville the first Coupe required three days of cleaning to get rid of the salt. Now a tired racer, it was sold and ultimately fell into the hands of record promoter Phil Spector who, after receiving many tickets, gave it to his bodyguard. The bodyguard gave it to his daughter who, in 1971, put it in storage in Yorba Linda, California. She kept it locked up, not allowing historians, collectors, or even Carroll Shelby to see it. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s it became obvious that this car was an icon and extremely valuable.
Once the world became aware that the car was in storage, and everyone pressured her to seel the car, an exotic car dealer, Spector, Brand and her boyfriend who claimed she had promised him the car. Plus there was a judge and litigation involved before it was over. After selling the Daytona, Brand willed the car to her mother and then committed suicide.
It's now in the Simeone Foundation Museum in Philadelphia.
Read the whole story at http://www.carguychronicles.com/2010/03/shelby-cobra-daytona-american-racing.html found via http://theoldmotor.com/?p=13328
there are other crazy stories in this big world of cars, this is just one of many. Read the "Hemi In The Barn" "Cobra in the Barn" and "Corvette In The Barn" books by Tom Cotter. Blows your mind how many of the ultra exclusive race cars, muscle cars, and sports cars have been left to rot and neglect for years and decades by owners that weren't interested in them
Covettes and Cobras still meet the first Saturday of the month in the Costco parking lot by Starbucks
Someone has burned their legs, and isn't going to let that happen again
Shelby AC Dragonsnakes (only 8 made)
Ed Hedrick pistured above in the (fuchia or magenta yuck) dragonsnake that put the AC Cobra into the national records for winning A B and C/sports for 1963 and 1964
Available in 1963, sold with 23 options designed specifically for drag racing. The 289 cu in engine was availble in 4 stages of performance, 271, 300, 325 and 380 horsepowerOct 2011 update, one just was at Mecum at Monterey auction, and didn't sell at 825,000
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