1962 Shelby Cobra CSX2032

On Friday, Aug.19, 2016 in Monterey, California, the most coveted, historic, and most valuable American Sports Car crossed the auction block. It set a US Record for $13,750,000. It was Carroll Shelby's CSX2000 which started it all, "the first Cobra". Without CSX2000, it's probably a good bet, there would be no Shelby's today. It's probably another good bet, that without the help of the original owner this Cobra CSX2032, (the legendary "Lance Reventlow"), there may not have been anymore Cobra's made after CSX2000. Look up his Bio on Wikipedia, you will see why he was so import to the success of the Shelby Cobra and Shelby American.

As Carroll Shelby was getting ready to start production of the Shelby Cobra, Lance Reventlow was closing down Reventlow Automobiles Incorporated (RAI), the builder of the legendary Scarab Sports Racer. A deal was struck between Reventlow and Shelby, now Shelby had a plant to build his Cobra's, RAI's former manufacturing facility at 1042 Princeton Dr, Venice California. Shelby also hired master fabricator Phil Remington from RAI and also acquired a 1956 Fiat Series 306/2 Grand Prix transporter. that was used by Reventlow. Shelby leased the building from 1962-1967, during that time he won the 1965 World Sports Car Championship, beating Ferrari, the only American car manufacturer to do so.


This Ebay offering is Shelby Cobra CSX2032, also known as the Lance Reventlow Cobra. All Cobra enthusiasts, please take the time to review this listing in total. The ad is a culmination of a painstaking two year research project. The project was completed via internet searches, document discoveries, correspondence with Cobra experts and former owners, and provenance supplied by all involved.This is the real story of CSX2032, backed by actual period documentation, prior owners statements, current owner disclosures, never before seen SAAC documentation, chassis documentation, and race photos never before made public. Race history for CSX2032 was unknown until now.



NOTE: A special thanks to the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC), Ned Scudder-Cobra Registrar for SAAC, William Hansen and all other Cobra owners and club members who have assisted in establishing the historical chronicle of CSX2032. Without your participation, the complete factual narrative could never have been properly documented. You have our deepest gratitude.


PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW TWO INVOICES FOR CSX2032. ONE IS FROM AC CARS IN ENGLAND TO SHELBY AMERICAN, 10/24/1962. THE OTHER IS FROM SHELBY AMERICAN TO LANCE REVENTLOW, 1/2/1963 :




There were 998 true original Cobras manufactured in the Sixties. Only 73 were fitted with the 260 Cu. In. engines. CSX2000 was the prototype chassis. CSX2032 is the 32nd scheduled Cobra for manufacture, and one of only 73 produced with the 260 Hi-Po engine. 75 were actually scheduled, but CSX2044 and CSX2074 were held up in production and eventually delivered with 289 engines. Serious buyers, be patient, the ad is lengthy. However, this was necessary in order to provide the complete history of this rare vehicle. The ad documents CSX2032 from original delivery date with as delivered options, and details the complete ownership history until present. Any modification or upgrades by each owner is also revealed. In addition, various links have been inserted into the ad. Please click on them, both above and below. The links feature everything from copies of documents to period photos supplied by former owners. Take note that many other documents are proprietary, and will be displayed to serious buyers only. This Cobra is a legitimate piece of American Muscle Car History, and the story can now be told, with the respect that CSX2032 deserves.





CSX2032

As displayed on the factory invoice, delivered in white with red interior. Base price of $5,995. Optioned as follows: aluminum rocker covers ($57), racing tires ($175.38), racing oil pan ($129.50), aluminum intake manifold ($95.95), competition ignition system and tach drive ($188.25), Holley carburetor ($58.95), sway bars ($126), single hoop roll bar ($152), seat belts ($20.95), front bumper guard ($35.95), rear bumper guard ($35.95), sun visors ($9.95), chrome air cleaner ($15), wind wings ($20.95), and rust inhibitor in the cooling system ($1.25), plus sales tax and license, for a total price of $7,493.75.

