Equipment
Silver painted wire wheels, Goodyear tires, braced black painted paperclip rollbar, bumperettes.
Condition
#4 Fair
Has visible flaws to the naked eye. Runs fine, but could use mechanical or cosmetic attention.
The first Shelby Cobra, famously painted many times when new to give the impression of multiple Cobras to magazine road tests. The prototype, it has many unique features not in later Cobras including inboard rear drum brakes. Mediocre old repaint. Torn original upholstery. Dirty wheels and chassis. An honest but old and neglected thing. Owned by Shelby since new and sold from the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust with proceeds to the Carroll Hall Shelby Foundation.
Market commentary
The subject of nonstop conjecture during the Monterey week, some people thought this was a cranky old 260 Cobra in parlous condition worth $2-3 million. At the opposite end of the spectrum were those who put all their marbles behind the Carroll Shelby Legend and though it would bring $20 million. In the end the Monterey bidders reached a realistic and thoughtful compromise -- one that characterized the overall approach to most cars in Monterey this year -- and settled on a price giving great, but not irrational, weight to the Shelby Legend.