Cobra memorabilia: What does your collection look like?

[SunDude]

I'm probably not alone in collecting Cobra memorabilia. So far (and much to my wife's chagrin) I've assembled a pretty good collection of models, books, movies and whatnot. I thought that maybe, once I bought a Cobra replica, that my collecting might cool off. But it doesn't look like it will.

So what does your Cobra memorabilia collection look like?

Here's mine as of this morning (more to come, undoubtedly).

Diecast models (mostly 1:18 scale)

• 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 street roadster, black, Exoto no. RLG18128
• 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 competition roadster (CSX2026), #14 Sebring 12hrs, red, Exoto no. RLG18135
• 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (CSX2299), #15 Sebring winner, blue w/white stripes, Yat Ming no. 92408
• 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (CSX2601), #24 Coppa Citta Di Enna winner, blue w/white stripes, Exoto no. RLG18012
• 1965 Shelby Cobra 427S/C roadster, blue w/white stripes, Yat Ming no. 92058
• 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 competition roadster, blue w/white stripes, Kyosho no. 08045
• 1965 Shelby Cobra 427S/C roadster (rectangular taillamps), blue w/white stripes, Shelby Collectibles no. DC42700
• 1965 Shelby Cobra 427S/C roadster (round taillamps), blue w/white stripes, Shelby Collectibles no. DC42700
• 2004 Ford Shelby Cobra concept, tungsten w/grey stripes, Mattel/Hot Wheels no. G7218
• 2005 Ford Shelby GR-1 concept car, tungsten w/grey stripes, AUTOart no. 73072
• Johnny Lightning Rock ‘n’ Rollers bundle: 1:64 Cobra roadster and CD-EP of “Hey Little Cobra” by the Rip Chords
• several Hot Wheels 1:64 diecast in various colors: Cobra roadsters, Cobra coupes, and 2004 Cobra and 2005 GR-1 concepts