Note that the vehicle was manufactured with many of the competition options, but also every other option available. Of the 73 total vehicles manufactured with the 260 Cu. In. Hi-Po engine, 62 were built as street cars. CSX2032 is one of these cars.The vehicle was ordered with certain competition options, but also several luxury options that would not be present on a Factory Competition Car. The fact that CSX2032 is somewhat of a one of a kind example as optioned, correctly labeling the car was difficult in the past. Some years back, SAAC updated the description of CSX2032 to Factory Comp Optioned, or Factory Competition Optioned Cobra, which accurately reflects the true essence of the Shelby.

Also, contrary to rumor, CSX2032 is not the first off the assembly line with the 289 engine. Documents verify that the first 75 Cobras manufactured were fitted with the 260 Cu. In., 260 HP Hi-Po engine. Documents, date of manufacture, and VIN number sequence render it impossible for CSX2032 to have been a 289 car.



LANCE REVENTLOW

As verified in SAAC Registry documents, CSX2032 was billed from AC cars to Shelby American on 10/24/62, and shipped to Los Angeles. Also verified by SAAC documents, invoiced to Lance Reventlow on 1/2/63. Reventlow, the only son of Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton, was a well known Formula One racer. Through his corporation, Reventlow Automobiles, he was also the distributor of the Scarab, a revolutionary open wheel race car designed by Tom Barnes and Dick Troutman.
The Reventlow ownership is the most debated subject concerning this vehicle. There are four major versions exist: 1) Reventlow purchased and raced the car; 2) Reventlow purchased the car at the request of his father, to lure half brother Richard home from Europe; 3) Reventlow purchased the car to give Carroll Shelby’s business a boost, because they were friends and had business dealings concerning the Scarab venture; 4) Reventlow purchased the car, not telling his family, and had it put in storage. Truthfully, no one will ever know if any of these scenarios are true, or if there is another explanation. Most participles in the story have passed away. The speculation and guess work is a moot point.
The fact that Reventlow was the original owner of CSX2032 is undeniable. Documents in the SAAC archives include invoice from AC Cars to Shelby American, Shelby American invoice in his name, and an invoice in Reventlow’s name for plates and registration. Invoice includes check numbers. It matters not how long Lance owned the car, how much he drove it, or if he did or did not race it. The documents prove positively that Lance Reventlow was the first owner of CSX2032, and there lies the provenance on the vehicle. There is absolutely no positive proof to the contrary. Therefore, this can be properly referred to as the “Lance Reventlow Cobra.”


SCU LOTUS CENTRAL FOREIGN CARS

According to SAAC documents, CSX2032 was acquired by a company named SCU Lotus Central Foreign Cars in Michigan. Historical research could not uncover any information concerning this business. SCU in that time period referred to the very well known Sports Cars Unlimited in Canada. SCU was owned by renowned Canadian Formula racer Bill Brack. Sports Cars Unlimited served as the Lotus distributor for all of Canada, as well as a source for all rare and exotic sports cars. It is unknown whether the Canadian dealership took possession of the car, or if there was in fact a SCU Lotus Central Foreign Cars dealership in Michigan that owned the car. At any rate, during this time period, the first color change was applied, from white to red.


OWNERSHIP IN THE SEVENTIES:

In the late sixties/early seventies CSX2032 was purchased by Don Burgess, of Cedar Falls, IA. Burgess advertised the car for sale in August of 1974, listing it as an AC Cobra 289. It is unknown if Burgess did an engine change or just mis-advertised the car.

Bill Kemper, of Barrington, IL. purchased the Cobra in the fall of 1974. This was a short period of ownership, but documents reveal at this time the Cobra definitely had a 289 engine installed. It is unknown if Burgess or Kemper are responsible for the engine change. The engine was described as a Hi-Po 289. Now the car was painted blue with black trim. At this point, large round Cobra badges and 5.5” wire wheels were still on the car and fiberglass scoop had been added. Kemper listed the car for sale in 1975.

