Shelby’s first Cobra returns to the New York International Auto Show where it was debuted 50 years ago.
Carroll Shelby introduced his first (and at the time, only) Cobra, painted Pearl Yellow by California customizer Dean Jeffries, with model dressed to match, on April 21-29, 1962. The venue: The Sixth Annual International Automobile Show at the New York Coliseum on Columbus Circle in the middle of Manhattan. Fifty years later, Shelby is returning with CSX2000 and his portfolio of high-performance models as part of Shelby American’s 50th Anniversary Tour.
Owned by Carroll Shelby since new, CSX2000 is powered by its original four-barrel 260-cubic inch Ford V8 and except for a variety of paint jobs over the years is pretty much in “survivor” condition. Judging by the auction prices of rare Shelby Cobras, CSX2000 is arguably one of the most valuable American sports cars.
“CSX2000 has been painted about a dozen times. It was tested in raw polished aluminum, above, when new, then yellow, then blue, etc. Shelby had only one car so he needed to make it appear as if he was stocked up,” said Colin Comer, Cobra owner-collector and author of Shelby Cobra, Fifty Years. “This is a very special vehicle.”
When Carroll Shelby and his street and racing Cobras returned to the New York Coliseum for the Auto Show in 1963, above, it would’ve been hard to find an enthusiast who wasn’t familiar the marque’s winning ways. A lot had happened in one year!
For information about everything Shelby, please visit, http://www.saac.com/
Check out Colin Comer’s Shelby books, http://www.colincomer.com/
For more details about the New York Auto Show, go to, www.autoshowny.com
The latest vehicles from Shelby American, http://www.shelbyautos.com/vehicles.asp