1963 Shelby 289 Cobra 'Sebring' Works CSX 2129

Car invoiced from AC Cars and delivered to Shelby's Venice, California facility, where it was completed to Works racing specification and campaigned as a factory entry throughout the 1963 season.

Privateer racer who ran the car through the 1964 SCCA season, earning a final podium at Bridgehampton in May before trading it back to Shelby American.

Car was traded back by Shaw and subsequently displayed at the 1964 New York World's Fair before passing to Southern California SCCA members.

The car passed through the hands of several SCCA-affiliated owners in the Southern California area during this period.

Beverly Hills-based owner who fitted a replacement interior and a new short block, reportedly retaining all usable original Shelby components in the process.

Hemet, California owner who used the car as daily transport for many years, then had the bodywork stripped and repaired in the mid-1980s, and later commissioned a full restoration to 1963 Works livery from specialist Mike McCluskey in 1995.

Owner continued careful exhibition of the restored car at prestigious international concours and motorsport events, accumulating further awards recognition.

First competitive outing of the season for the car under the Shelby factory team banner.

SCCA officials required removal of the oil cooler before the race; Miles complied and finished third behind two other Cobras.

After successfully petitioning to refit the oil cooler, Miles won outright and set a new course record of 1:47.2.

Final race of the car's 1963 factory season; across the full year the car earned nine podiums in fifteen starts, contributing to Shelby's USRRC Manufacturer's and Driver's Championship wins.

Final podium for the car under Shaw's ownership before he traded it back to Shelby American.

First major concours award following the McCluskey restoration to 1963 Ken Miles Works livery.

Part of the car's 2012 exhibition schedule under current ownership.

Featured alongside the Goodwood Revival as part of the car's 2012 concours appearances.

The year's Pebble Beach event carried a dedicated Shelby focus; the car was among those exhibited.

Attended multiple times by Long between 1997 and 2011.

Car assembled to full Sebring Works specification at Shelby's Venice facility, incorporating a 289 V-8 with Weber carburettors, four-speed transmission, auxiliary instruments, roll bar, hood scoop, flared bodywork, Halibrand magnesium wheels, side-exit exhausts, auxiliary oil coolers, competition braking system, uprated suspension, and riveted bonnet.

Finished in red with a black interior; notably lacked the 'elbow cut' doors present on other Works chassis.

Replacement high-performance short block fitted along with a new interior; original usable Shelby engine components were reportedly retained.

Work carried out under Bruce Goldsmith's ownership in Beverly Hills.

Body stripped to bare aluminium; fiberglass additions to the front coachwork — believed to date from the racing career — were removed and replaced with aluminium panels where necessary. Car was refinished in dark blue.

Carried out under Thomas Long's instruction; the car was subsequently used lightly and shown for approximately a decade after this work.

Full, meticulous ground-up restoration returning the car to its original 1963 Ken Miles number 98 Works appearance and factory-correct mechanical specification.

McCluskey was a recognised Cobra authority based in Torrance, California; the restoration was commissioned by Thomas Long and subsequently validated by a Gold Award at SAAC in 2005.