Books

• SAAC Shelby American Automobile Club, Cobra, G.T. 350, G.T. 500: A Production History and Owner Registry, SAAC Shelby American Automobile Club 1982, 480 pp. (ISBN n/a)
• SAAC Shelby American Automobile Club, Shelby American World Registry of Cobras and GT40s, 4th Edition, Kopec/Eber Publishing LLC 2008, 1618 pp. (ISBN 1935350072)
• Richard J. Kopec, Shelby American Guide: A Comprehensive Developmental and Technical History of All the Cars from Shelby American 1962-1970 (revised edition), Motorbooks International 1982, 128 pp. (ISBN 0961170808)
• Richard J. Kopec, Shelby American Cobra/Mustang Guide (Hot Rod Magazine Automotive Series Vol. 5 No. 1), Peterson Publishing Co. 1987, 130 pp. (ISBN n/a)
• Carroll Shelby with John Bentley, The Carroll Shelby Story, Pocket Books/Motorbooks International 1967, 271 pp. (ISBN n/a)
• Anthony Pritchard, Ford Versus Ferrari: The Battle for Le Mans, Haynes Publishing 2011, 400 pp. (ISBN 1844259307)
• Rinsey Mills, AC Cobra: The Truth Behind the Anglo-American Legend, Haynes Publishing 2002, 160 pp. (ISBN 1859608493)
• Rinsey Mills, Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography, Motorbooks International 2012, 464 pp. (ISBN 0760340560)
• Colin Comer, The Complete Book of Shelby Automobiles: Cobras, Mustangs and Super Snakes, Motorbooks International 2009, 256 pp. (ISBN 0760335788)
• Colin Comer, Shelby Cobra Fifty Years, Motorbooks International 2011, 256 pp. (ISBN 0760340293)
• Tom Cotter, The Cobra in the Barn: Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology, Motorbooks International 2005, 256 pp. (ISBN 0760319928)
• Tom Cotter, The Hemi in the Barn: More Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology, Motorbooks International 2007, 256 pp. (ISBN 0760327211)
• Tom Cotter, The Corvette in the Barn: More Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology, Motorbooks International 2010, 256 pp. (ISBN 0760337977)
• Dave Friedman, Cobra: The Shelby American Original Archives 1962-1965, Motorbooks International 2002, 168 pp. (ISBN 0760313687)
• Dave Friedman, Remembering the Shelby Years 1962-1969, Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation 1998, 322 pp. (ISBN 0966779894)
• John Christy and Dave Friedman, Carroll Shelby's Racing Cobra, Petersen Publishing 1986, 218 pp. (ISBN n/a)
• John Morton, Inside Shelby-American: Wrenching and Racing with Carroll Shelby in the 1960s, Motorbooks 2013, 256 pp. (ISBN 0760343942)
• Trevor Legate, Cobra, Motorbooks International 1984, 272 pp. (ISBN 0879381817)
• Trevor Legate, Cobra: The Real Thing!, Veloce Publishing Ltd. 1994, 272 pp. (ISBN 1874105057)
• Trevor Legate, Cobra: The First 40 Years (U.S. edition), Motorbooks International 2006, 288 pp. (ISBN 0760324239)
• Trevor Legate and Kay Hafner, Cobra – The Story of an Icon, Collectors Car World 2013, 206 pp. (ISBN n/a)
• John McLellan, Classic ACs: Auto-Carrier to Cobra, Sutton Publishing Ltd. 2001, 224 pp. (ISBN 0750920424)
• Michael L. Shoen, The Cobra-Ferrari Wars 1963-1965 (second edition), CFW Guidebooks 2005, 368 pp. (ISBN 0962509302)
• Art Evans, Ken Miles Remembered, Photo Data Research 2004, 128 pp. (ISBN 097050733X)
• Art Evans, Shelby, the Race Driver: With Remembrances from Carroll Shelby, Photo Data Research 2008, 192 pp. (ISBN 0979721903)
• Art Evans, The Shelby American Story, Photo Data Research 2010, 128 pp. (ISBN 0979721938)
• Art Evans, Carroll Hall Shelby: A Pictorial Odyssey, Enthusiast Books 2014, 296 pp. (ISBN 1583883185)
• Phil Henny, ...Just Call Me Carroll..., Editions Cotty 2004, 148 pp. (ISBN 0976524716)
• Phil Henny, Bondurant Scrapbook the Sixties, Editions Cotty 2009, 201 pp. (ISBN 0976524759)
• Michael Holmes, Speed Merchants of Venice, Racing Division Inc. 2012, 68 pp. (ISBN n/a)
• Wallace A. Wyss, Shelby's Wildlife: The Cobras and Mustangs (second edition), Motorbooks International 1979, 224 pp. (ISBN 0879380454)
• Wallace A. Wyss, Shelby: The Man, the Cars, the Legend, Iconografix Inc. 2007, 208 pp. (ISBN 1583881824)
• MotorTrend Presents Shelby: A Tribute to an American Original, Source Interlink Media/Time Home Entertainment 2012, 130 pp. (ISBN n/a)
• MotorTrend Presents Shelby: A Tribute to an American Original, Source Interlink Media/Time Home Entertainment 2012, 160 pp. (ISBN 1618930540)
• Curt Scott, The Complete Guide to Cobra Replicas 4th Edition, Crown Publishing Company Inc. 2005, 82 pp. (ISBN 0976169002)
• Harold Pace, The Big Guide to Kit & Specialty Cars: American Classics from the Past and Present, The Big Car Book Co. 1999, 252 pp. (ISBN 0970117922)
• Jim Youngs, The Big Guide to Cobra Kits & Parts, National Kit Car Club 2010, 504 pp. (ISBN n/a)
• Ian Stent, Cobra Replicas, Autocraft Publications 2003, 144 pp. (ISBN 0954572904)
• Iain Ayre, The Essential Buyer's Guide: Cobra Replicas 1980 to 2011, Veloce Publishing 2011, 64 pp. (ISBN 1845843959)
• Michael Stenhouse, SCORE Standard Registry, Second Strike LLC 2010, (ISBN n/a)

