VIN: the works / Jim Russell / Phil Spector Shelby Cobra Daytona chassis CSX2287
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HISTORY OF CHASSIS CSX2287
Chassis CSX2287 was the first Cobra Daytona completed and the only one whose panels were fabricated by California Metal Shaping in Los Angeles. Assembly took place at Shelby’s workshop in Venice, California. Production of the five subsequent bodies was outsourced to Carrozzeria Gransport in Modena, Italy.
After intensive pre-season tests, the prototype was one of three Cobra Daytonas campaigned by Shelby during the model’s debut season and did the bulk of work for the American team that year. It ran solo during the first four events of 1964, albeit typically alongside a fleet of standard-bodied Shelby Cobras.
At the Daytona 2000km race for GT cars, Bob Holbert and Dave MacDonald started from pole and looked set for a comfortable victory until rear axle trouble slowed their progress at mid-distance. CSX2287 nevertheless looked set to finish second until a small fire broke out in the pits when said axle was being inspected on a jack. The car was retired.
At the Sebring 12 Hours five weeks later, Holbert and MacDonald qualified fastest of the GT runners in sixth. They made steady progress up the leaderboard to eventually finish fourth overall and claim the Cobra Daytona’s first victory in the Grand Touring class.
CSX2287 then appeared at the annual Le Mans Test weekend which took place over the weekend of April 18th and 19th where Jo Schlesser and Phil Hill took the wheel. Here, the car posted fifth fastest time overall and was again the quickest GT class attendee.
Three disappointing results then followed; a super quick Phil Hill retired from the Spa 500km with a suspected sabotaged fuel line, then Chris Amon and Jochen Neerpasch were disqualified from the Le Mans 24 Hours just before mid-distance for receiving an illegal push start in the pits. At the Reims 12 Hours, Neerpasch and Innes Ireland retired with a broken exhaust system.
Things were also less than perfect at the Goodwood Tourist Trophy race in late August when Phil Hill was back behind the wheel of CSX2287. On this occasion, CSX2287 had to stop early for a fractured oil pipe and dropped to the back of field. Subsequent stops for low oil and a replacement fuel filler cap put Hill right out of contention and he eventually finished eleventh overall (eighth in the GT class).
CSX2287’s final outing of 1964 came at the Tour de France, a mix of eight circuit races and eight hillclimbs connected by an epic 6000km of regularity sections on public roads between September 11th and 20th. Shelby ran three cars at the event with CSX2287 allocated to Andre Simon / Maurice Dupeyron (who appeared under a Ford France entry). Unfortunately, they retired during the night section heading into day four.
With new cars coming on stream for 1965, CSX2287 was not expected to see much action. However, it did appear at the all-important Le Mans 24 Hours alongside four other Cobra Daytonas.
Having qualified slowest of the Cobra Daytona quintet in 26th, Bob Johnson and Tom payne were forced into retirement by a blown head gasket overnight.
That should have been the end of CSX2287’s competition career, but following a last minute call from Goodyear, it was called up for a series of speed record attempts at the Bonneville salt flats between November 3rd and 6th. With a freshly rebuilt engine installed and the long 2.88:1 Le Mans rear axle ratio still in place, CSX2287 was driven 700 miles through the night to Utah, Craig Breedlove and Bobby Tatroe went on to set 23 National and International FIA speed records to include a 1931 mile run around Bonneville’s twelve mile loop.
With the Cobra Daytonas made obsolete by new GT regulations for 1966, CSX2287 became surplus to requirements. In 1966 the car was sold for $4500 to Jim Russell of slotcar manufacturer, Russkits.
Los Angeles-based Russell had the Cobra Daytona fitted with a silenced exhaust and carpeted interior to make it more practical for street use. About a year later he sold the car to renowned music producer and fellow LA resident, Phil Spector.
Spector had a loose interpretation of CSX2287’s speed record achievements emblazoned on both doors, but reputedly racked up so many speeding tickets his lawyer advised him sell the car before he lost his licence.
Heeding this advice, in 1968 Spector sold the Cobra Daytona to his bodyguard, George Brand, for $1000.
Following the acquisition, Brand, with the assistance of his daughter Donna, found a lock-up garage in which to store the car. Donna and her husband, John O'Hara, got CSX2287 registered for street use in both their names, but after 1971 the Cobra began a 30 year entombment.
It finally emerged in 2001 following Donna O’Hara’s suicide. A litany of legal battles ensued between her parents, ex-husband (they had divorced in 1982), Phil Spector and even ex-boyfriends who claimed the car had been promised to them.
CSX2287 ultimately wound up in the museum of Fred Simeone in Philadelphia where it resides to this day.
Notable History
Shelby American
Viking Blue
16/02/1964 WSC Daytona 2000km (B. Holbert / D. MacDonald) DNF (#14)
21/03/1964 WSC Sebring 12 Hours (B. Holbert / D. MacDonald) 4th oa, 1st GT5.0 class (#10)
19/04/1964 IND Le Mans Test (J. Schlesser / P. Hill) 5th oa, 1st GT5.0 class (#2)
17/05/1964 WSC Spa 500km (P. Hill) DNF (#1)
22/06/1964 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (J. Neerpasch / C. Amon) DSQ (#6)
05/07/1964 WSC Reims 12 Hours (I. Ireland / J. Neerpasch) DNF (#14)
29/08/1964 WSC Goodwood Tourist Trophy (P. Hill) 11th oa, 8th GT2.0+ (#22)
20/09/1964 WSC Tour de France (A. Simon / M. Dupeyron) DNF (#186)
Guardsman Blue Metallic with White stripes
20/06/1965 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (B. Johnson / T. Payne) DNF (#10)
03-06/11/1965 IND World Speed Records, Bonneville (C. Breedlove / B. Tatroe) 23 National & International records
1966 sold to Jim Russell, Los Angeles
1967 sold to Phil Spector, Los Angeles
1968 sold to George Brand, Los Angeles
2001 sold to Fred Simeone, Philadelphia
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ford - https://www.ford.com
