1965 Shelby 427 Cobra

LMC is proud to present this original 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C

While the 289s were cleaning up against the Ferraris, Shelby knew Enzo would build something for the net season that would be built to beat the Cobra. Shelby knew he needed to look ahead the next season and also build something faster. Carroll Shelby knew he could not make the 289 any lighter so he decided to give the car a larger Engine. The First 427 prototype was built on a stiffened 289 Chassis, but the 289s 20-year-old technology couldn't handle the massive power coming from the new engine. The 427 featured a thick and larger chassis and slightly modified body, but keeping the original 289 doors, windscreen, hood and trunk lid. By the time the 427 came to life, Ford already had a promising sports car to beat the Ferraris, the GT40. Therefore the only 427 to ever race for the team was the first prototype csx2196. Shelby made 4 major versions of the 316 original csx 427 Cobras, 50 full competition cars were build with the intentions of them being sold to privateers. Shelby had a hard time selling 50 race specification cars. After the east coast Shelby representative learned this he suggested they paint the remaining competition cars, put a full windscreen on them, and give the rear flare and extra lip and called them S/C or semi competition cars, meant for the road. The S/C cars were undoubly the quickest road car you could buy in the period. Many of the S/C cars were quickly converted for racing as they were practically already set up for the road. The 427 is the ultimate dual purpose Cobra as it is turn key for the road and turn key for the track. The 427 cobra is the ultimate successor to the 289 and "Anything the 289 did poorly, the 427 did well; and anything the 289 did well, the 427 did better"

CSX 3031 was billed to Shelby American on 2/9/65 and was among the very few that was finished to semi-competition (S/C) specifications and was finished in the famous Shelby livery of Blue with black interior along with white side pipe exhaust.  The car also came without a fan, tops or side curtains. The car had been originally ordered by Frank P. Thurner and purchased through North West Motors. He took delivery of CSX3031 at Shelby American partway through 1966 and actually drove it home to Michigan. After completing the trip Thurner added electric fans as well as a top. The car was then sold later that year to Gerry Mulnix (MN) with 5000 street miles. Mulnix was into road racing and owned a Shelby GT350 R-model already, he got the S/C Cobra prepared and ready to race for the upcoming 1967 SCCA races.  The Cobra would go on to be raced successfully in 1967 and 1968 SCCA events. At the 1967 Southport airport race 3031 was clocked at an average speed of 80mph and in 1968 Mulnix finished 1^st in A-production at Donnebrook speedway while also setting a new lap record. In a very astonishing feat, Mulnix managed to complete both the 67 and 68 seasons unscathed. Over the next couple of years the car would trade hands a couple of times before ending up in the hands of Bob Ash in Iowa who treated the car to a little restoration work in its original colour combination.  Some time after that the car would trade hands again a couple of times before being acquired by Connie Moore from Oklahoma. Moore both enjoyed the car and showed it over the next couple years before, as is often the car, CSX3031 was put away in storage. Many years later he decided it was time for the Cobra to get freshened up, it was restored and repainted. Shortly after the restoration Moore put the car up for sale and in 1992, Walmart owner and famous car collector Rob Walton would end up being the purchaser. Walton would enjoy the S/C Cobra on several driving events over the next 9 years including the Copperstate 1000. In 2003 Mike Drobot (CA) purchased the car from Walton and a few years later the car was given a complete ground up restoration where the engine, mechanicals and suspension were all redone. Recently 3031 has been restored back to its correct factory livery of blue with black interior and white side pipes, just the way it was picked up at Shelby American almost 50 years ago. CSX 3031 is one of only 29 factory produced 427 S/C Cobra. With its rich race history and an unharmed life 3031 is surely one of the best S/C cobras in existence today.