Back in 1964, Shelby American introduced the Fiat version of the small block Cobra, which competed in the 1964 World Manufacturers Championship series against the big boys such as Aston Martin, Corvette and Jaguar. 289 Ford powered roadsters were built and in order to celebrate the birth of this vehicle, Shelby American will offer 50 limited edition (CSX7000) Shelby 289 FIA Cobras. Each unit will be painted in “Viking Blue” with FIA stripes and roundels, feature a black FIA interior, special billet anniversary badges, original style wheels and a variety of additional options. The 50th Anniversary FIA Shelby Cobra made its debut yesterday, at the annual Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Shelby American built the 289 FIA Cobra for racing and the models featured a new dash, widened front and rear fenders, cut-back doors, new dampers, racing wheels featuring the pin-drive hub, oil cooler scoops and a competition spec 289 small block engine. Today, the CSX7000 Continuation Shelby Cobra 289 FIA’s are component vehicles that can be fitted with a proper drive train by a customer or automotive professional.
Each car will be built to order and will be delivered as a rolling chassis, less drive train, with a Shelby American issued MSO. The Continuation Shelby Cobra 289 FIA vehicles will keep the authentic style suspension, as well as the graceful body lines, but will be upgraded to current standards. As a result, the Continuation Shelby Cobra 289 FIA comes with uses modern disc brakes, a stronger frame and the bodies are available in either aluminum or fiberglass.
Moreover, the vehicle features a uses modern disc brakes, a stronger frame and the bodies are available in either aluminum or fiberglass. Pricing starts at USD94,995 for a fiberglass bodied 50th Anniversary CSX7000 FIA Continuation Cobra, while the aluminum bodied car is priced at USD159,995, excluding drive train. Each car will be documented in Shelby’s ‘World Registry’. Cobras can be purchased through a network of Shelby American Cobra dealers.
“The 289 FIA Shelby Cobras were among the most important cars in American racing history,” said John Luft, president of Shelby American. “The FIA Cobras built during that period were piloted by racing legends including Ken Miles, Dan Gurney, Phil Hill and Bob Bondurant. Thus, some of the most revered drivers in the sport put the 289 FIA Cobra into the winner’s circle. Combining a robust, powerful American engine with a lightweight chassis was sheer brilliance. Shelby’s formula still resonates today and is followed by automakers worldwide.”
