CSX3060 "completion" Cobra for sale in Japan

[SunDude]

Shelby Japan Co. Ltd. in Kanagawa prefecture, which is the official Japanese importer of Shelby and Superformance cars, has two of the nine so-called "completion" Cobras for sale. These are two of the cars whose "unused" chassis Shelby apparently "found" (ahem ) in the mid-1990s and had produced to 427S/C spec.

Specifically the cars in question are:

• chassis number CSX3058, asking price is 44.6 million yen (approx. $492,000 USD), and
• chassis number CSX3060, asking price is 25.0 million yen (approx. $275,000 USD).

Shelby Japan also has a couple of Contemporary Classic Cobra replicas for sale, namely:

• chassis number CCX-3456, which is a 1991 model, asking price if 5.8 million yen (approx. $64,000 USD), and
• chassis number CCX3-3634, which is a 1992 model, asking price is 6.8 million yen (approx. $75,000 USD)

[Woodz428]

Not sure on shipping fees, but the cost sounds very low. That may have to do with,reportedly, certain states( maybe the feds??) not allowing them to ever be registered. It may be only Ca., I only recall what I read here in earlier threads regarding these cars. It may not be all of them, but I know that there were 2 mentioned at that time that were reported to have sold for $500,000 at the time. I'll bet someone of less integrity, could use another serial number and resell them as other cars....not that it would ever happen. We all know that there is no lack of integrity when it comes to these cars

[CSX3183]

Why is one twice as much as the other, when the cheaper one looks better?

[computerworks]

Interesting...just about all of those pics of CSX3060 are the exact photos used in an eBay offering of the car .....in July 2005

[What'saCobra?]

CSX 3058, Shelby Cobra 427 SC, was shown at an auction in Boca Raton about 5 years ago, not sure if it made its very high reserve. i don't think it has ever been registered, at least not with that title signed by Shelby, but Bill might know better about the details.

i am not a neutral party in this issue, as i have the AC Cars CSX 3058, the last of the very few "real" 427 SC's made by AC Cars, Ltd, England, in the early 90's. They were never Shelby cars, but were sold into GB, Finland, Jersey Isles and Germany, one each.

Of course, a few more were made by the later AC Cars Group, Ltd, but not recorded as CSX 30XX cars, [or, alternatively, if they were, they were not legal with the applicable and required British/German standards, since the "grandfather" clause exceptions on emissions and crash safety were canceled upon the closing of AC Cars, Ltd, England and the sale of its assets only.]

The Shelby 3058 is very interesting, because of the notorious story about its "origins" by Shelby/McCluskey and its high current price.

[berzerko]

why does the contemporary engine plate state yokahoma japan not mt. vernon N.Y

[FUNFER2]

Hey Rick Lake, you're a smart dude, please tell us what this says.

1990年頃当時日本のSONYトレーディング社とマクラスキー社との間で進められたプロジェクトで,あの キャロル シェルビー氏が,25台の限定で,まったく当時のスペックで再生産を行うと言うものでした。
当時の販売価格は,1億円(金額はus$500,000FOB)でした。
当時為替が1時165円と言う大変な円安だったため,日本国内では非常に高価な物になっていま した。
合計25台製作される予定でスタートして,合計8台の再生産コブラが販売され,日本国内の1台 であります。
今回ご案内いたしますのは，CSX3058 です。
結局日本には台CSX3058・CSX3059・CSX3060・ CSX3063 4台のこのコンティニューション コブラが輸入され，現在日本に残って居るのは，CSX3059 （Red）CSX3063(ブラック）のみの2台です。

[computerworks]

....SONY in 1990 in Japan around the time the project was carried out between the company and McCluskey's limited partnership with Mr. Carroll Shelby were said to produce any replicas of the time.

Price at the time, was 100 million yen (price is us $ 500,000 FOB).
Exchange rate at the time was 1:00 for 165 yen, a very weak yen, now in Japan that has now become very expensive material.

I began the project a total of 25 units will be manufactured, sold a total of eight units Cobra reproduction, one in Japan. Of this, CSX3058 was one of ours.

After all the cars in Japan CSX3058 · CSX3059 · CSX3060 · CSX3063 ( 4 Continuation) this Cobra is imported, and is currently staying in Japan. CSX3059 (Red) CSX3063 (Black) is one of only two.

[somedayaurora]

Nice find Sundude . So what the difference between these and a CSX 4xxxx , CSX3XXX serial number and registration issues ?
SDR
________
Extreme q vaporizer

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by somedayaurora

So what the difference between these and a CSX 4xxxx , CSX3XXX serial number and registration issues ?
SDR

These are the "completion" cars, above CSX3058. Taking the unused Comp s/n's from the 60's, Shelby began re-making 427S/Cs in the early 90's and assigning those numbers...selling each car for $500k. This was a time when original values were climbing rapidly.

Tangled story with CA DMV, etc. that has been retold many times. (and is recounted in detail in the SAAC World Registry).
....net effect though is that only a handful were made and the car is designated "not for highway use" in CA.

They have value...somewhere between the current CSX replicas and the real deals. If nothing else, they are outstanding hand-made aluminum replicas crafted by Mike McCluskey.

[1985 CCX]

Interesting CCX3456 frame upgrades, I like that!

[Excaliber]

There was recently some talk about the most accurate definition of the word "replica". Serious question, not trying to be funny or controversial.

I would think the completition cars would stand up to most rigorous definition of the word in that these cars are truly very very accurate replications of the original.

Which then begs the question: Are these really accurate on every level, every detail to the originals?

