I went to a local village car show here in the U.K. at the weekend. It’s held every year in aid of a local hospice and very well attended. The cars line the streets and comprise a very eclectic mix. There were 4 Cobra replicas including mine but I was very surprised and interested to see CSX2345 there. A lovely car with an interesting history. Below is a copy of the information sheet attached to the windscreen:
CSX2345 “The World Championship Roadster “.
One of the most desirable of all Cobras, CSX2345 was one of 5 289 “FIA” roadsters.
Among CSX2345’s distinctive touches are its wider front fender flares, it’s cutback doors (their rear edges match the shape of the rear fender flares), the
oil cooler scoop below the radiator air intake, and last but not least the subtle pyramidal protrusions in its trunk lid, created to allow the required FIA suitcase to fit inside. The car also had the “cheater” tilt back windshield designed to flop back at speed and reduce drag.
In May 1965, Sir John Whitmore, “the racing Baronet”, whose success in Ford Cortinas may have led to this ride, drove the car in the FIA Tourist Trophy at Oulton Park, a two heat affair. In the first of the two hour contests, he raced in his usually exuberant style, smoking the rear tyres in the corners so much that he had to pit for fresh ones, relegating him to a seventh place finish. In the second heat he drove less exuberantly so he didn’t need to stop, coming in one place higher. Even with a broken front anti-sway bar, Whitmore came fourth overall in the aggregate results, first among the big GT cars.
CSX2345 raced in more FIA events, seven, and won its class more times-five 1st place wins-more than any other Cobra roadster. The only Cobra to endure both the 1964 and 1965 race seasons in Europe driven by Bob Bondurant, Phil Hill, Sir John Whitmore, Roy Salvadori, Jack Sears and Jochen Neerpasch, it formed a vital part of the Shelby American team that won 1965 Manufacturer’s World Championship, the first such crown for an American powered chassis.
The car has since been converted to right had drive and if I could post photos I would.
Dek