Magazines and compilations

• Beverly Kae Rimes ed., Automobile Quarterly Vol. 14 No. 3, Automobile Quarterly Inc. 1976, 112 pp. (ISSN 0005-1438)
• R.M. Clarke ed., AC Cobra 1962-1969, Brooklands Books Ltd./Motorbooks International 1981, 100 pp. (ISBN 0906589789)
• R.M. Clarke ed., Cobras and Replicas 1962-1983, Brooklands Books Ltd./Motorbooks International 1984, 100 pp. (ISBN 0946489181)
• R.M. Clarke ed., Car and Driver on Cobra, Shelby and Ford GT40 1963-1984, Brooklands Books Ltd./Motorbooks International 1985, 100 pp. (ISBN 0948207361)
• R.M. Clarke, Shelby Cobra: Gold Portfolio 1962-1969, Brooklands Books Ltd./Motorbooks International 1990, 180 pp. (ISBN 1855200236)
• R.M. Clarke, Cobras & Cobra Replicas: Gold Portfolio 1962-1989, Brooklands Books Ltd./Motorbooks International 1991, 180 pp. (ISBN 1855200880)
• R.M. Clarke, Road & Track on Cobra, Shelby and Ford GT40 1962-1992, Brooklands Books Ltd./Motorbooks International 1993, 104 pp. (ISBN 094648936X)
• R.M. Clarke, AC Cars 1904-2009 from Auto-Carrier to Cobra, Brooklands Books Ltd./Motorbooks International 2010, 432 pp. (ISBN 1588501558)
• R.M. Clarke, AC & Cobra 1962-2011, Brooklands Books Ltd. 2011, 192 pp. (ISBN 1855209284)
• Shelby Annual 2008, Source Interlink Magazines LLC, periodical (ISSN n/a)
• Shelby Annual 2009, Source Interlink Magazines LLC, periodical (ISSN n/a)
• Shelby Annual 2010, Source Interlink Magazines LLC, periodical (ISSN n/a)
• Shelby Annual 2011, Source Interlink Magazines LLC, periodical (ISSN n/a)
• Shelby Annual 2012, Source Interlink Magazines LLC, periodical (ISSN n/a)
• Shelby Annual 2013, Source Interlink Magazines LLC, periodical (ISSN n/a)
• many, many magazine articles from Car and Driver, Road & Track, Sports Car Graphic and other periodicals

DVDs

• Honey West: The Complete Series (TV, 1965-1966)
• The Gumball Rally (1976)
• The Hollywood Knights (1980)
• Cobra Day at the Peterson Museum 1996-97 (1998)
• My Classic Car: Legendary Fords (TV, 2003)
• The Cobra Ferrari Wars (TV, 2004), aka The Snake and the Stallion
• Carroll Shelby: The Man & His Car (2004)
• Victory by Design: Ford Muscle (TV, 2006)
• Muscle Car: 427 Cobra and Factory Five Roadster (TV, 2012)

Apparel

• Jacket, melton wool Team Shelby Cobra stadium coat, from World Class Motoring
• T-shirt, Shelby 427 Cobra/Carroll Shelby World Headquarters, from American Racing
• T-shirt, Cobra/Shelby: An American Legend series, from A2Z Racing Gear
• T-shirt, Got Cobras?, from Top Expressions
• T-shirt, Cobra roadster, from Vintage Motorsports
• T-shirt, "Life's too short to drive a boring car," from Cafe Press
• T-shirt, AC Cobra, from Cafe Press
• T-shirt, from Talk@Cobra Registry
• T-shirt, 1965 World Champion Cobra Team, from Tony Branda (X2)
• T-shirt, three competition Cobras, from Kress Motorsport
• T-shirt, SAAC-37, from the Shelby American Automobile Club (X2)
• T-shirt (long sleeve), Cobra/Cobra/Cobra from BRE
• T-shirt, 427 Cobra: fastest production car, from unknown vendor
• T-shirt, Cobras at the Monterey Historics 2012
• Dress shirt, Cobras at the Monterey Historics 2012
• Baseball cap, SAAC-37, from the Shelby American Automobile Club
• Baseball cap, Cobras at the Monterey Historics 2012