The completition cars were "black listed" in California for various legal reasons arising out of their manufacturer. It's a long and complicated story, the short version is: Shelby made the entire car, like Ford or Chevy makes a car. The car does not meet Federal guidelines, therefore cannot be registered in California (possibly other states as well). TODAY Shelby makes a car, only a "roller" car, he does not install a MOTOR, if he did, he would be violating Federal law(s) and would have the same problem these completition series cars currently have.

[What'saCobra?]

CompWks
Would you please re-state the differences between "completition" and "completion" for me, please? i am confused about it.

What was/were the difference(s) between Shelby's 3056, 3057, 3058 and those starting with 3059 and up? Were you involved in the project? i would love to know more about it.

At the time, i was "working with" Brian Angliss on a handful of cars, including Lightweights, 427 S/C's, a few 289's and a coupe (which was never done). i was there during the rather heated arguments with CS and the various suits, but only know the bit and pieces of the CS side of things with Mike.

Thanks,
Victor

[computerworks]

Would you please re-state the differences between "completition" and "completion"

huh? Completion are these cars, Continuation are the present production cars.


Multipage write up on the Completion cars in the SAAC Registry...reference that, too much too retype.

No difference in the cars you mentioned. They only made less than 10; many went to Japan.

(my earlier post was not 'original'... I just ran the Japanese text thru a translator)

[Buzz]

FUNFER2


Hey Rick Lake, you're a smart dude, please tell us what this says.

Originally Posted by computerworks

(my earlier post was not 'original'... I just ran the Japanese text thru a translator)

Yes and thanks, but I was really looking forward to Rick Lake's version.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Yes and thanks, but I was really looking forward to Rick Lake's version.

Rick would essentially say the same thing. But, he would put it in all caps, use a dash of creative spelling, sprinkle in a few homonyms that, while being blatantly wrong still evidenced his obvious knowledge of the subject, and then cap it off with a healthy dose of friendly emoticons at the end just because, deep down, he's a pretty nice guy.

[ray humbel]

i think the finished completion cobras are CSX3056, CSX3057, CSX3058, CSX3059, CSX3060, CSX3061, CSX3062, CSX3065, & CSX3071. these are the "FOUND" chassis cobras.

[What'saCobra?]

If we intend to document ALL the "completion" cars, somewhat political decisions need to be made first. Realizing my views may not coincide with the SAAC view of things, let me continue...

Arguably, there are THREE sources of cars that could be called Cobras:

1. The very contentious and CA illegal cars that Mr. Shelby tried to fob-off as "original" chassis numbers from AC Cars limited, serialized as CSX's, which were really created from new stock by McCluskey during the early ninties and sold mostly into Japan. These are well documented in the SAAC Registry, complete with limited histories.

2. The actual and very few (four) CSX 30XX SC cars fabricated in the early to mid nineties by AC Cars Limited, whilst owned by Brian Angliss, which i have documented here previously. These four cars are documented by various AC Clubs in GB and Club Cobra individuals that know both the current owners and their histories.

3. The rather obscure and not well documented series created by AC Cars Group Limited in the late nineties, under the ownership of Alan Lubinsky as Director, after "his" purchase of the original AC Cars Limited (GB) assets, including the logo and AC Cars name. This group of cars, quantity unknown for sure by me, include some that have had serial number changes to satisfy various import/registration requirements and preferences. i would recommend caution presuming that these cars, including some that may have been completed under the much later company AC Cars Limited (Malta), are legitimately actual Cobras, since the moniker was removed from AC Cars Group by FORD when AC Cars Limited (GB) was de-registered in the UK's Company House. They may very well be legitimately AC's, from the later company(s), but not Cobras.

Admittedly, some of this is arguable depending on whose oxen are being AlGored. But, i have tried to be as fair and objective as i can muster; though i do have an interest in the subject beyond mere curiosity. (Check my photos above) Personally, i will restate that i think anything that looks like a Cobra, is a Cobra in some real sense, but realize many will disagree with me. That does not mean i really think they are "real", but essentially real.

Many many of the knock-offs have been and still are much better than the originals in many ways, though they may not command "real" market values; nor should they.

For particular interest, i think that no Kirkham-built car is less well-built than the very best from any AC works, new or old. In many real and practical ways, particularly regarding contemporary improvements, precision fit, finish and driveability, the current cars are very much better than the originals. Today, they are clearly near-perfect and fully worth their prices either new or used, as time will confirm. They are simply breath-taking when seen in the metal. Did i mention that they are also very light???

But, i am still of the view, held by Peter Brock, that without all the wonderful and even the less-than-perfect plastic clones built during many of Shelby's empty and disinterested years and AC's very sparse productions, the clones kept the Cobra faith and spares market alive. We and Mr. Shelby owe them our gratitude.

So, to the point, be cautious about presuming the Lubinsky cars are "real" Cobras. But, they may be found very close in some fabrications.

Further observe that there is a certain duplication of CSX cars between the Shelby/McCluskey line and the Angliss series from AC Cars Limited (UK). These include at least CSX 3056, 3057 and 3058. i am less certain about 3071, since i do not know if Shelby actually made one, but if so, it duplicated the AC Cars Limited (GB) chassis.

Just one chap's opinion, mind you.

[Excaliber]

What'saCobra, the question remains unresolved, perhaps YOU can shed some light on it.

ARE there any subtle differences in the specifications or build of the completition (or completion, whatever works for you) that deviate from the originals?

Aside from the fact that all new materials were used, Mike did the construction, etc.

[Buzz]

Patrickt patrick Rick is a nice guy and also one of the most helpful people on the forum.