OVERVIEW

In the world of sports car legends few cars achieve and sustain iconic status, fewer still within moments of introduction. So began, in 1963 the incomparable mystique of the original Shelby Cobra. Over the past 60 years, the Cobra has retained a rightful legendary place in history – spanning cultural, performance, and investment categories, breaking new ground with each decade as fast as the tires could hold launching to top speeds.

Carroll Shelby and his team of experts began their legacy in 1961. Derived from the AC Ace, the key to the Cobra was the installation of the durable Ford 260 V8 engine. Shelby wasn’t the first to place American power in a European car, but his formula snake-charmed the right moment, price, and market. The new offering became an overnight icon. Featured in songs, movies, and on racetracks, the media became Snake-Charmed by the performance of the Cobra and Carroll’s handsome swagger. Bravado aside, the Cobra delivered 4.9 second 0-60 times, besting top European contenders including production Corvettes by a large margin. The Cobra was reliable, quick, and extremely capable, advancing further still with the later series 289 V8 and eventually 427 variants. And while track victories with sponsorships and privateer racers mounted, it would ultimately be the street Cobra that would establish legions of dedicated followers who continue that admiration today.

This Shelby, CSX2311 is a later series production 289, fitted with the highly desirable rack and pinion steering and rare factory option twin-4BBL carburetors. Recorded in the World Registry of Cobras and GT40s, CSX2311 was billed to Shelby American January 24, 1964, and shipped to Los Angeles, CA, finished in green with a black interior. Invoiced March 3, 1964, to Warner Wooten Ford, Inc. Cocoa, Florida as “1 Cobra-Ford, chassis CSX2311, Vineyard Green”, the car was priced at $5,195.00 and outfitted with the following “Class A” accessories: less sun visors, WSW tires, and luggage rack, radio and antenna, dual four-barrel carburetors and manifold, Blue Streak tires, and antifreeze for a total of $5,866.25. The car was picked up at Shelby American by the original owner, John Norris, Eau Gallie, FL. Having paid a handsome price for a very well optioned factory twin-4BBL powered car Norris surprisingly kept the car for only a brief period despite driving it quite a bit. Norris advertises CSX2311 in October 64’ Road & Track magazine “1964 Cobra. 2x4-barrel engine, Blue Streaks, British Green, Sun tach, 12,000 miles, no races, $6,800 new, sell for $5,500.”

The second owner, Robert L. Eaton, FL, owned the car for fifteen years accruing 15,000 miles over his period of ownership. In August 1979 Bill Turner, Fort Myers, FL was finally able to purchase it after years of gentle if not insistent persuasion. At the time of Turner’s purchase, the odometer indicated 27,000 miles. Having secured the car, Turner kept it in the original condition until 1987 when he engaged Gary Hunt, Naples, FL to perform a sensitive cosmetic restoration. The car is pictured in the October 1988 issue of Super Fordmagazine (page 36) and was shown at SAAC-15, Dearborn, MI, July 1990 where it placed 3rd in the Concours Cobra class. Turner would retain the car for three decades, restraining accumulating miles to just over 1,000 miles spanning his years of stewardship. In 2009, Jerry Chandler, Rancho Santa Fe, CA purchased the car with his estate selling it just three years later in 2012 to the next owners. The car remained subsequently in Europe until the current owner purchased it in 2023 and successfully repatriated back to North America.

Under current ownership, in keeping with the decades of respectful preservation, selective attention to originality and freshening have been applied to this rare 289 Cobra. Indicating just over 30,000 original miles, the car has been fitted with new tires, the wheels have been professionally refinished to the correct standards, spokes trued, and all working systems inspected, fluids replenished as needed, and the car has been road tested in preparation for the next owner. Importantly, professional inspection confirms that the hood latch, trunk latch, and both door hinges are stamped with matching numbers correlating to the original chassis plate on this car. Further, the combination of factory twin-4BBL and rack and pinion steering make for an exceptionally rare low mile offering.

With exceptional care and known history from new, CSX2311 presents today as a remarkable example combining sensitively restored exterior features and original components. The green exterior is glossy and smooth with appropriate attention to fit and finish of the factory aluminum opening features and aluminum body. The exterior trim, while limited, is in excellent condition overall including the windscreen trim and glass, lights, lenses, and emblems. The grille is correctly finished, the wire wheels and dual ear knockoffs are beautiful, and the rear exit pipes correctly extended with chrome tips. The bumpers and grille guard chrome are also in excellent condition. A new set of Michelin 205/70 R15 radial XWX tires give the car a perfectly perched wide, but hunkered down stance, filling the distinctive wheel arches with just the right scale and profile tire.

The interior is finished with black leather seats and surrounding black materials consistent with factory application and materials when new. The seats have a wonderfully settled patina, slightly relaxed from years of gentle use but retaining a snug and supple feel. The dashboard and instruments are properly arrayed with correct dial faces and preserved nomenclature. Details of original features are everywhere from the instrumentation to the gently worn AC foot pedals, correct steering wheel and warmly hued wood rim, original Cobra radio and antenna, and speedometer indicating just 30,452 miles. While many Cobras will have been used extensively and completely refinished under lesser-known histories, this Cobra offers an authentic experience in keeping with the dedication and preservation of these cars – where restorative expertise is applied with care and respect to originality.

Under the hood, the 289 V8 engine is topped with a set of factory-correct four-barrel carburetors and correct high-performance intake manifold. The added horsepower from the already potent engine adds further impressive horsepower to the already potent high-performance engine. Correct Cobra engine components such as finned cast aluminum Cobra valve covers, original AC Cars chassis plate, correct hoses, impressive front leaf spring wrapping, and dual-carb linkages are in place, reflecting proper care and attention to originality in keeping with every aspect of this Cobra. The trunk is clean and tidy, once again representative of the original finishes including housing a full-sized spare wheel and Goodyear tire, almost certainly original to the car. The underside of the car further supports the documented years of enthusiast ownership and dedication to preservation. And while much of the originality in this car might be considered fragile or museum-bound, the driving experience is very rewarding and ready for enjoyable use, shows, or events.

CSX2311 fires up instantly, boasting a powerful Cobra growl. The rear exit exhaust settles the exhaust note to a comfortable burble at idle, waking up with crisp and raspy blips when on the throttle. Though relatively docile when idling, Cobras are eager to launch even when gentle on the throttle. This is even more impressive on dual four-barrels as acceleration is brisk with progressive pull through all gears. Freeway speeds come up in a matter of legendary seconds while braking remains impressive with disc brakes at each corner. Handling and ride are notably improved when compared to earlier production worm and gear steering cars and a welcome delight in this original configuration.

Offered with convertible top bows, side curtain windows, jack, and grease gun, as well as reference records accumulated with this remarkable car, CSX2311 represents an unrepeatable opportunity to experience one of the most iconic performance cars of the 20th century. Conceived as the ultimate sports car by a legendary team of motorsports experts, this 289 Cobra retains the perfect balance of originality, preservation, and sensitive restoration – one ideally suited for the next enthusiast to drive, show, and enjoy for decades to come.

Please contact Jason at +1-206-355-7727 for more information on this 1964 Shelby Cobra 289.

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