1965 Shelby 427 Cobra
- Engine
- 427 cu in (big-block) V8, ~500 hp
- Colour
- Red
CSX 3102 is an authentic 1965 Shelby Cobra 427, finished originally in red over black and documented in the Shelby American World Registry. Distinguished by its unusual body history — it wears aluminium panels from Le Mans–intended CSX 3005 — the car was sympathetically restored to original appearance in the late 1960s. For four decades it was owned by the Jones brothers of Roanoke, Virginia, who exhibited it widely and made it a cult figure through promotional imagery for their menswear business. It retains its original engine, leather interior, and under 18,000 miles.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$990,000
- —Auction saleSold US$995,000
- 1965 → 1965Factory deliveryHerb Tousley Fordfull documentation
Dealer invoice was cancelled after the car sustained minor damage; Shelby American handled repairs under a separate invoice dated October 1965.
- 1965 →Private saleFirst retail owner of CSX 3102partial documentation
Reportedly unprepared for the car's power and damaged it in an accident shortly after taking ownership.
- → 1969Private saleRichard Shopfpartial documentation
Resident of Covington, Louisiana; used the Shelby-supplied panels to return the car to its original configuration and advertised it in May 1969 as being in perfect condition with roughly 7,000 miles.
- 1969 → 1971-08-01Private saleEd Guntherpartial documentation
Held the car for approximately two years before selling it; used the proceeds to purchase a Cadillac V-16.
- 1971-08-01 →Private saleBill and Bud Jonesfull documentation
Brothers from Roanoke, Virginia, who owned the car for roughly four decades; used it extensively in promotional materials for their menswear business and showed it regularly at Shelby club events. The car's history under their stewardship is documented across six pages in the SAAC World Registry.
- Date unknownPrivate saleDennis Henningsenpartial documentation
Based in Mason City, Iowa; inspected chassis for structural damage, then sourced and fitted the complete aluminum body from CSX 3005, a former Le Mans candidate, to restore the car properly.
Competition
- 1977Shelby American Automobile Club1977 SAAC-2 Concours1st in popular vote, 427 Comp Cobra class
Event held in Hershey, Pennsylvania; car was shown rather than raced and won its class by popular vote among attendees.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1965RepairShelby American
Minor damage repaired by Shelby American under invoice A 1057 following the car's return from the cancelled dealership sale.
Repair invoice dated 9 October 1965.
- —Repair
Chassis magnaflux inspection confirmed no structural damage; complete aluminium body sourced from CSX 3005 was fitted to replace damaged bodywork.
Work carried out during Dennis Henningsen's ownership. The replacement body had been modified with wide fender flares, brake cooling ducts, twin oil coolers, and a 289-style nose for its intended Le Mans role before being returned closer to standard.
- —Restoration
Car fully returned to its original appearance using the Shelby-supplied aluminium panels; condition described at sale as perfect with 7,000 miles.
Completed during Richard Shopf's ownership; the 7,000-mile reading at the time of the 1969 advertisement is presumed to date from this restoration.
- —Bodywork
One additional refinish of the Shelby aluminium body carried out after the Shopf-era restoration.
Referenced as the sole further cosmetic work beyond the period restoration; timing not specified.
- —Mechanical
Mechanical sorting undertaken; new shock absorbers fitted, with original units retained and to be supplied to the new owner.
Extent of mechanical work beyond shock replacement not detailed in the catalogue.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.