1964 Shelby 289 Cobra
- Engine
- 289 cu. in. (4.7L) OHV V8, four-barrel carburetor, 271 bhp
- Colour
- White
Shelby 289 Cobra, chassis CSX 2561, was built in 1964 and is notable for being one of fewer than twenty examples fitted at the factory with a C4 automatic transmission. Originally finished in white with a red interior, it served briefly as a Shelby American demonstrator before retail sale. The car retains its original aluminium body and the majority of its factory components, and has passed through a documented chain of American owners over five decades. It successfully completed the Copperstate 1000 rally in 2014.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,072,500
- 1964-08-25 → 1965-01-27Factory deliveryShelby Americanfull documentation
Received as a factory demonstrator vehicle, used internally before being invoiced onward to a dealer.
- 1965 →Private saleEdwin Ovilicepartial documentation
Oakland, California resident; first retail purchaser, buying the car as a factory demonstrator.
- 1965-01-27 →Private saleHayward Ford Motorsfull documentation
California dealership that took delivery and sold the car at the factory demonstrator price of $5,250.
- 1983 → 1993Acquisition unknownJim Yanceypartial documentation
Paris, Texas owner who held the car for approximately a decade before selling.
- 1993 →Private saleGuy Eaversfull documentation
Staunton, Virginia owner under whose name the car was registered in the Shelby American Automobile Club World Registry of Cobras and GT40s.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJim McCarthypartial documentation
Also an Oakland resident; acquired the car sometime in the late 1970s.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownMorn Sinaipartial documentation
Based in Hayward, California; acquired the car in the early 1980s.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCalifornia sports car collectorpartial documentation
Part of a notable private sports car collection in California before the car moved to the current owner.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownEast Coast consignorpartial documentation
Current owner who undertook an extensive authenticity restoration costing over $38,000, with invoices retained on file.
Competition
- 2014Copperstate 10002014 Copperstate 1000Completed the event
Driven by the current owner following completion of the authenticity restoration work; finished successfully.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Modification
The factory-fitted C4 automatic transmission was supplemented or replaced with an all-aluminium Borg-Warner four-speed T-10 manual unit, though all original automatic transmission components were retained with the car.
Timing of this transmission change is not specified in the catalogue.
- —Restoration
Comprehensive authenticity corrections carried out throughout the car, including a replacement rear filler cap and correct trunk finishing, with documented invoices exceeding $38,000.
Work was completed prior to the 2014 Copperstate 1000 and supporting invoices remain on file.
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