It’s so nice to see a real Cobra out being driven. I remember being in heavy afternoon traffic, about 1970, and seeing a 289 Cobra behind me, quite a thrill. Today, in the same part of the city I routinely see McLaren’s and all nature of mid engines exotics being driven by offshore foreign students, but somehow, that’s not even worthy of a second glance. The Cobra, I’ll remember that forever!
1970 or ‘71 my father and I were washing my mother’s MGA in the street behind our Council Crest Heights home in Portland, Ore. A white with blue stripe Cobra with an unsightly but cosmetic wrinkle in the front fender stopped and the driver talked with my father a while and then drove away. Later my dad told me the ‘Kid’ was in trouble with his dad and didn’t want to approach him for money to fix the damage, asked about a possible trade for the MG and some boot money. My father wasn’t sure what a Cobra was, thought it might be some kind of a kit car? So a car with a crumpled aluminum fender and a million dollar future drove off to some other fate. If it helps any, we did keep that MGA for another 20 years.
thats the great thing about these old classics...it brings people together...really good entertainment and so nice to see people enjoying themselves...now i just have to finish my triumph TR6 :)
The 289 is still the best Cobra, even though replica builders favour the later 427 S/C body style. Not so well known is the fact that Shelby and many other racers had much more success on the track with 289s than the 427 monster ever did!
I purchased csx3225 for $4995 in 1968. I was graduating from college and spent a week convincing my dad to cosign a loan. Told him it would be worth more in the future. I was thinking $10,000.
What a great car! ....I love the fact that this guy is humble and just enjoys sharing his car with people who would never have the opportunity to ride in a 'real' Cobra....that is what the whole car thing is supposed to be about....sharing it with others & watching everybody smile...it's just a car, but what a car indeed! Nice video!!! Thanks for sharing!
Back in the 80's I got to ride in a real Cobra. It was loud, cramped, uncomfortable, hot and hit every expansion joint with a loud thump! It was the best car ride I ever had.
Recall seeing a car (vaguely?) like this many, many years ago - recall the hood scoop was affixed with solid rivets. It “shook with power” - drastic and erratic idle, like a sho’nuff race engine was under the hood.
Back in the early 80s I had a customer who was working on a 66 427 cobra He was bragging that the car was worth 50,000.00 I begged him for a ride It was BRUTAL!! I was scared shit I’ll never forget it Also got a ride in a viper Also amazing machine
More of the story..in highschool I was into sports cars, and would hang out at a local shop, run for parts etc. A customer ordered one, his wife hated it and told him to sell it. Had 300 miles on it when it landed at the shop. 3000 when sold 😁 .
It's funny, Carol Shelby preferred the 289 to the 427 choice for the Cobra, but Ford wanted to win LeMans, so they had to put the 427 in it to compete with Ferraris. You don't see that in the movie "Ford vs Ferrari", but I met a guy who knew Shelby and he said Shelby respected the 427 as a "flat-out" ballsy brute built to win races, but wasn't a practical daily driver. It was just a scary beast.
@@NetWit20 I drove mine as a daily driver for the first 4 years I owned it. Put almost 50,000 miles on it in those 4 years. I'm 6'6" and it's fairly comfortable on long drives unless it's hot outside. Then it can be very uncomfortable especially as we have aged. I drove it on several 12 hour rallies back during those first 4 years (1968-1972). Also did about 1,000 miles during our honeymoon in 1970. In the last few years the most I have driven in a day has been about 250 miles. My last trip with my wife was about 370 miles each way. We drove down the cost and it was cool outside so no problem. Coming home we did I5 and it was about 95 degrees and my wife was in bad shape by the time we got home. That was 10-15 years ago and my wife informed me, no more trips in the Cobra. As of now she doesn't think she could even get out of the car because of the side pipes.
For four years (1968-72) I bought every issue of Road&Track. The classified adds at the back of the magazine were amazing. Cobra 289s sold for $3500 and 427s for $5000!!! But this teenager couldn’t afford that kind of money back then, prices remained unchanged for those four years, they were just used cars. Oh, cruel fate!