Posters

• 1964 Cobra Daytona Coupe (CSX2287) laser-scanned line drawing by U.S. Dept. of the Interior
• 1965 Shelby Cobra 427S/C side view vinyl banner
• 1965 Shelby Cobra 427S/C cutaway by David Kimble (CSX3022), dry mounted
• “427 Cobra” movie style poster by SAAC, dry mounted

Other

• 427 Cobra coffee mug

[onefastmustang]

Woodies of Carmel has a ton of Cobra stuff if you have some itch to scratch.. He had some limited edition prints that were 1k+ last week when i was in there. Oh and a really cool 1:12 diecast for like 525 or so.. Nice stuff.

[STEVE-O]

Recently added a taxidermy cobra coiled and in the strike pose, hood flaired. Between that and the car, both really draw attention at shows!

[FST HSKR]

My Die Cast collection is now over 1300 cars, I have close to over 150 model cars still not assembled. 95% of collection is Fords some day when I am gone the kids will have one hell of a garage sale.

[Russ Dickey]

I am in the range of FST HSKR. I've got 500+ 1/18 or 1/24 diecast (or larger), and probably 1000+ 1/64-1/43rds. I've got 500+ unbuilt plastic model kits of all scales from all eras.

But I also collect slot cars, posters and artwork, books, and a bunch of other memorabilia. I've probably got another 750 pieces of that stuff.

My collection isn't just Cobras though. It's also Shelby Mustangs, Mustangs, GT-40s, Panteras, Tigers, Thunderbolts, and pretty much any Ford muscle car or Ford race car of historic significance.

Once of these days when we get our basement finished, I'll post pics.

[N2VENOM]

I have just about every Cobra Hot Wheels produced. About 82 different variations. I’ve been collecting for about 5 years. Check out my collection. Click HERE.

[FST HSKR]

N2VENOM,
Never realized that many Hot Wheel Cobras, very nice.

[Russ Dickey]

Originally Posted by N2VENOM

I have just about every Cobra Hot Wheels produced. About 82 different variations. I’ve been collecting for about 5 years. Check out my collection. Click HERE.

This is AWESOME! I also collect the Hot Wheels Cobras, specifically the Classic Cobra version, and have been looking for someone who has posted pics of all the different variations. Now I can see all the ones I'm missing...and it's a bunch.

[cobrajeff]

I have a fairly decent collection of spare parts, models, literature, and memorabilia. Unfortunately, I sold my literature collection in the late 80's at the suggestion of a former wife (who just didn't understand). Of course, after she left, I started all over again.
The "Carroll Shelby Hall of Fame" takes up all of my loft, along with computer equipment, a few trophies, and a spare all-aluminum 351C.










The display cases are two-sided, with 1/43rd models on both sides. The majority are Shelby or Cobra models, but I collect a lot of other Ford models, too, including Mustangs, T'Birds, Lincolns, and DeTomasos. Larger scales are displayed in built-in cabinets, and boxes of unbuilt models (that I THOUGHT I'd build when I retired from Ford) fill drawers and closets around the room.

regards,

Jeff

[SunDude]

cobrajeff - Man, what a collection and terrific displays! This rocks!

[Historybuff]

It is long out of print, printed by George Stauffer of Blue Mounds WI
had about 50 interviews, involvement of Pete Brock in writing it; hardbound, horizontal, many pictures, I think some were color. I bid $200 on one but heard they go for over $750 because of the desire vs. supply. But almost as good is Mike Schoen's book Cobra Ferrari Wars which covers the roadsters as well as the coupes. There's a new one on GT40s vs. Ferraris called something like "Goes Like Hell" by a Playboy editor (It's a wonder he could concentrate on cars) And don't forget (plug-plug) Cobra & Shelby Mustang Photo Archive from Iconografix.

[KM480]

I have question for you guys... Do you do to a specific site to buy these Hot Wheels? I can never find the Cobras or others that I am looking for... It is always just 'luck of the draw' going to a toy or hobby store.
I would like to thumb through a catalog and just order them.

