One to Buy: ex-Essex Wire Corp. / Ed Lowther 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Competition
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.
Reprinted below is Mecum’s description:
Chassis no. CSX3009
The famous Essex Wire Cobra
Arguably the winningest Cobra of all time
Test-driven by Ken Miles at Riverside
Campaigned in the 1965 season by Robert “Skip” Scott under the sponsorship of Essex Wire with Dick Thompson as a relief driver
Fondly referred to as “Ollie the Dragon” as the car would occasionally shoot fire from the carburetor through the hood scoop
CSX3009 has achieved numerous victories including three championship wins (1966 SCCA A Production Championship with Ed Lowther as driver and two SCCA National Championships in 1973 and 1974 with Sam Feinstein as driver)
Immaculately restored in its famous Essex Wire color scheme by Mike McCluskey
Carroll Shelby visited McCluskey’s Torrance, California shop three times to advise on the restoration process
Judged at the SAAC-38 event in Fontana where it won Gold and scored 493/500, the highest points ever for a competition Cobra restoration
Extensive history file with period photos, documents and restoration details
Multiple-time Best of Show winner
History listed in the Shelby Registry
Comes with the original helmet, race suit and gloves of Ed Lowther from 1966, in which he won the car´s first championship
Exacting 1:5 scale model crafted by Jorge Sordelli of Irvine, California
The model was built in 2017 and is affixed to a plaque that reads "In Appreciation of outstanding efforts in the restoration of the winningest Shelby Cobra of All Time"
EQUIPMENT
Competition-prepped medium riser 427 CI V-8 side oiler engine
Retains its super rare competition engine components, including the magnesium intake manifold and aluminum competition cylinder heads
Original T10 4-speed manual transmission
Competition differential with oil cooler
Original 1965 magnesium wheels and 1966 NOS Firestone tires
Additional set of original Halibrand wheels with Goodyear Blue Streak tires mounted included
Roll hoop and cut-down windscreen
Side exhaust
Knock-off wheels
Smiths instruments
Wood-rimmed steering wheel
For more information visit the Mecum website at: https://www.mecum.com/
