1966 Shelby Cobra 427
HIGHLIGHTS
One of 260 Big Block Coil-Spring Street Cars
Detailed Shelby Registry History Known Since Delivery
Beautifully Finished, Mechanically Sorted, Ready for Premier Events
SPECIFICATIONS
VIN - CSX3218
Engine – 427ci, Eight Cylinder
Gearbox – 4 Speed Manual
Drivetrain - Front Engine, RWD
PRICING INFORMATION
Price - Please Inquire
OVERVIEW
There is nothing like the Shelby Cobra. Perfectly positioned at one of the most exciting times in motorsports history, the Cobra reigns as the king of American sports cars with a dominant worldwide position even decades after inception. Since its release, the Cobra mystique has captured generations of young and old sports car collectors. Initially powered by the Ford 289 engine, the already impressive Cobra went way beyond expectations when Shelby and his team reengineered the entire car based on the massive and powerful 427. The 427 would evolve into legendary status in part due to the exceptional power to weight ratio achieved in the new design. The audacious nature of the car itself, Carroll Shelby’s personal bravado, and the eye-watering speeds all contributed to the legacy of these great cars. Although many companies have tried to offer similar cars, the original 427 Cobra holds court on any show field, racetrack, or premier vintage event as the ultimate expression of one of the greatest American sports cars ever constructed.
Unlike the earlier 289, the 427 was designed and built from the ground up by a literal Who’s Who of experts employed by Shelby American. Not merely a 289 with a larger motor, the 427 Cobra became a highly specialized performance car, built to carefully engineered standards including a unique construction large diameter handmade tubular steel frame wrapped with a voluptuous hand formed aluminum body. The most distinctive feature of the car were the lurid fender shapes specially formed to make room for wide wheels and tires. The captivating performance put Ken Miles in the driver’s seat for an historic run of 0-100-0 achieved in 13 seconds - generally the amount of time required to achieve 60 mph for a performance car, not including bring it down to a safe stop. The short-lived dominance of the 427 eventually moved Shelby American attention to the more profitable Mustang branded GT350. 427 Cobra production continued through 1966 using both the 427 FE block (a proven winner in Ford NASCAR events) and the 428. Later series 427 Cobras received the highly desirable coil spring suspension which greatly improved handling and have since become among the most desirable of the 427 series cars. Offered in either street or competition trim, the street version presents without side pipes, hood scoops, and roll bar, instead retaining the pure 427 intent – a stealthier street look, concealing the massive power lurking within.
Chassis CSX3218 is a documented factory coil-spring suspension big block Cobra - one of just 260 street trim 427 models built. According to the Shelby Cobra World Registry, supported by documents accompanying this car, this example was billed to Shelby American 2/14/66 finished in white acrylic paint and trimmed with black interior. The car was sold to the first owner, Frank Solack, a resident of Trenton, NJ. Solack had traded his 64 Corvette at the selling dealership but became uncomfortable with the payment plan for the $7,800.00 Cobra and returned the car. The second owner, also a NJ resident purchased 3218 from the same dealership. The new owner recorded repairs and general services with mileage recorded at 7,182 miles by May 1967, trading it back to the same selling dealer who then sold the car to an older PA resident. The elder owner found the car to be a bit of a handful and attempted to return it hoping to take a Thunderbird in trade. Unable to make that trade, the owner sold the car to a NY resident. By 1969 the car was painted dark green with a gold nose stripe and sold to a happy owner who drove the car sparingly including various high-speed trips across the Canadian border. In 11/75 the owner advertised 3218 in the NY Times finding six interested parties undaunted by the $19,500 asking price, which curiously, a week later was raised to $21,500 in the following classified ad still under the same ownership.
