Csx2189

[computerworks]

CSX2191 this past summer....

[CSX2009]

To Computerworks (Ron):

The white 289 Cobra is CSX2171 out of your neck of the Country (East). Otherwise known as the other "dirtbag Cobra" from Utah....one of those barn type finds....

[Steve Cassani]

289 Cobra roadsters were priced around $6,500. Using changes in the Cunsumer Price index as indicative of inflation:

$6,500 in 1964 = $45,071 in 2010

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by CSX2009

To Computerworks (Ron):

The white 289 Cobra is CSX2171 out of your neck of the Country (East).

Oh, thanks...I remember ...this was the one at Saratoga that had the windshield card with "2191" in error....

[Mark IV]

$5995.00 was base 289 price. The car was a "bargain" compared to say, a Ferrari at the time ($12.000). You could buy a full size Ford in 1963 for $2,000, a new Caddy was around $4,000.00 and a Vette was about the same. So what do you buy today for three times a Camry price (say $25,000, i.e. $75,000) that is equal? Makes a nice SPF for mid 50s look pretty good. And if you compare a GT40 then/now allowing for inflation they are a STEAL today!

[boxhead]

I know it is nothing to do with this Cobra, but here is an old pic from my stepfather.
It shows his old Cooper S that he used to race in teh late 60's.
Note the trailer.

[fxef79]

Originally Posted by Riverside racer

Thank you. The baby in the drivers seat is so period. Never sure if the Dads were prouder of the car or kid. Interesting bulkhead covering.

I think it's a 50-50 split. You can see from the big grin that Dad loved the car. As I remember the story, he chose the Cobra over a new '67 Vette. And even though I was about 15 years shy of learning to drive a stick shift... it's a love I'll always have!

[fxef79]

Originally Posted by boxhead

I know it is nothing to do with this Cobra, but here is an old pic from my stepfather.
It shows his old Cooper S that he used to race in teh late 60's.
Note the trailer.

That's pretty cool. I think the new Mini's are nifty, but I suspect they don't hold a candle to the original "fun factor" of the old ones.

[fxef79]

There were several questions asked that I've gotten answers for "from the source" (i.e. Dad).

"I bought the cobra in August of 1969 for $4500 in Colorado Springs. I don’t think the seller was the original owner. The roll bar was already installed when I bought it and I don’t know if it was original. It did not go through the rear deck like most did so I suspect it was added, but it could even have been added by Shelby at the request of the first buyer after the car was finished. I sold the car in 1972 for $5500.
I think the vette I had on order was a 1970, 427, and I’m pretty sure the new price was $5500 to $6000. I cancelled that order when I bought the cobra. The wire wheels were true knock offs, but were silver painted and not chrome."

[FredBMOC]

Very nice, thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by fxef79

There were several questions asked that I've gotten answers for "from the source" (i.e. Dad).

"I bought the cobra in August of 1969 for $4500 in Colorado Springs. I don’t think the seller was the original owner. The roll bar was already installed when I bought it and I don’t know if it was original. It did not go through the rear deck like most did so I suspect it was added, but it could even have been added by Shelby at the request of the first buyer after the car was finished. I sold the car in 1972 for $5500.
I think the vette I had on order was a 1970, 427, and I’m pretty sure the new price was $5500 to $6000. I cancelled that order when I bought the cobra. The wire wheels were true knock offs, but were silver painted and not chrome."

[fxef79]

I just heard from the current owner of CSX2191. She's alive!... so psyched!! I've always dreaded the thought that she had been lost.

[cobrakidz]

Love seeing the old pics--thanks for sharing.

[Ghiblicup]

Great thread - sorry to reopen this old one!

It is fantastic to see period photos, as they give a real impression of how cars were actually used and even changed while being used. And it is good to remember the times when they were just "used" cars and not super expensive speculation objects.

Where did this "lost" car of fxef79's father end up?

[fxef79]

The closest I will say, at the request of the current owner, is California. Haven't gotten any updates from them in the last few months... last info I got said it was back running (it's apparently had a rough life between 1972 and today). Didn't have the exhaust completely installed yet... but enough to take a spin. I'd guess by now that's done.

[Ghiblicup]

Hey again. Such a shame we are not getting any details on that "lost" car. Has anyone seen it so far - or is it a "mystery car"?
Why being so restricted with information?
I think everyone here would be deligthed to see a survivor car - if that Californian one is for real?!

[Nedsel]

The owner simply prefers to remain anonymous. These days, that spares one from a fairly constant barrage of phone calls and notes asking if he might be ready to sell.

[fxef79]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

The owner simply prefers to remain anonymous. These days, that spares one from a fairly constant barrage of phone calls and notes asking if he might be ready to sell.

^^^^^ This.

Having spoken directly to the owner on the phone, this was certainly part of the request. Their privacy is just as important as yours. Also, 1960's UK/US vehicle technology is pretty easy to steal... nowadays it's so easy to find someone's home address that exposing this information can make them a target for theft.

I did hope to get more recent pictures, but haven't heard from them lately. Honestly, my only basis for communication with them was that I shared publicly the information that my father owned the car in the early 70's, and they reached out to me. I'm not going to pester them for details... it's their car and their life.

[fxef79]

FWIW, I did get permission from the owner (some time ago) to post some pictures he sent me from during the restoration. These were taken some time in 2009. I've been slacking and haven't uploaded them since he sent them to me 2 years ago!

Rather than try to upload each one to this forum, I put them on my own gallery, you can see here:
Shelby 289 Cobra

Go to the last 7 images in that album. I've blacked out some information that might be identifiable as to the location these were taken.

[1985 CCX]

Very cool
That 2191 in white?

Love the aggressive snow tires............

[LMH]

Nice pics! Thanks for sharing them!
Larry