[cobrajeff]

I have bought a lot of models through e-Bay - just type in "Cobra" under "Toys & Hobbies". I also attend a lot of car shows - many have a swap meet, and, often you can find some model cars there. Whenever I travel out of town, for buiness or pleasure, I scan through the local yellow pages for hobby shops, and try to visit as many as I can - especially the smaller, non chain shops, which may have some old product around. With Mapquest, Google or Yahoo Maps, you can even prep ahead of time with a map showing hobby shops (with addresses, phone numbers, and distance) near whatever location you will be visiting.

regards,

Jeff

[SunDude]

Originally Posted by Historybuff

It is long out of print, printed by George Stauffer of Blue Mounds WI had about 50 interviews, involvement of Pete Brock in writing it; hardbound, horizontal, many pictures, I think some were color. I bid $200 on one but heard they go for over $750 because of the desire vs. supply.

You've probably seen this already, but some guy has a copy of the Cobra Daytona Coupe book from G. Stauffer for sale at Cobra Country for...get this...a mere $3,000 asking price (!!).

http://www.cobracountry.com/DaytCoup...gler/home.html

Hard to believe it hasn't sold yet.

[RON N BKFLD]

I'm hoping to slowly build my collection.: LOL:

[SunDude]

Originally Posted by RON N BKFLD

I'm hoping to slowly build my collection.: LOL:

Oh I see. You're collecting 1:1 scale cars. Man, you're gonna need lotsa storage space...

[hurricaneharold]

Originally Posted by Russ Dickey

This is AWESOME! I also collect the Hot Wheels Cobras, specifically the Classic Cobra version, and have been looking for someone who has posted pics of all the different variations. Now I can see all the ones I'm missing...and it's a bunch.

I have about 100 different Hotwheels variation Cobra`s

[Bernica]

The Cobra Ferrari Wars, original 1st edition, signed by Mike Shoen and Carrol Shelby. Cobra 427 S/C "GoldGraph" lithograph by Raj Champaneri, numbered and signed by Raj and Carrol Shelby. And, or course, the World Registry of Cobras and GT40's.....

[Historybuff]

Can't remember exact title but it's hardbound and has hundreds of pictures, many in color, some rare and facts on many models. It is priced at $50 but since it was mass printed, Amazon may sell it for the low 30's. It's one of the newest books on the market.

Also John Christie is sometimes listed as the author of a book RACING COBRAS which is also sometimes attributed to Dave Friedman. This book was hardbound originally then softbound when Petersen Publishing published it. Well written, Christie was quite the wordsmith and owned a very early Shelby maybe car no. 1 or 2.


And speaking of Friedman, he did a book which I can't spell the name of something like Reminescences (sp?) of Shelby which has a lot of rare pictures and a lot of short interviews of Shelby employees, race drivers, etc. It is horizontal format, hiardbound, seen it at $50 and $100.

[Historybuff]

On someone else's photos of the Shelby american collection museum I saw a nice model car box pictured (proably 1/24th scale) with the cover of a blue DeTomaso 70P show car. Ironically the box /model is labeled "King Cobra."
On the box it is shown the dark blue of 1965 Cobra livery.

I can only conclude that the japanese heard that Shelby was making a Can-Am style car in conjunction with DeTomaso and the Japanese model maker saw pictures of it, and figured he was already running some mid-engined Coopers with Cobra V8s called King Cobras so that this was going to be the next body style.

Either that or Shelby or Pete Brock told them it was going to be the King Cobra back when Shelby was still planning on taking delivery. As it turned out, Shelby pulled out his funds and DeTomaso introduced it as the 70P.

I always thought there was only one but now heard there may be as many as three, though which ones are original era and which ones built later on is a mystery yet to be solved.

Anyhow, in the model car world I figure this must be like one of those
upside down airplane stamps--the mistakes are worth keeping.

If anyone can post a picture of the box cover, this will help
solve the mystery of how a model maker got it wrong...