The 289 was always my favorite (since it was the English AC with a Ford engine, the original project). Funny thing: When you have a look at these wheel arches they do not look like the original ones. Replaced at some point?
Shelby built the first 70 cars with the 260 cu in motor, and then changed to the 289. Those first cars were IIRC, with the flattened wheel arches as per the original AC Ace. Some refer to those as "Slabsides". I believe that they changed about then to the pattern seen on this car.
My cousin has a 66 cobra 429 Shelby and a fastback 69 427 V8 both 5 speed manual transmission built to racing and out run police and police radios!!!!!
Beautiful car. Your excitement and enthusiasm are infectious. Kool :-) I restored a ‘72 convertible Mustang, and I feel the same way when I’m out cruising. What tranny and rear end do you have in your Cobra?
" i took hot girl neighbour in my ac cobra on the motorway " " went through the gears " full acceleration " we'll " she went " nuts " screaming and laughing !" Laugh 😃 😀 😄 😁
The opposite is true - two large cracks and a chipped rear fender flare indicates the car is over half a century old. I also don't think anyone would put plastic slip covers over vinyl replica seats.
It’s so nice to see a real Cobra out being driven. I remember being in heavy afternoon traffic, about 1970, and seeing a 289 Cobra behind me, quite a thrill. Today, in the same part of the city I routinely see McLaren’s and all nature of mid engines exotics being driven by offshore foreign students, but somehow, that’s not even worthy of a second glance. The Cobra, I’ll remember that forever!
Around 66 or 67 a neighbor had a 289. He let me drive it once & I was in awe of the throttle response. What a machine.
Really cool of him to be so generous with his car.
1970 or ‘71 my father and I were washing my mother’s MGA in the street behind our Council Crest Heights home in Portland, Ore. A white with blue stripe Cobra with an unsightly but cosmetic wrinkle in the front fender stopped and the driver talked with my father a while and then drove away. Later my dad told me the ‘Kid’ was in trouble with his dad and didn’t want to approach him for money to fix the damage, asked about a possible trade for the MG and some boot money. My father wasn’t sure what a Cobra was, thought it might be some kind of a kit car? So a car with a crumpled aluminum fender and a million dollar future drove off to some other fate. If it helps any, we did keep that MGA for another 20 years.
thats the great thing about these old classics...it brings people together...really good entertainment and so nice to see people enjoying themselves...now i just have to finish my triumph TR6 :)
British lines, American muscle. Beautiful combination. Fabulous car. I would love to have a ride in that.
The 289 is still the best Cobra, even though replica builders favour the later 427 S/C body style. Not so well known is the fact that Shelby and many other racers had much more success on the track with 289s than the 427 monster ever did!
I purchased csx3225 for $4995 in 1968. I was graduating from college and spent a week convincing my dad to cosign a loan. Told him it would be worth more in the future. I was thinking $10,000.
$4995 in was about $50 k today
10000 $ 😅excellent c était beaucoup beaucoup plus 👍👏🏻🚀
Probably worth a lot more than that great investment plus lots of fun
What a great car! ....I love the fact that this guy is humble and just enjoys sharing his car with people who would never have the opportunity to ride in a 'real' Cobra....that is what the whole car thing is supposed to be about....sharing it with others & watching everybody smile...it's just a car, but what a car indeed! Nice video!!! Thanks for sharing!
Back in the 80's I got to ride in a real Cobra. It was loud, cramped, uncomfortable, hot and hit every expansion joint with a loud thump! It was the best car ride I ever had.
That's just cool. Thanks for sharing this experience with us.
Wow, $4400 that have truly multiplied in the past 50+ years. Luuuucky!
There is an older gentleman in my community that uses his ‘63 Cobra to go to the grocery store. It always makes me smile to see it.
Gentleman & a Scholar!!
