1965 Shelby 289 Cobra
Beautifully Restored In Factory Original Colors With Great Attention To Concours Details
Sold New Out Of Hi-Performance Motors Los Angeles California and Original Owner Picked Up His New Cobra Directly From The Shelby American Factory
Very Late Production 289 Street Car With All The Most Desirable Final Running Production Changes; Side Vents, Wider Fender Flares, Rack And Pinion Steering, Ford Electrics, Stewart Warner Gauges, Ford Alternator, Footbox Tag Complete With Engine Number
Original Never Modified Body, Original Chassis, Original Engine, Transmission, Rear End
Two Owners For Over 40 years
Extremely Rare As It Is Extremely Hard To Find One
That Has Never Been Modified With a Roll Bar, Hood Scoop, Side Exhaust, or Fender Flares
Has Correct Stampings and Markings, Chassis, Chassis Tag, Engine, Hood and Trunk Latches, Doors,
Transmission Tunnel
Complete With Side Curtains, Soft Top, Tonneau Cover, Hammer, Jack And Owner’s Manual
LMC is very proud to offer for sale this 1965 Shelby Cobra 289
Carroll Shelby and his famous Ford powered Cobras need no introduction to any motorsport’s enthusiast. The years of Carroll Shelby and Ford’s partnership created some of the best race and street cars in automotive history. Shelby’s fame and success is owed to the AC-bodied Cobra, which utilized Ford’s new 289-cubic-inch V-8, that provided the perfect balance of handling and raw power. Rated at 306 horsepower, the 289 was tasked with propelling a car that weighed only 2,000 pounds. With such exciting performance, it is no wonder that the Cobra became an instant success, making both Cobra and Carroll Shelby household names and, ultimately, beating Ferrari to bring the FIA International GT Championship to the United States for the first time in 1965.
This outstanding 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 offered here for sale was shipped to Los Angeles aboard the SS Dintledyk, and it was invoiced on November 6, 1964, to Jerry Watson Ford, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. However, that invoice was soon voided, and the car was offered for sale by Carroll Shelby’s very own dealership, Hi-Performance Motors, from which it was soon sold and delivered to its first owner directly from The Shelby American factory. The original owner optioned the Cobra with desirable class “A” accessories including WSW tires ($250.50), a radio and antenna ($45.50), outside rear-view mirror ($4.20), antifreeze ($3.55), side curtains ($77) and a hardtop ($169) for a grand total of $5,744.75. Being a very late production 289 example, it was built with the desirable final running production changes including side vents, wider fender flares, rack and pinion steering, ford electrics, Stewart warner gauges, ford alternator and footbox tag complete with engine number.
As per the registry, this Cobra early on made its way to Pennsylvania and then into the hands of Quaker State residents Bill and Kathy Armstrong. The Armstrong’s were great enthusiasts with a collection of English sports cars. For much of the decade, they enjoyed showing their Cobra in various Eastern and Midwestern events, winning an award at the New Hope Auto Show and taking Best Cobra at the first annual SAAC meet in Brown County, Indiana, in 1978.
That year, Mr. Armstrong, a military man, was sent to serve his country abroad for several years. His wife accompanied him, and their cars were carefully put into storage, where they intended to retrieve them upon their return to the USA. The car would remain in storage until the 90’s, unmodified and still in its original colors and it remained in remarkable original condition. Upon close inspection this Cobra still retained the correct stampings and markings, chassis, chassis tag, hood and trunk latches, doors and transmission tunnel. The body and chassis revealed no evidence of the car having ever been damaged or ever modified with a roll bar, hood scoop, side exhaust, or fender flares at any point, which is extremely rare for any 289 Cobra to survive in this untampered with condition. The numbers matching 289ci/306hp engine still remains in the car along with the aluminum case four speed T-10 transmission and its Salisbury limited slip rear differential.
The car has benefited from an exacting concours restoration with the goal of being one of the nicest, most correctly restored 289 street Cobras. Marque experts were consulted to assist in restoring this Cobra, with originality and extreme correctness in mind utilizing original hardware as well as parts. The outcome is what is seen here today, a never tampered with 289 Cobra.
With the rise of collectability of Shelby Cobras, collectors are always searching for outstanding examples of one of America’s most important sports cars. This is a unique opportunity to own one of the best examples. A true no excuse Cobra, for the collector who only wants the best in their collection!
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