One to Buy: ex-Essex Wire Corp. / Ed Lowther 1965 AC Shelby Cobra 427 Competition
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In 1965, the Essex Wire Corporation went public on the New York Stock Exchange and embarked on a marketing partnership with Ford that saw the firm go racing with the GT40, Shelby Cobra and Shelby Mustang.
One of the cars purchased as part of the deal was a Shelby Cobra 427 Competition: chassis CSX3009.
Compared to a regular Shelby 427 Cobra, the Competition variant was riddled with hot equipment; the engine, brakes, wheels, tyres, fuel tank, suspension and body all came in for significant attention in order to transform these 7-litre specials into track-ready monsters.
The 1965 season saw CSX3009 collect a trio of podiums and seven top seven finishes in the ultra competitive United States Road Racing Championship where it went head-to-head with purpose built Prototypes from the likes of Chaparral. The following year, Ed Lowther drove it the 1966 SCCA A Production title.
In 1968, CSX3009 was sold to Sam Feinstein who raced it until 1976. Feinstein notched up many more victories to include SCCA titles in 1973 and ‘74. By the time it was retired from period competition duty, CSX3009 had come to be regarded as one of the most successful Cobra racing cars of all time.
More recently, CSX3009 has undergone a concours grade restoration back to its 1965 trim by marque expert Mike McCluskey. On January 18th it will be going under the hammer at Mecum’s auction in Kissimmee, Florida.
For more information visit the Mecum website at: https://www.mecum.com/
