Few postwar sports cars deliver such an immediate and enduring sense of occasion as the Shelby Cobra. Brutally fast yet remarkably communicative, the Cobra distilled Carroll Shelby’s vision of combining American V-8 muscle with European chassis finesse into a sports car that forever altered the competitive landscape of the 1960s. Conceived with racing foremost in mind, the Cobra became the spearhead of Ford Motor Company’s “Total Performance” era, laying the groundwork for international success that would culminate in the FIA GT Championship and, ultimately, Ford’s legendary Le Mans victories. Within this storied lineage, the small-block 289 Cobra has come to be regarded as the most balanced and rewarding expression of the concept, blending explosive performance with agility, responsiveness, and genuine drivability.

According to the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC) World Registry, chassis CSX2327 was billed to Shelby American on January 31, 1964, and shipped to Los Angeles aboard the SS Loch Loyal in February of that year. It was invoiced on May 18, 1964, to Loh Ford of Bridgeport, Connecticut, finished in its original Silver over Black leather. Factory-supplied “Class A” options included whitewall tires, five chrome wire wheels, radio and antenna, antifreeze, and freight, bringing the total purchase price to $5,929.55.

Chassis CSX2327 is a late-production Cobra, benefiting from the significant technical refinements introduced from early 1963 onward. These included rack and pinion steering in place of the earlier worm-and-sector system, revised front suspension geometry, improved braking, and numerous detail upgrades that transformed the Cobra into a more precise, predictable, and confidence-inspiring machine. These developments sharpened the car’s already formidable performance while enhancing stability and control.

Later in 1964, CSX2327 was transferred to M&E Ford of Meriden, Connecticut, which sold it new in December to its first private owner, Michael J. Celentano of New Haven. Period service records trace the car’s early life in reassuring detail. Celentano returned the Cobra for its 500-mile service check in January 1965, and warranty work addressing the speedometer, tachometer, and antenna was completed the following month. By that time, approximately 1,500 miles had been recorded.

By the 1970s, CSX2327 remained firmly in enthusiast hands. Repainted red during that decade, it emerged as a standout within the growing Shelby community. In 1977, the Cobra was presented at the Shelby American Automobile Club’s second national convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where it captured First Place in the 289 Cobra popular vote class. This achievement was repeated at SAAC-6 in Monterey, California, in 1981, and the car also earned Best of Show honors at the SAAC Pine Mountain Lakes regional meet.

In 1987, a Massachusetts collector acquired CSX2327 and the car would remain in his care until 2003, when it was purchased by noted Shelby specialist Colin Comer. Under his stewardship, the Cobra was refinished in 2004 in the black exterior it wears today, and its matching-numbers original engine was rebuilt. Throughout this long period of care, CSX2327 was driven as intended, participating in multiple Copperstate 1000 rallies and numerous SAAC events.

Today, CSX2327 presents beautifully, finished in black over a black interior and benefiting from the regular use and care of a prominent Chicago-based collection over the last several years. The car is equipped with period-appropriate features including competition seat belts, roll bar, and side exhaust. Remarkably, details down to the factory-supplied grease gun remain intact.

More than a car, the Shelby Cobra represents a moment when ingenuity, ambition, and raw performance converged to redefine what a sports car could be. The Cobra remains a benchmark against which all sports cars are measured. CSX2327 is a car with a compelling specification, well-documented history, and the right reputation – one that delivers the visceral thrill promised by its legend, whether carving mountain roads, crossing a continent at speed, or standing as a benchmark example of Carroll Shelby’s most enduring creation.

*Please note that this vehicle is titled a Ford.