The Most Valuable Cobra...

[CSX 4027]

I was a Cobra groupie form the 70's and was lucky to run into the owner of 3002 during the mid 80's in Limerock. We became friendly after I sent him a videotape of him driving his car. The rest was history. It was a plus that he lived in Jersey.

Great 3002 Story...

I was always invited to his Superbowl party. There were always over 50 people there. It was a catered event with families waiting to watch the game on a giant sceen TV. As soon as the game started, all the guys were in the garage. 3002 was on a lift and the guys would just stand around admiring the car. None of us knew who was playing in the Superbowl and none of us cared. It was a tradition until the car was sold in 1997.
Those days will always be fondly remembered and missed.
As for the documents, I was helping the owner sell the car. I was in touch with Ritchie Kline from the Imperial Palace. He turned down the car for $550,000 because he thought it was too different from the regular 427 since it had the 289 nose. He said it would never be worth that kind of money. The owner finally sold the car to Mike Shoen for $437,500. That included the original wheels and original aluminum 427 heads that came on the car when Ken Miles drove it. It changed hands a few times since then. I bet that car would do well over 1 million today. I guess Mr. Klein was wrong not to buy it.

[austind42]

As answer to CSX4027
Interesting, but not quite true. I bought the 3002 from Shelby after Ken was killed. I raced it for about 1-1/2 years in the Lone Star Region SCCA.
The aluminum heads were removed when I got it because they were illegal in SCCA racing. They were sold to a friend who raced GT350s. He resold them, but I don't know to who.
The dry sump was also pulled and replaced with a partitioned oil pan for the same reason.
The original wheels that were on the car were stolen during a break-in at my shop (The Pit Stop - in Austin, Texas). I had to buy another set from Shelby American.
David Dunlap
Austin, TX

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by austind42

As answer to CSX4027
Interesting, but not quite true. I bought the 3002 from Shelby after Ken was killed. I raced it for about 1-1/2 years in the Lone Star Region SCCA.
The aluminum heads were removed when I got it because they were illegal in SCCA racing. They were sold to a friend who raced GT350s. He resold them, but I don't know to who.
The dry sump was also pulled and replaced with a partitioned oil pan for the same reason.
The original wheels that were on the car were stolen during a break-in at my shop (The Pit Stop - in Austin, Texas). I had to buy another set from Shelby American.
David Dunlap
Austin, TX

Did you notice that the last post in this thread, before yours, was 17 almost 18 years old?

This is archival material not a live thread, although it is possible to post to it. Many of the original participants may have sold their cars, moved on to other interests or sadly passed on.

Look to more recent threads to make a positive contribution.


Ed

[MKS427]

Like it or not, I believe this is the most valuable Cobra. Carroll Shelby actually turned down 25M when he was alive.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...by-cobra-sold/

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by MKS427

Like it or not, I believe this is the most valuable Cobra. Carroll Shelby actually turned down 25M when he was alive.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...by-cobra-sold/

Once again (if you read back a few posts) that was Carroll's claim, from Saudi's to Martians, but only he knew what was real. When it came time those people didn't appear, so it's like selling stock: Today's quote only matters if you sold today.

It still sold for 13.75m (including buyer's fees) which still places it at the top of the realm.