Carroll Shelby’s Personal 427 Cobra Is Bound To Start A Bidding War

An original Shelby 427 Cobra is one of the most sought-after collector cars on the planet, but this one is even more special as it belonged to the man responsible for its creation.

This is CSX3178, Caroll Shelby’s personal 427 Cobra from the day it was built in 1966 until his passing in 2012.

It’s one of five 427 Cobras finished in Charcoal Gray and has been recently restored from the ground up to its exact 1965 specifications by renowned Cobra restorers Legendary Motorcar Company. It comes with the original body and chassis and features an aluminum head 427ci (7.0-liter) side oiler engine with dual 4-barrel carburetors paired to a four-speed Toploader transmission.

Watch Also: This Is What A Genuine 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra Competition Looks And Sounds Like

Carroll Shelby’s personal 427 Cobra went through a few transformations during its life; back in 1972, the car was restored by Cobra specialist Mike McCluskey and was repainted in Guardsman Blue with a gold nose. At some point, Shelby wanted more horsepower, throwing in the 427 side oiler engine with an automatic transmission, while in 2012 this Cobra was repainted red by Shelby American.

The complete Concours restoration in 2019 returned Shelby’s personal Cobra to its original color and transmission configuration. This is the only 427 Cobra Carroll Shelby owned from new until his passing and it’s considered one of the most collectible Cobras in existence.

The CSX2000, the first Shelby Cobra ever built, reached almost $14 million back in a 2016 auction, setting a new-then record for the most expensive American car ever sold at auction. Carroll Shelby’s personal 427 Cobra might not set a new record but it will not come cheap either at Mecum’s 2021 Kissimmee auction, which is scheduled to run between January 7 and 16.