It's pester time! I've got questions...

[mattr762]

Shelby American and Superformance have identification numbers for each car, right? (example: Superformance #747 and CSX4148)

I've notice several of you guys seem to know exactly which cars these are. Is there a list some where that cross references the number with the car and how it was build?

I'm assuming these numbers are in the order they were built, does that mean Shelby has built more than 4000? Or did they start with the number 4000 so they have only built 148 or what ever number they are on?

Thanks for your help,
Matt

[Excaliber]

eh eh eh,,,,amazing how some of the guys know just which car is being talked about by it's "number". Are we fanatics or what (former owner Excalibur #33). Which was the 33rd car made by that company, all the Excal guys know that of course!

SPF number I believe does in fact state the number of the car made! #747 was just that! As you learn more about the manufacturer in question you can tell things like:

After SPF car number 1000 or so there was a change in the specs.

FFR number IS the number of the car. What are they up to now? 4000 or something?

CSX4000 series car are are the most current group (continuation cars). Early one have a number like 4010, the later ones are higher. CSX2000 started it all, wouldn't CSX2001 be a cool car! 3000 series were 427 models. 7000 series are the FIA style cars (I think), so they will have a very low number due to limited production.

Some car numbers are kind of meaningless as some folks don't even know WHO made the car!

Aren't "vin" numbers fun!!

Ernie

[Bill Kesner]

Matt......

To simply answer your question...No, Shelby has not produced 4000 Cobra's to date. Who knows what the future numbers may climb to. It all started with CSX2000. Between the 2000 and 3000 original series, the numbers never ran all the way through. As for the 4000 series, they are in the 4300 numbers now, and will continue to climb. Will they reach CSX4999...who knows? And then what? Only time will tell.

- Bill -

[Bill Wells]

Superformance chassis numbers are in sequence, having started at 1. while there have been 3 different serial prefixes used, the chassis number was integral to the suffix of each. i have 156 ( built in 1996) , i have seen 1710 ( a somewhat recent car) , so they are now in the 1750 or higher range I would imagine.


serial prefixes :
early cars had a 17 digit serial beginning with AC9CSLK and ending in 1xxx. the LAST 3 being the early chassis numbers. this sequence was used thru PROX serial 577. serials 578 thru 590 used SPxxx (xxx being the serial) and 591+ is SPOxxxx (the xxxx being the chassis number). This might be off a unit or two in serial sequencing, as it is based on my earlier notes.

The chassis number is affixed to a VIN plate on pass side inner footwell area near the firewall as well as stamped into the front crossmember under hood behind fan before engine.

remember, the serial as listed on the title/registration may or may NOT be the SPF vin as many states apply their OWN ASSIGNED vin as well as some folks who may have a different vin due to some 'title washing' agent that was used. so, for exact reference to the vin, check the car itself.

bill.

[mr bruce]

Back in the 60s, Shelby started with 2000, that way it sounded to a potential buyer like he built 2000 of them ,and maybe they wouldn't be getting ripped off by a new company. F5 started with 1000, so they realy only built in the neighborhood of 3500-3600 cars,so far. Most of the other companys number with the exact amount they have accually built.

[Excaliber]

Hey. good point on the FFR's. I didn't know they started at 1000.

Ernie

[CRZN427]

Unless I miss read something here, the Shelby numbers were in two groups.

The 2XXX numbers were for the 289 cars and the 3XXX numbers were for the 427 cars.

In the later production runs Shelby is using different number series for the different models available.

[Excaliber]

You got it right. The 2000 and 3000 series are the original cars. The continuation series cars, depending on the model in question, begin with a new series of numbers.

The one important thing they share is "CSX". There is an 8000 series Shelby Cobra being produced. What model is that? "Street" 427 maybe?

Ernie