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR PERIOD PHOTOS OF CSX2032 IN 1974 AND 1975:






In the fall of 1977, Hansen opted for a mechanical and cosmetic restoration. His choice of restorer was world renowned Cobra expert Bill Murray of Murray Racing, Longmont, CO. Bill Murray raced Cobras in SCCA, and his shop performed remarkable restorations.

Mr. Murray repainted the car in black, an undeniably elegant color that graces the car to this day. Gold stripes were added to match Hansen’s Hertz Shelby GT 350 Rent-A-Racer. Bob Prouty built the engine. To dispel another rumor, the car did not have a K code competition type 289 Cu. In. engine at this time. The basis for the build was a non K code 289. However, an extreme amount of head work, machine work, installation of a Holley 780 CFM to replace the Holley 600 CFM, camshaft change, etc. elevated the performance to Hi-Po standards. Interior was changed to beige/saddle. Several upgrades were installed at this point. Mr. Murray was instructed to upgrade the Cobra to a level consistent with competition models.
The narrow wire wheels were replaced with the wide wire wheels. This allowed the installation of larger Hoosier D.O.T. tires. Fenders were also flared slightly for tire clearance. Ballanger headers were connected to chrome side pipes. Side vents and an oil cooler duct were also installed.

Mr. Hansen reveals that he actually stripped the paint from the car personally before delivering it to Murray. All three original colors- white, red, and blue were still present on the original body. Hansen also opted not to disturb the original chassis, as only approximately 40,000 miles had been logged. Hansen himself drove the car to Longmont to meet Murray.

When Hansen advertised it for sale, the vehicle had approximately 43,000 miles. In the summer of 1979, Hansen sold the car to well known Cobra collector Joe Rodman Jr., Glenshaw, PA.


OWNERSHIP IN THE EIGHTIES:

Rodman kept the car for a while, then in the mid-eighties sold it to John Prokell, Bentleyville, PA. Records do not reveal any major modifications during this period. Also unknown is how many miles were logged during this period. It remained black with gold stripes, tan/saddle interior, and modified 289 engine during this period.

OWNERSHIP IN THE NINETIES:

CSX2032 next appeared on the showroom floor of Essex Motorsports International, CT., circa 1992.

Herm Rosenman purchased the Cobra at an auction in Princeton, NJ in late 1993. Rosenman lived in Cherry Hill, NJ. During this ownership, the second significant restoration was performed. The body was repainted, again in black. The interior was dyed from tan/beige to the original red color. He also installed four twin choke Weber carburetors.

George Sicz,of Toronto, CA. purchased the car from Rosenman in early 1997. A back injury spelled a short term ownership for Sicz. In late 1997, early 1998, Peter Klutte of Legendary Motorcars in Milton, Ontario, CA. took possession.

LEGENDARY MOTORCARS:

During this period, several modifications were made to the Cobra. This included, but not limited to, authentic Halibrand kidney bean alloy racing wheels, Goodyear tires, large racing numerals, competition style fuel filler with rear cowl splash shield, front fender spats, Raydyot competition mirrors, quick-jacks, and yellow racing stripes over the right front fender.
CSX2032 appeared at the R&M Auction in Monterey, CA. in August, 1998, high bid was not accepted. Later, the Cobra was advertised for sale as a Factory Competition Car. Although possibly thought to be true at the time, this is now known to be false. As stated earlier, CSX2032 was not manufactured as a Factory Competition Car. The vehicle was ordered with certain competition options, but also several luxury options that would not be present on a Factory Competition Car. Shelby American never raced this car. In fact, only approximately 13 of the 260 Cu. In. cars were built as some form of Competition Car.

SAAC updated the description of CSX2032 to Factory Comp Optioned, or Factory Competition Optioned Cobra.


RECENT OWNERSHIP:

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR AN ADDITIONAL FILE OF CURRENT PHOTOS OF CSX2032, INCLUDING ORIGINAL CHASSIS WITH ORIGINAL WELDS:


Also published at eBay.com