Original Shelby Cobra Headed to Auction

American motoring pioneer, Carroll Shelby’s first ever Cobra is set to go under the hammer- and you’re going to need very deep pockets to drive it home.

The first ever Cobra, the CSX 2000, was created in 1962 when Carroll Shelby, dissatisfied with sports cars on the market, decided to squeeze an enormous Ford V8 into a tiny roadster. To put the stunning performance of the CSX 2000 in perspective; in 1962, this shed built roadster was capable of racing to 100km/h in 4.3sec- faster than a 2016 Porsche Boxster.

Carroll Shelby used this very Cobra as a development car, promotional tool and press vehicle before production had begun. Always the the lateral thinker, Shelby painted the car several different colours over the course of a few months to give the illusion that production was already underway and to sway financial backers.

The car, which has belonged to Shelby since it was created, is being offered to the public for the first time. The CSX 2000 is set to under the hammer at the famous classic car auction house, RM Sotheby’s, in August.

Early conjecture has suggested that the CSX 2000 is likely to stand in rare company as one of the most expensive classic cars history, with many expecting it to sell for more than $10million USD.