Pure White Snakebite
On 28 October 1963, AC Cars Limited invoiced Ford Motor Credit for a Cobra body in White with Red trim, top, tonneau, and rack-and-pinion steering. The body left the UK aboard the SS Pacific Fortune, which set sail for the U.S. on 7 November 1963 destined for Los Angeles, California. Upon arrival in the States, the Cobra was transported to Shelby American, Inc. in Venice. There, the car received its Ford powertrain, which included a 271 bhp, 289 V8 engine, a four-speed manual gearbox, and a limited-slip differential.
Recently, this stunning Cobra was restored back to the way it originally left the Shelby American facility, almost 55 years ago. The ‘slab-side’ body was refinished in its original white, after being resprayed black for a number of years. The car rides on original chrome wire wheels. The interior is completed in red leather and features a wood-rimmed steering wheel with AC centre cap and bucket seats.
RM Sotheby's will be offering this 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra at their upcoming Petersen Automotive Museum Auction on the 8th December. For more information on this and other vehicles at the sale, click on the link below. Photos: Ryan Merrill ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's.