Later that same year (1975) the next owner, Phil Spaid, purchased the car for the reduced sum of $14,000 including spares. The new owner spent more than a decade collecting correct parts while the car remained in storage. By 1985, the owner pulled the car from storage and began a modest restoration. The body was stripped to bare aluminum and refinished in silver mink with twin Guardsman Blue stripes. As is often the case with 427 model cars, the factory installed 428 was removed during the restoration and a 427 cu. in. engine was installed. The 427 engine block selected was reported to be a C7 “High Nickle Content” type, which remains in the car today. During the restoration, the leather seats were reupholstered and a set of 9.5”/7.5” Halibrand wheels were installed in place of the original Sunburst wheels. Under his 26 years of ownership, the car won several awards through the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2001, Mr. Spaid suffered some medical challenges and parted with the car. The next owner in New Jersey retained it for a just a year before selling in 2002 overseas. The next owner, Heinz Moser, a resident of Austria, transported the car to Europe where it remained under his family ownership (21years). The car was purchased in 2023 and imported it back to North America returning to the West Coast for the first time since it was constructed nearly 60 years ago.
Upon arrival here in the USA, we have serviced the car recently including installing new exhaust manifold gaskets, the installation of an electric cooling fan to aid warm idle operation, a new clutch slave cylinder, exterior repaint to remove the stripes from previous restoration. and rebuilding the 4bbl carburetor. In addition to the known and documented history, the car is accompanied by original bills of sale, AC invoices, Shelby American invoices, pre-restoration and in-progress restoration photos, and numerous other supporting documentation that back the history of known ownership since new.
Of critical importance, as many of these rare cars have been damaged or have suffered body panels replacement over time, 3218 retains the critical numbered components that back the factory-built body including both door hinge numbers, hood latch number, and trunk latch number all of which match the serial number.
Today CSX3218 presents in beautiful condition. The unforgettable wide fender flares and muscular stance are rendered with exceptionally fine alloy body lines and a smooth finish. The Silver Mist Metallic paint has excellent finish throughout and has a wonderful hue in person of a period Cobra color. The clean street trim design is of course unadorned by a hood scoop, side pipes, or roll bar giving the car a stealthier street appearance. The exterior trim, protective grille bar, polished aluminum fuel filler cap, and chrome bumpers deliver a stock appearance. Twin underbody exhaust exits at the rear of the car just as configured from the factory. The lights, lenses, and emblems are in excellent condition and the correctly finished Halibrand style knock off wheels are strong indications that 3218 could enter the show field and emerge once again with yet another award.
The interior has been correctly depicted with leather seating surfaces now showing relaxed textures perfectly suited to a more comfortable feel while driving. The black carpeting and black door panels are in excellent condition while the corded door pulls have just the right amount of patina reflecting the passage of time. Wide vintage competition seat belts are fitted for both seats. The dashboard and instruments are properly arrayed with correct instrumentation displaying beautiful numeric details, excellent chrome surrounds, and Carroll Shelby’s signature applied to the glovebox door. A wood-rimmed Shelby steering wheel exhibits a handsome warm tone proudly displaying the striking Cobra center emblem.
Under the hood, the 427 engine is purposefully topped with a single 4bbl carburetor and a factory correct chrome air cleaner. Correctly finished details throughout include chrome plated valve covers with correct 427 emblems, a painted surge tank, and raw aluminum inner fender panels. Cooling is aided by an electric fan and a modern distributor cap has been installed. The engine compartment and powerful engine display correct finishes with originally stamped frame member and chassis plate, both of which bear the CSX3218 number. The trunk is finished in black and houses a full-size period correct Goodyear Wide Tread spare tire wearing one of the original Pete Brock designed Starburst cast aluminum wheels. The underside of the car is exemplary in finish and detail with beautifully prepared correct components consistent with Shelby American original construction processes performed when new.
This Cobra is accompanied by a file with numerous original documents including service documentation, bills of sale, Shelby American and AC records, photos both before and after restoration, and other detailed items collected from the former owners. Also included are the original side windows and soft top.
This beautifully finished 427 Cobra is documented in the Shelby American World Registry, cataloging each of the prior owners, including current owner correspondence with a former living long-term owner. Finished in stunning colors and ready to strike, this 427 is poised to continue the legacy of excellence as an ambassador to the world of handmade sports car excitement from an unrepeatable period of Shelby American history.
Please contact Jason Harris at +1-206-355-7727 or Hans at +1-425-417-5877 for more information on this 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra.
