Lot 227: 1963 AC Cobra 289

1963 AC Cobra 289Registration Number: EU registered Chassis Number: CSX 2110 Throughout the history of the automobile, one car will stand out among the rest as being indicative of its era: for many people the AC Cobra will always be the car which symbolises the 1960s. The Cobras ancestry went back to 1954, with the advent of the AC Ace. This excellent John Tojeiro designed chassis was first powered by AC's six cylinder, 1,991cc engine, but AC soon introduced the Bristol two litre engine, with a healthy 125bhp and a top speed of 115mph. The AC Ace-Bristol made an excellent road sports car as well as a successful club racer. By 1961, however, the supply of Bristol engines had ceased and AC adopted the Ford 2.6 litre, six cylinder engine. Despite this engine's Raymond Mays' improved cylinder head and induction system, which claimed to produce 170bhp, the extra weight cancelled out any real improvement in performance. It was at this time that Carroll Hall Shelby, notable Texan race driver, race car constructor and winner of the 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours, approached AC with his suggestion for a new engine and chassis combination. Shelby was familiar with the way European-built road cars could out-handle anything built in the America at the time, whilst he was equally aware that when it came to sheer power there was nothing that moved a car like a big American V8. By good fortune, Ford had just developed a new 221cu.in V8 which was intended for its new range of sports coupés. Shelby made an agreement with Ford to supply this V8 bored out to 260cu.in/4.2 litres and AC agreed to modify a chassis to accept it. Thus was born the new AC, thereafter known as the AC Cobra. From its conception, Shelby never expected the Cobra to become a mass production car. Each chassis and body was hand-made in the traditional way by AC at Thames Ditton and then shipped to Shelby in the United States to be fitted with its large American V8. Only the first 75 cars received the 260cu.in engine because when Ford developed the 289/4.7 litre the Cobra adopted this instead. The 289 Cobras were an immediate success on the race track, drag strip and rally routes, and they scored wins against strong international sports car competition, winning at Daytona, Sebring, Oulton Park, Nrburgring, and to Ferrari's particular embarrassment, at Monza. The 289 Cobra was later developed by Shelby into the 427 Cobra, but it was never to be as successful as the 289 which, while not quite having the ultimate power of its larger brother, was always a far better handling all-round chassis. It was the 289 that won the World Manufacturer's Championship in 1965. This superb Cobra was delivered new to Los Angeles in April 1963 and remained in California until 1974 when it returned to Europe - this time to Germany, but after a period of approximately two years the car came back to Britain. However, in 1987 the AC was sold to a long-term owner in Southern Germany who has owned the car through to 2007. This is a well known and highly regarded original 289 Cobra that retains all its original features and its mechanical specification is entirely correct with a 289 CI V8 and 3.77:1 axle ratio. The car also retains its correct Lucas and Smiths instruments, large flat head Cobra emblems, and original chassis plate with stampings on the boot lock. It is clearly understood that all body panels on the car are original throughout. This represents a remarkable opportunity to purchase a clean and absolutely correct example of the legendary Anglo-American snake!Eine absolut korrekte AC Cobra 289 mit originaler Karrosserie, die die letzten 20 Jahre in den fachkundigen Hnden eines sddeutschen Sammlers verbracht hat. Die erstaunliche Originalitt dieser Cobra l?t sich bis auf die korrekten Lucas und Smith-Armaturen zurckverfolgen. Ein Auto fr den wahren Cobra-Kenner! EstimateRefer Department