Iconic Shelby FIA Cobra to be Celebrated
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- (Business Wire)
In 1964, Shelby
American, today a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby
International Inc. (CSBI:PK) introduced the FIA version of the small
block Cobra, which competed in the 1964 World Manufacturers Championship
series against marques like Aston Martin, Jaguar and Corvette. To
celebrate the birth of the 289 Ford powered roadsters, Shelby
American will offer 50 limited edition continuation (CSX7000) Shelby
289 FIA Cobras. Each will be painted “Viking Blue” with FIA stripes and
roundels, feature a black FIA interior, special billet anniversary
badges, original style wheels and a variety of additional options. The 50th
Anniversary FIA Shelby Cobra will be introduced at the annual
Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.
To celebrate the birth of the 289 Ford powered roadsters, Shelby American will offer 50 limited edition continuation (CSX7000) Shelby 289 50th Anniversary FIA Cobras (Photo: Business Wire)
“The 289 FIA Shelby Cobras were among the most important cars in
American racing history,” said John
Luft, president of Shelby American. “The FIA Cobras built during
that period were piloted by racing legends including Ken Miles, Dan
Gurney, Phil Hill and Bob Bondurant. Thus, some of the most revered
drivers in the sport put the 289 FIA Cobra into the winner’s circle.
Combining a robust, powerful American engine with a lightweight chassis
was sheer brilliance. Shelby’s formula still resonates today and is
followed by automakers worldwide.”
Shelby American built the 289 FIA Cobras for racing; modifications
included a new dash, widened front and rear fenders, cut-back doors, new
dampers, racing wheels featuring the pin-drive hub, oil cooler scoops
and a competition spec 289 small block engine.
Today, the CSX7000 Continuation Shelby Cobra 289 FIA’s are component
vehicles that can be fitted with a proper drive train by a customer or
automotive professional. Each car is built to order and delivered as a
rolling chassis, less drive train, with a Shelby American issued MSO.
“Our CSX7000 cars incorporate safety and performance improvements,
without sacrificing driving excitement or originality,” added Vince
LaViolette, senior designer and head of R&D at Shelby American. “With a
small block V8 pushing only 2,100 lbs., it’s the lightest Cobra ever
built with an incredible power-to-weight ratio. This allows the small
block Cobra to dive deep into corners and pull through with incredible
precision and accuracy.”
The Continuation Shelby Cobra 289 FIA vehicles retain everything from
the authentic style suspension to the graceful body lines, but are
upgraded to contemporary standards. Shelby American uses modern disc
brakes, a stronger frame and the bodies are available in either aluminum
or fiberglass. The 50th Anniversary Edition also features a
complete exhaust for a small block Ford V8, a special fitted car cover
and optional detachable steering wheel.
“The importance and historical significance of these cars was the fact
that they brought a small shop in Southern California to the forefront
of international racing on two continents within the same year,” said
Shelby Expert and SAAC Member Jeff Gagnon. “Shelby American took it to
Ferrari, Corvette and other well-supplied, well-funded and established
race teams and manufacturers. That was no small feat, even in those
simpler times.”
The 50th
Anniversary CSX7000 FIA Continuation Cobra will begin at $94,995 for
a fiberglass or $159,995 for an aluminum bodied car, excluding drive
train. Each will be documented in our ‘World Registry’ by Shelby
American. Cobras can be purchased through a network of Shelby American
Cobra dealers. Information about options and availability can be found
at http://www.shelbyamerican.com/50fia.asp.
About Shelby American, Inc. and Carroll Shelby Licensing
Founded by legend Carroll Shelby, Shelby American manufactures and
markets performance vehicles and related products. The company builds
authentic continuation Cobras, including the 427 S/C, 289 FIA and 289
street car component vehicles; it offers the Shelby GT, 1000, GT350,
GT500 Super Snake and GTS post-title packages for the 2005-2014 Ford
Mustang. Shelby American also builds the Shelby Raptor muscle truck and
Shelby Focus ST hot hatch. For more information, visit www.shelbyamerican.com.
Shelby American is a subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc.
(CSBI.PK). Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., also a wholly owned division,
is the exclusive holder of Carroll Shelby's trademarks and vehicle
design rights. It also holds trademark rights for Shelby-branded
apparel, accessories and collectibles. Info is at www.shelbylicensing.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140117005705/en/
Contacts:
TPRM
Scott Black, 214-520-3430
sblack@tprm.com
Source: Shelby American, Inc.
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