Recall seeing a car (vaguely?) like this many, many years ago - recall the hood scoop was affixed with solid rivets. It “shook with power” - drastic and erratic idle, like a sho’nuff race engine was under the hood.
Back in the early 80s I had a customer who was working on a 66 427 cobra
He was bragging that the car was worth 50,000.00
I begged him for a ride
It was BRUTAL!!
I was scared shit
I’ll never forget it
Also got a ride in a viper
Also amazing machine
289 so much more classic than 427 which has become a cliche due to the number of repos.
I had privilege to drive a brand new black on black one in Denver. I was in highschool 😅
More of the story..in highschool I was into sports cars, and would hang out at a local shop, run for parts etc. A customer ordered one, his wife hated it and told him to sell it.
Had 300 miles on it when it landed at the shop. 3000 when sold 😁 .
It's funny, Carol Shelby preferred the 289 to the 427 choice for the Cobra, but Ford wanted to win LeMans, so they had to put the 427 in it to compete with Ferraris. You don't see that in the movie "Ford vs Ferrari", but I met a guy who knew Shelby and he said Shelby respected the 427 as a "flat-out" ballsy brute built to win races, but wasn't a practical daily driver. It was just a scary beast.
@@NetWit20 I drove mine as a daily driver for the first 4 years I owned it. Put almost 50,000 miles on it in those 4 years. I'm 6'6" and it's fairly comfortable on long drives unless it's hot outside. Then it can be very uncomfortable especially as we have aged. I drove it on several 12 hour rallies back during those first 4 years (1968-1972). Also did about 1,000 miles during our honeymoon in 1970. In the last few years the most I have driven in a day has been about 250 miles. My last trip with my wife was about 370 miles each way. We drove down the cost and it was cool outside so no problem. Coming home we did I5 and it was about 95 degrees and my wife was in bad shape by the time we got home. That was 10-15 years ago and my wife informed me, no more trips in the Cobra. As of now she doesn't think she could even get out of the car because of the side pipes.
For four years (1968-72) I bought every issue of Road&Track. The classified adds at the back of the magazine were amazing. Cobra 289s sold for $3500 and 427s for $5000!!! But this teenager couldn’t afford that kind of money back then, prices remained unchanged for those four years, they were just used cars. Oh, cruel fate!
I love those spoked wheels and spinners
how cool !!!!
A Slab Side to boot. Best one made.
The 289 was always my favorite (since it was the English AC with a Ford engine, the original project). Funny thing: When you have a look at these wheel arches they do not look like the original ones. Replaced at some point?
Shelby built the first 70 cars with the 260 cu in motor, and then changed to the 289. Those first cars were IIRC, with the flattened wheel arches as per the original AC Ace. Some refer to those as "Slabsides". I believe that they changed about then to the pattern seen on this car.
original 289 Cobra, chassis no. CSX2182
.... as a kid delivering Domino's pizza in an '89 Grand Am slams into it from behind.
My cousin has a 66 cobra 429 Shelby and a fastback 69 427 V8 both 5 speed manual transmission built to racing and out run police and police radios!!!!!
Beautiful car. Your excitement and enthusiasm are infectious. Kool :-)
I restored a ‘72 convertible Mustang, and I feel the same way when I’m out cruising.
What tranny and rear end do you have in your Cobra?
I'd be Giddy Happy too if I owned a real Cobra!! Is this a local Puyallup resident?
He's in the Portland area.
" i took hot girl neighbour in my ac cobra on the motorway " " went through the gears " full acceleration " we'll " she went " nuts " screaming and laughing !" Laugh 😃 😀 😄 😁
I thought we were going to see a ride in a cobra 🐍 . This was just looking at one .
I hope he had plastic seat covers.
Does not look real, more a kit car.
The opposite is true - two large cracks and a chipped rear fender flare indicates the car is over half a century old. I also don't think anyone would put plastic slip covers over vinyl replica seats.
obvious you know nothing about Cobras