CSX3031 for sale at Legendary Motorcar (Apr 2014)

[SunDude]

For your info...

###

Original 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Factory S/C
Legendary Motorcar Company | | Original 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Factory S/C

CSX3031 was billed to Shelby American on 2/9/65 and was among the very few that was finished to semi-competition (S/C) specifications and was finished in the famous Shelby livery of blue with black interior along with white side pipe exhaust. The car also came without a fan, tops or side curtains. The car had been originally ordered by Frank P. Thurner and purchased through North West Motors. He took delivery of CSX3031 at Shelby American partway through 1966 and actually drove it home to Michigan. After completing the trip Thurner added electric fans as well as a top. The car was then sold later that year to Gerry Mulnix (MN) with 5000 street miles. Mulnix was into road racing and owned a Shelby GT350 R-model already, he got the S/C Cobra prepared and ready to race for the upcoming 1967 SCCA races. The Cobra would go on to be raced successfully in 1967 and 1968 SCCA events. At the 1967 Southport airport race 3031 was clocked at an average speed of 80mph and in 1968 Mulnix finished 1st in A-production at Donnebrook speedway while also setting a new lap record. In a very astonishing feat, Mulnix managed to complete both the '67 and '68 seasons unscathed. Over the next couple of years the car would trade hands a couple of times before ending up in the hands of Bob Ash in Iowa who treated the car to a little restoration work in its original colour combination. Some time after that the car would trade hands again a couple of times before being acquired by Connie Moore from Oklahoma. Moore both enjoyed the car and showed it over the next couple years before, as is often the car, CSX3031 was put away in storage. Many years later he decided it was time for the Cobra to get freshened up, it was restored and repainted. Shortly after the restoration Moore put the car up for sale and in 1992, Walmart owner and famous car collector Rob Walton would end up being the purchaser. Walton would enjoy the S/C Cobra on several driving events over the next 9 years including the Copperstate 1000. In 2003 Mike Drobot (CA) purchased the car from Walton and a few years later the car was given a complete ground up restoration where the engine, mechanicals and suspension were all redone. Recently 3031 has been restored back to its correct factory livery of blue with black interior and white side pipes, just the way it was picked up at Shelby American almost 50 years ago. CSX3031 is one of only 29 factory produced 427 S/C Cobra. With its rich race history and an unharmed life 3031 is surely one of the best S/C cobras in existence today.

[cobrakiwi]

Sure is a great looking car, thanks for posting.

[buddyg]

Wow just awesome! Bet that is going for a pretty penny or two!

[ACademic]

Originally Posted by buddyg

Wow just awesome! Bet that is going for a pretty penny or two!

Yes, probably at least 200 million of them.

[lovehamr]

Simply stunning car!

[LMH]

Beautiful! Love the FIA wheels in the old pic!
Larry

[CompClassics]

+1
Most people do not realize that comp 427s and SCs could come with the FIA wheels from SAI.

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

+1
Most people do not realize that comp 427s and SCs could come with the FIA wheels from SAI.

The 9.5's were not legal because SCCA only allowed 1 1/2" addition to stock wheel width (7.5) on the rear but it looks like those might be FIA 289 rears on the front and the 9.5" Halibrands on the rear hard to tell from the picture though.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

+1
Most people do not realize that comp 427s and SCs could come with the FIA wheels from SAI.

Not only "could" come...but "did" come.

Even mix and match, based on availability

[mickmate]

Looks good back in blue. It was just "flaa yaller" which translates from Okie as fly yellow, a Ferrari color.

[1985 CCX]

Awesome Car! Guessing the front FIA's are 6.5"

[Dan Case]

In the second picture it, the fronts look like the last version of the many 6.50 wide six spoke wheels designs (they were just race wheels to SA, somebody coined the term "FIA wheels" years later to cover all the many versions of 6.50, 7.50, and 8.50 wide wheels six spoke wheels) SA used on race Cobras and the rear appears to be the last six spoke design in 8.50 wide design for the 427 Cobra. The six spoke wheel offsets of the 8.50 wheel for a Cobra and the 8.50 wheel for a 427 Cobra are much different. I mounted a 8.50 six spoke 427 Cobra wheel in place one day and was surprised how far out the extra offset to the outside it had.

[LMH]

Is the original blue Guardsman?
Larry

[1985 CCX]

Great read Dan....

[bret a ewing]

What happened to the fender mounted rear-view mirror and lift-a-dots?

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by Dan Case

In the second picture it, the fronts look like the last version of the many 6.50 wide six spoke wheels designs (they were just race wheels to SA, somebody coined the term "FIA wheels" years later to cover all the many versions of 6.50, 7.50, and 8.50 wide wheels six spoke wheels) SA used on race Cobras and the rear appears to be the last six spoke design in 8.50 wide design for the 427 Cobra. The six spoke wheel offsets of the 8.50 wheel for a Cobra and the 8.50 wheel for a 427 Cobra are much different. I mounted a 8.50 six spoke 427 Cobra wheel in place one day and was surprised how far out the extra offset to the outside it had.

I bought the last (5) "FIA" 8.5 wheels that were available when Ford sold the remaining service parts stock that was obtained from SA. I used them on the front of my Cobra with the 9.5's in the rear, I bought spare front hubs and had the threads chased in so that I could tighten the wheels without running out of thread. I had to use spacers in the rear to use these wheels because the hub section was narrower than the 7.5 and 9.5 Halibrands.
This was back when you could get decent 15" race tires.
I was not aware of different offsets being available but Dick Smith told me he got a set of special 9" wide wheels to run at Daytona so he would be legal with SCCA. I think he said a fellow Cobra racer loaned him the wheels but I don't remember who it was.

[fordracing65]

I love the rollbar, same as the Kirkham's, mine looks just like it but really shiney...what a cool car, I bet it sounds awesome...

[bret a ewing]

Anybody find out the price?