The Most Valuable Cobra...

Cal Metal · #1 (**permalink**) 02-19-2003, 10:33 AM

There has been a lot of talk lately about the very special CSX cars. I thought it would be fun to run a poll:

Besides the Daytona Coupes, What Cobra, in your opinion, has the highest monetary value today...

427Aggie · #2 (**permalink**) 02-19-2003, 11:23 AM

You forgot the twin paxton car? I would have to believe that it has a great value associated with it...Also wouldn't the first cobra have a higher value than most just because it was the first?

Mind you I am still voting for 2196..cool freakin car.

Matt

Cal Metal · #3 (**permalink**) 02-19-2003, 11:31 AM

I purposively restricted the sample to Competition cars; otherwise, Carroll's CSX 2000 car--a crown jewel by any measure-- would have been included in the group, as well.

Using the Comp cars makes for an easier apples to apples comparison. I can think of a dozen non Comp cars that could be included in the poll. Maybe another day...........

snakeeyes · #4 (**permalink**) 02-19-2003, 11:46 AM

No prizes for guessing which one I voted for.

This is an esteemed group, the cream of the crop of Cobra roadsters. I would add a few others: the aforementioned CSX2000, Don Roberts' 289 racer (claimed to be the winningest Cobra of all, I believe), and Dick Smith's 427.

I would still have to vote for 2196. It has an allure that is somewhat inexplicable; just do a search on this forum using "Flip Top" and look at the kind of response a discussion about it invariably produces. Cobra enthusiasts seem drawn to it like proverbial moths to a flame. It's not that the car has a stellar racing history like many of the others on the list. Rather, IMHO it represents the blueprint for what many would consider the "ultimate" roadster. Combine that with the fact that the car was basically hand-built by none other than Mr. Miles, and the well-documented whuppin' the car laid on the Grand Sports at Nassau (before it broke, anyway), and you've got a desirable recipe.

If Rich Mason wanted to sell the car, I'll bet he'd see pretty astounding results if he waited for an event like the 40th anniversary of Shelby winning the GT World Championship (2005), advertised the car heavily, then put it up for auction at Monterey or perhaps the Barrett-Jackson...anybody want to donate a few million bucks to a fellow CC member?

427Aggie · #5 (**permalink**) 02-19-2003, 11:50 AM

I would have to go with the flip top as far as value...for me...owning any one of those cars is a dream....I really have set a goal of having a 289 comp car in the next 15 years...its going to be hard but I think I can make it.

Matt

wicked fast · #6 (**permalink**) 02-19-2003, 01:04 PM

thanks for the "easy" question.

I can't decide between
CSX2196
or
CSX3002 !!

To quote the great HOMER (simpson):
aw crap!!!

Cheers,
Bill Cook

casaleenie · #7 (**permalink**) 02-19-2003, 01:37 PM

Cal Metal
Is this subjective or is there an answer???
I don't know enough about them to even make a good guess..
I'll do some reading and get back....

decooney · #8 (**permalink**) 02-19-2003, 01:54 PM

On the Flip-Top....

I may be wrong about this information, and being super critical of originality.... but something I've wondered about is how the value of the flip-top car will be affected now with the original/rare 390 aluminum motor removed and replaced with a 427? A local shop built the 427 for this car, and its great and all. But, I thought I later saw the aluminum 390 for sale and sold for really cheap. Ouch!

With Daytona Coupes going for 4+ million at Monterey a few years back, I think I would have held on to that original aluminum 390 and kept it with the car. The 427 may be better, functionally, but the original history and mistique of that car was the light weight, and having one of a few aluminum Ford FE/390s in the car when it was originally developed.

Hopefully I just misunderstood it or gathered bad information, and the owner still has that original aluminum 390 on the side.

Cal Metal · #9 (**permalink**) 02-19-2003, 03:10 PM

Casaleenie:

There is no right or wrong. Let the public decide. We all have our opinions and thats what polls are all about.

Duane:

I remember the story on the 390 motor being for sale. Terry K may have an answer to that, as he lives down the road from Rich Mason.

Personally, it would be nice to have that engine with the car but, for a few bucks, one could also reconfigure an all aluminum 427 FE to 390 cid. Most, if not all, of the original Competition cars do not have their original engines, and if you don't have the original invoice, you will never know for sure.

ERA600hp · #10 (**permalink**) 02-19-2003, 08:48 PM

The One That's In My Garage!!

The Royal Rhubarb

REAL 1 · #11 (**permalink**) 02-21-2003, 12:17 PM

I agree with the previous post. The most valuable Cobra to me is CSX 4206.

Cal Metal · #12 (**permalink**) 02-21-2003, 01:44 PM

A good idea for a poll in the year 2062.

snakeeyes · #13 (**permalink**) 02-21-2003, 02:11 PM

I'm surprised that there are currently 450 views and only 48 votes. Cal, maybe you should post a poll on why people aren't voting in your poll.

Excaliber · #14 (**permalink**) 02-21-2003, 02:58 PM

OK,,,,,I'll vote then. I just don't know which one to pick! I like them all, lol.

Ernie

REAL 1 · #15 (**permalink**) 02-21-2003, 05:34 PM

Cal: Touche'

Specialk · #16 (**permalink**) 02-21-2003, 06:20 PM

I like 2196. When I looked at that car, all I could think was "Ken Miles worked on this!" Definately the coolest!

CSX 4027 · #17 (**permalink**) 02-22-2003, 06:26 PM

I have to go with 3002. To me it was really the most unique being the prototype for the 427 that most in the club have replicated. Everone important had driven it and eventhough it didn't win anything it remains the only 427 that Shelby American ever campaigned.
Also, I drove it
Also, Also...I have a copy of all of the factory paperwork on it.

REAL 1 · #18 (**permalink**) 02-23-2003, 05:37 PM

Steve: How is it you get to do all this cool $hit and have all this cool $hit!

You are too cool Steve. Too cool.

Carroll DeWeese · #19 (**permalink**) 02-23-2003, 05:41 PM

The reason more people are not voting is that they do not know. After all, for most people the most valuable Cobra is their own. It may not cost the most money but it is the most precious.

CSX 4027 · #20 (**permalink**) 02-23-2003, 06:39 PM

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.