Fully documented and well known in the Shelby collector community, this 1967 Shelby 427 “Semi Competition” Cobra, CSX3045, has been chronicled in the Shelby World Registry since its first entry in the 1967 edition. Billed to Shelby American on February 23, 1965, it was completed to S/C specifications under Work Order No. 15103. Shelby American received an order from Archway Motors on April 21, 1966, for an S/C model, specifying a bright red exterior, black interior and modified racing exhaust system for delivery to a Mr. Hall on May 31. It is possible Hall never took delivery of the car, as its next recorded owner, Peter Bayer of New York, acquired it as compensation for promotional work completed for White Plains, New York, dealer Larsen Ford and was the first to register the car in 1967. Its next owner, Doug Carsen of Rimersburg, Pennsylvania, apparently raced it in several SCCA events.
John Parlante of Whitestone, New York, bought 3045 around 1975 along with “several interesting spares” that included two doors and the trunk lid from CSX3212. He commenced a restoration, which remained unfinished when he sold the car to Geoff Howard of Danbury, Connecticut, in 1978. Howard completed the restoration and finished the car in Guardsman Blue. In 1979, 3045 was offered for sale as “one of around 25 authentic S/C models, 10,400 miles, fresh restoration, all competition options, original color, interior, carpets, detailed frame, engine compartment, etc, polished Halibrands; expensive.” Prominent Cobra collector Jere Clark of Phoenix, Arizona, then purchased the car, registered it with Arizona plate “427 SC” and occasionally raced it in vintage events.
CSX3045 was awarded First Place in the Competition Shelby/Cobra Popular Vote category at SAAC-5 in Dearborn, Michigan, after which Dick Smith drove it to 185 MPH on the track. His passenger, a terrified Rick Kopec, kissed the ground upon exiting the car, exclaiming, “What the hell was I thinking?”
After a period under the ownership of Oklahoman David Berry, it was purchased from European Coachworks by George Stauffer of Stauffer Classics in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, in 1983. Stauffer advertised the car for sale in 1984 as “Not a replica, but a real S/C, ready to win historic races. Has run at Laguna Seca several times and has recently been clocked at 185 mph. Guardsman Blue, fuel cell, not for the timid.”
After a period with Carl Schwartz of Grand Blanc, Michigan, 3045 became part of the famed John Mozart Collection in Palo Alto, California, in 1988. It was then restored to Mozart’s famously high standards by Mike Giddings of Robyn Automotive in Northern California, who restored the suspension, braking system, transmission and rear end. Scott Veazie Restoration services repainted the car in Bright Blue Metallic and finished it with white Le Mans stripes, yellow hash marks on the front left fender, white roundels front and rear, white side pipes and chromed roll bar and quick jacks. Giddings then performed the final assembly and detailing.
In late 1994, Cobra expert Dave Dralle of Redondo Beach, California, inspected CSX3045 for John McKenna of Maryland, who purchased the car in 1995. Under McKenna’s active stewardship, the car won Concours Gold at SAAC-23 in July 1998 in Charlotte, North Carolina, then Best Cobra and Best Comp Cobra at SAAC-24 in 1999 at Michigan International Speedway, followed by several regional SAAC Show First Place awards.
Given the outstanding organization of the Shelby enthusiast community, the advent of the internet and the instantaneous worldwide communication it brings with it, it is rare indeed for a 427 Cobra S/C to be offered for public sale, especially one with this example’s historical importance, unblemished history and concours presentation, qualities that place CSX3045 at the top of any serious collector’s list of essential automobiles.
This rare piece of Shelby history will be crossing the auction block at Mecum’s Monterey sale August 12–14.
For more information visit www.mecum.com
