While the 289s were cleaning up against the Ferraris, Shelby knew Enzo would build something for the next season that would be built to beat the Cobra. Shelby had to look ahead to the next season and build something faster. The 289 Cobra could not be made any lighter, so he decided to give the car a larger engine. The first 427 prototype was built on a stiffened 289 chassis, but the small-block’s 20-year-old technology could not handle the massive power coming from the new engine. The 427 featured a thicker and larger chassis and a slightly modified body but kept the original 289 doors, windscreen, hood and trunk lid. By the time the 427 came to life, Ford already had a promising sports car to beat the Ferraris, the GT40. Due to this, only two 427s ever raced for the team. Shelby made many versions of the original CSX 427 Cobras, of which only 316 were built in total. There were 23 full competition 29 S/C models and 260 street cars built. The 427 Cobra is the ultimate successor to the 289 and “Anything the 289 did poorly, the 427 did well; and anything the 289 did well, the 427 did better.” On June 10, 1966, Shelby American was billed by AC Cars for one 427 Cobra with a factory red and black interior. Shelby American then billed this Cobra to the famous Tasca Ford of East Providence, Rhode Island, for $6,145.00. The car was ordered for Herb Pell, however, Mr. Pell decided on a green Cobra and Tasca Ford was credited for the car, so it was sent to Ron’s Ford Sales in Bristol, Tennessee. Later, this Cobra was advertised by Weldon Scrogham’s G&W Sales and Service of Waynesboro, Virginia, as “Cobra 427, Red/Black, 13K miles, excellent original example, $55,000.” It was then acquired by Allan Craig Shelton who was an avid enthusiast who had a few cars in his collection including an alloy Ferrari 275 GTB. When his trusted mechanic passed away in a motorcycle accident in 1991, he couldn’t find anyone else to service the cars to his standards, so the cars sat idle until being recently discovered. As seen in photos, one of Allan’s business cards was found in the car and it only read “Allan Craig Shelton” with no contact information. Being a recluse, this explains the car being hidden away for so long. When found, the dust and patina of long-term static storage remained, visually conveying its nearly 30-year slumber. A true barn-find Cobra! This exceptional 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 now offered is one of the best original examples in the world with only 18,000 miles from new and is one of the few still bearing its original paint, original interior, original chassis, original body and original engine, as well as the original transmission and rear end. It still retains many features that are often lost to time or restoration. These include the warning sticker on the speedometer, its Beclawat windshield badge, weatherstripping, heater hoses, fuse-box cover, foot box heat shield, Serck radiator tag, original Sunburst wheels with an original set of ultra-rare and original Goodyear Blue Dot tires, to name a few. The chassis number is hand-etched onto its original Shelby American foot-box tag, frame stamp, hood, doors, trunk latch and the transmission tunnel. The Cobra is accompanied by its chassis instruction manual, grease gun, jack, tool kit, jack handles, top bows, soft top and tonneau cover. This special Cobra still wears its original red paint and original black leather interior. This is one of the rare ones to have never been modified in any way. Displaying just over 18,000 original miles, this Cobra represents a unique opportunity to acquire an extremely original, pure example that was judged in a national SAAC convention in survivor class—a class for only original-paint, unrestored cars, and achieved “SAAC Gold” status by the world’s most knowledgeable Cobra scrutineers. There is no doubt it is certainly in the top 5 best original, never-restored examples of a 427 Cobra anywhere. The 427 Cobra is one of history’s most iconic cars, and it must be considered one of the most compelling 427 Street Cobras in existence.
