1965 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster Being Auctioned At Mecum Kissimmee 2023

He was later approached by a friend who wanted to purchase the body and substructure, and circa 1969 the car’s original body and substructure were removed and sold while the original chassis and legal paperwork remained with the original owner. In 1975, Cobra specialist Bill Kemper of Barrington, Illinois, purchased the chassis and drivetrain from the original owner. Kemper proceeded to reconstruct the car to street specs using a fresh substructure, the undamaged left-hand side sheet metal from CSX2215 and fresh right-side alloy panels.

After a number of subsequent owners including John McCaw of Seattle, Washington, CSX2517 was sold to a Spanish buyer and then spent time in Japan before being acquired and returned to the United States by Symbolic Motorcars of La Jolla, California. Purchased by Tim Allen in 2007, this highly documented, early rack-and-pinion Cobra is now finished in black with a black leather interior. It is essentially prepared to USRRC specifications, incorporating a Weber-carbureted 289 CI V-8 engine, long-tube headers with side-exit exhaust, a 4-speed manual transmission, an engine oil cooler, quick jacks, a chromed roll bar and S/C-style wheel flares. An interesting detail can be found in the car’s FIA Halibrand six-spoke knock-off wheels, which were cast by Bill Kemper, who then owned the original molds. Offered with an unbroken chain of title since 1964 and documented in detail in the Shelby Registry, CSX2517 is an outstanding specimen of the highest quality and is sure to bring its new owner the enjoyment only possible behind the wheel of Carroll Shelby’s epochal creation.