OVERVIEW
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Factory Shelby Cobra CSX4000 continuation car
Rare aluminum-bodied example
427 side-oiler aluminum V8 engine
Titled and Registered in California
Powerful, lightweight, and an American icon, the Shelby 427 Cobra was the brainchild of sports car builder Carroll Shelby. While the original CSX3000 series of 427 Cobras ended production in 1967, the insatiable appetite for Cobras from the public around the world did not. During this time, many companies tried to make similar examples using Shelby's tried-and-true formula of lightweight cars with massively powerful engines, but were never true Shelby Cobras. Then in 1996, almost three decades after the last original 427 Cobra rolled off the production line, the new CSX4000 series was born. Now offered by Shelby American, Inc., no Cobra kit manufacturer could offer what the American company now produced: True Shelby authenticity.
CSX4000 series cars were offered in both fiberglass and aluminum-bodied forms with the aluminum examples being rare, almost doubling the purchase price of the car due to their labor-intensive hand-formed panels. These Shelby Cobras were delivered to authorized dealers as rolling chassis for final fitment of the engine and transmission, allowing the new owner to choose a power plant and transmission of their choice.
The original owner purchased the Vehicle from Shelby American in April 18th, 2003. CSX4309 includes the high-performance 427 aluminum engine paired with a 5-speed Tremec manual transmission. This 5-speed transmission allows for a more pleasant cruise at highway speeds, making this Cobra the perfect road car. It was then sold in 2008 to the second owner.
The Cobra was owned and drive the last 13 years by Ed Gilbertson, retired Chief Judge for the Pebble Beach Concours. His contribution to the car community has been invaluable, and he continues to share his immense knowledge through different publications across various car models such as Ferrari, and Shelby. After years of looking for a Cobra, Mr. Gilbertson found the right car just a few miles from his hometown in San Francisco. During his ownership with this Cobra, he made sure that everything was maintained to the highest level. He did this by having Bruce Canepa and his team to ensure the correct care of his beloved Cobra throughout his ownership. Mr. Gilbertson drove the car regularly, enjoying the performance and handling on the many California backroads.
The Cobra arrived at Canepa with only 6,725 miles on the odometer and was meticulously inspected. The engine bay, underside and interior were hand cleaned, ensuring all of the period-correct finishes were presented in their like-new condition. Bruce also added his personal touch by changing the angle on the windshield (Rate 4 degrees similar to the race spec Cobras), lowered and align the suspension on the Cobra to get the perfect stance. This stunning Shelby Cobra, with awesome performance and period-correctness that rivals the original Shelby 427 Cobras, is ready for its next owner to experience the cool factor of a Cobra.
