Thomas Long's 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Factory Team Car
Ultra rare 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Factory Team Car goes under the hammer at The Gooding & Company 2011 Pebble Beach Auctions. Offered in its authentic 1963 team livery, the Cobra Team Car has an estimate of $2.4 million – $2.8 million.
Completed in May 1963, CSX2129 was one of the first Cobra racecars, known as the Sebring team cars, built specifically for racing by and for the Shelby American racing team. The owner of this Shelby Cobra car is Thomas Long, an artist who specializes in exotic hardwoods, who bought it 43 years ago for $4,200. He loves to drive it, but he no longer does for fear of damaging or breaking it. I knew I wouldn’t lose money on it when I bought it,Mr. Long said. But now, lo and behold, it’s worth more than $2 million!
It was Shelby’s first big-time racing car, Mr. Long said. The first batch built by the factory as competition cars. Up until then, all the Cobras that raced were essentially converted street cars. The car was driven in competition by Ken Miles and Bob Bondurant, among others, and scored victories at Watkins Glen, Mosport, Riverside, Castle Rock and Mid-Ohio. The three Sebring cars accounted for three championships among them that year.
The Gooding & Company 2011 Pebble Beach Auctions will take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 20 and 21 at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, located at the corner of Portola Road and Stevenson Drive. [Gooding & Company]
Thomas Long's 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Factory Team Car
1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Factory Team Car
