While I was researching our story on the Essex Wire Cobra, I came across the story the other missing Cobra of significance: CSX 2287. I actually vaguely recall reading this way back in 2001, but this time I read the whole story. There is so much intrigue here you could write a movie script around the car! Then, last night my kids and I were watching some videos from Jay Leno’s Garage and came across a video of Jay and the car. This stuff is gold!
The full story can be read at the Nor Cal Shelby Club, but I’ll condense it into the TV guide version.
Every Cobra is special, but CSX 2287 isn’t like other Cobras, it is the first Cobra Daytona Coupe. The first of only 6 built and those 6 cars won Shelby the 1965 FIA World Championship. The following year, CSX 2287 went to Bonneville and set a stack of world land speed records. Soon after, it was sold to a collector named Jim Russell who owned Russkits, a slot car manufacturer. Russell bought the car from Shelby for $4,500. About a year later, Russell sold the car to Phil Spector.
Thanks to FIA rules, the Cobra Daytona was eligible to be driven on the street and Spector did so, at least until he got tired of being baked inside the car and spending a fortune or speeding tickets. Apparently he took it to a shop to correct the overheating issue and they quoted him an enormous dollar figure to correct the problem or they would give him $800 for scrap. This is where things start to get weird.
Spector’s body guard offered $1,000 to take it off his hands. He then gave the car to his daughter who let her childhood friend drive it on occasion in the Seventies before locking it away in storage. Then, in October 2000, she told the friend he could have the car if something were to happen to her and signed the registration over to him. A week later, she wandered under a bridge on a remote horse trail, doused herself in gasoline and lit a match.
In an attempt to keep this short: she didn’t actually put the recipient’s name on the signed registration. Her mother sold the car to two different people and everyone thought they owned the car. Phil Spector said he didn’t sell the car. Amazing what happens when a beat up old lump turns out to be worth $4 million or so!
In the end, the CSX 2287 has ended up in the Simeone Foundation Museum in Philadelphia. Thankfull, the car has not been restored. It wears the patina of a 44 year old race car that was ridden hard and put away wet. I’m assuming there were some minor mechanical and maintenance issues dealt with because it is actually driven on occasion.
In fact, one such occasion was when the ultra lucky Jay Leno dropped by with a camera crew and Leno had the opportunity to blast around the parking lot in it. If ever there was a car guy who has gigantic horseshoe up his hoo haa it is the somewhat funny guy who has built an empire that allows him to play with cool cars!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Besides being a life-long member of Nor Cal Shelby I have been familier with this car’s history for years. You’re absolutely correct about this story being well sutied for a movie. If you read the “whole” story it’s got suspense, crime, and weirdos up the ying-yang. This is one of the most incredible automotive stories with regards a specific car’s path that has ever been documented.
When I realized the car is now in Philly, it got me thinking that maybe we should go see it when we are in Pocono next year!
Great story, incredible car.