Famous Essex Wire Shelby 427 Competition Cobra heads to auction

• A Shelby 427 Competition Cobra, billed as the winningest Cobra of all time, is headed to auction
• The car will be sold at Mecum’s 2025 Kissimmee sale
• Mecum’s estimate is between $4.5 million and $6 million

One of the most successful original Shelby Cobras on the racetrack will go under the hammer at Mecum‘s auction scheduled for mid-January in Kissimmee, Florida.

The car, bearing chassis number CSX3009, is the 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra raced by the likes of Skip Scott, Dick Thompson, and Ed Lowther during the 1960s and early ’70s, and tested by Shelby’s Ken Miles. It is widely recognized as the winningest Cobra of all time. Its sponsor in 1965, Essex Wire, was one of Ford’s biggest suppliers. The company switched to sponsoring a pair of Ford GT40s in 1966.

After Shelby American founder Carroll Shelby achieved success installing a small-block 289 Ford V-8 in the lightweight AC Ace chassis to create the original Cobra, he upped the ante with the big-block 427 model. The bigger, more powerful engine required a redesigned chassis, and the bodywork was also modified with larger fender flares and a gaping front intake.

The 427 Cobras proved potent on the racetrack in the 1960s, dominating the SCCA A-Production class. According to the listing, chassis no. CSX3009 achieved multiple wins, including three championship victories (the 1966 SCCA A Production Championship with Lowther as driver and two SCCA National Championships in 1973 and 1974 with Sam Feinstein as driver). Lowther’s helmet, race suit, and gloves from his 1966 championship win are included in the sale.

The Competition versions of the 427 Cobra, including chassis no. CSX3009, were built for international competition. However, for FIA homologation, 100 examples needed to be built, and Shelby only managed to produce 56 cars. Of those, 31 were converted to road cars and given the S/C tag, signifying them as “Semi-Competition” cars. A total of 23 cars remained in full Competition spec and often ended up being raced privately, like chassis no. CSX3009.

After its racing career, the car traded hands several times in the ensuing decades until ending up in the possession of current owner André Ahrlé. He commissioned renowned Cobra builder and restorer Mike McCluskey to return the car to its original condition from the Essex Wire sponsorship era. According to the listing, the car currently runs an original 427-cubic-inch V-8 that was delivered in a crate along with the car to the Essex Wire team as a reserve engine.

The car is Lot S243 for Mecum’s upcoming Kissimmee auction, scheduled for Jan. 7-19. Mecum estimates a final bid between $4.5 million and $6 million.

It won’t be the only Cobra at the auction. A replica Cobra driven by the villain in 1995 hit movie “Bad Boys” will also go under the hammer.