OVERVIEW
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1965 Shelby 427 Cobra SC
VIN: CSX4309
Genuine factory Shelby Cobra CSX4000 continuation car
Rare aluminum-bodied example
6,814 original miles
427 side-oiler aluminum V8 engine
Tremec 5-speed manual transmission
Regularly maintained by Canepa
Titled and registered in California for many years
Powerful, lightweight, and an American icon, the Shelby 427 Cobra was the brainchild of sports car builder Carroll Shelby. While the original CSX3000 series of 427 Cobras ended production in 1967, the insatiable appetite for Cobras from the public around the world did not. During this time, many companies tried to make similar examples using Shelby's tried-and-true formula of lightweight cars with massively powerful engines, but they were never true Shelby Cobras. Then in 1996, almost three decades after the last original 427 Cobra rolled off the production line, the new CSX4000 series was born. Now offered by Shelby American, Inc., no Cobra kit or replica manufacturer could offer what the American company now produced: true Shelby authenticity.
CSX4000 series cars were offered in both fiberglass and aluminum-bodied forms with the aluminum examples being rare, almost doubling the purchase price of the car due to their labor-intensive hand-formed panels. These Shelby Cobras were delivered to authorized dealers as rolling chassis for final fitment of the engine and transmission, allowing the new owner to choose a power plant and transmission of their choice.
This 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra S/C was purchased by its original owner, Rick Jeffery of Diablo, CA, from Shelby American on April 18th, 2003. CSX4309 was specified with the rare and labor-intensive all-aluminum body, high-performance 427 aluminum engine, paired with a 5-speed Tremec manual transmission. With the upgraded 5-speed, highway driving is far more enjoyable and makes this Cobra the perfect road car. In 2008 it was acquired by its second and longest caretaker, retired Chief Judge of Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Ed Gilbertson.
Ed Gilbertson has been a major contributor and been invaluable to the car community, and continues to share his immense knowledge through different publications across several car marques including Ferrari and Shelby. After years of looking for the right Shelby Cobra, Gilbertson found the perfect car just a few miles away from his hometown of San Francisco in the form of CSX4309. A fastidious owner, he ensured that his Cobra was maintained at the highest level at all times, and charged the Canepa team with ensuring the correct care throughout his ownership of 13 years. Driving the car regularly, he enjoyed the performance and handling on many of California’s backroads.
When it was time for Gilbertson to hand the keys to the next caretaker, he immediately turned to Bruce Canepa. Bruce, who is a longtime enthusiast of Shelby Cobras and the owner of CSX3360 which is the last original series Shelby Cobra ever built, was an obvious choice. From enthusiast to enthusiast, Ed Gilbertson knew that Bruce would find someone who would appreciate and enjoy his Cobra as much as he did. Upon arrival at Canepa in 2021, the car was put through the “Canepa Difference” process to ensure everything about the car was in excellent condition. Having performed the service work on the car for the last 13 years under Ed Gilbertson’s ownership, the car was in excellent mechanical condition. The rest of the car was hand cleaned and polished, ensuring all of the period-correct finishes and components were presented in like-new condition.
Bruce also added his personal design touch to the 427 Cobra in the form of changing the angle of the windshield 4 degrees similar to race-spec Cobras, and lowering and aligning the suspension to get the perfect stance. It’s not surprising then that shortly after the updates were completed that the Cobra found a new caretaker, who kept the car for a little over 4 years as part of their automotive collection and added only 53 miles. Upon return to Canepa recently, the odometer reads just 6,814 original miles.
Legends never die, and nothing more true can be said about the Shelby 427 Cobra S/C. With Shelby American keeping the Cobra alive and well with updated mechanicals but accurate visuals, this is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the Shelby Cobra. With just 6,814 miles, the rare all-aluminum body, 427 side-oiler aluminum V8 engine, and a 5-speed manual transmission, this 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra S/C has plenty of power and personality to get into whatever kind of trouble you want to be in.
