Before I get into some brief details of CSX2416 I would like to begin with some quick thank yous especially since these gentlemen put me first when I was in need. On the west coast Mr. Cobra Lynn Park, the founder of The Cobra Experience Drew Serb, and John Bessey. The guys who did all the heavy lifting of this restoration are Jeff Christ and the highly resourceful Dave Riley. Ned Scudder who I wished existed in the MoPaR world as well (I am not sure all of you appreciate where we would be if there was no Ned.) David Wagner, and to Dan Case, the most knowledgeable Cobra expert in the world PERIOD. When a question is asked of Dan and he responds with "how far do you want to go" it puts true fear in me.
After many years of gathering knowledge and ORIGINAL bits the restoration of CSX2416 has been completed. The first order of business was to dispel all the nonsense regarding its history from day one. This self serving spinning of the facts by previous owners that ignored the obvious.
CSX2416 was never a factory dragonsnake. It quite simply and obviously was ordered as the most by far highest optioned and most special 289 streetcar ever built. There is nothing else like it that left Shelby American. Obviously Shelby America was not selling Drag cars with standard wheel openings, unmodified front spring, standard gear ratios, no roll bar, sway bars, radios, closed quiet exhaust, and on and on. All obvious facts that previous owners turned a blind eye to. Instead they highlighted that the car was built alongside CSX2427, the yellow Dragonsnake, at Shelby's race shop. PLEASE NOTE THAT CSX2416 AND CSX2427 ARE THE ONLY WEBER INDUCTED COBRAS EVER SOLD NEW TO THE PUBLIC. With the long highly specialized list of options on CSX2416 only the race shop could handle this build. The one-of-a-kind elaborate headers into relocated elongated mufflers with four tailpipes with four chrome tips plus the Weber induction system was work out of the scope of the street car shop. This is where the connection to being a drag car starts and ends.
In the November 1964 issue of Car Craft magazine there are two clear photographs of 2416 brand new at Shelby American (In fact the car was still Princess blue thus these were taken prior to its return and repaint by Shelby in Rangoon Red). Dan Case and I went over these photos to the point of insanity. Dan sees things at a hawk-envy level.
Based on three original invoices from Shelby American this is the list of options on CSX2416 from new. Many of these options are one of one and do not appear on any other Cobra. Whoever ordered this car new had eccentric tastes and deep pockets. This car cost more ($9200 w/tax and repaint at SA) in 1964 than an S/C Cobra did years later. On a side note I was able to find the son of the owner of the dealership that had closed in 1971. He was kind enough and I lucky enough to obtain from him an original dealer foil emblem for the trunk. It may not sound like much though it made my day.
Attached are photos of CSX2416 new in front of Shelby America plus an engine photo taken the same time and as it sits today.
Sadly due to health constraints I may not be able to post/respond.
Thank You Gents.
Be well,
Steven Juliano
Here is the list of options as per the Shelby American factory invoices dated 8.6.1964:
STAGE III ENGINE WITH WEBER INDUCTION
ALUMINUM ROCKER ARM COVERS
FRONT GRILLE GUARD
REAR BUMPER GUARD
EXHAUST PIPE TIPS (4)
ADJUSTABLE WIND WINGS
TINTED SUN VISORS
HEATER
SEAT BELTS
RADIO
HOOD SCOOP AND COLD AIR BOX
SWAY BARS
OIL COOLER
FULLY POLISHED AMERICAN RACING FIVE SPOKE WHEELS W/O VISIBLE LUGS
CUSTOM EXHAUST SYSTEM
HARD TOP
DELUXE SIDE CURTAINS
ANTI FREEZE
PLUS MODIFIED GRILLE AND RELOCATED EMBLEMS
Shelby invoice dated 8.21.1964:
REPAINT RANGOON RED 64 FORD DAL-71243X
The invoiced line items were not fully itemized but based on the new car pictures at Shelby American, research, and findings during the restoration the Stage III engine package included a COBRA bell housing (new car picture), stock Armstrong shocks, the polished wheels carried wide road racing tires, the hood scoop had a baffle inside, and the body emblems were installed in different locations than standard street cars.
I didn't mention all the many people that helped supply original parts. Even if you just found one little piece your help made the project a success."
CSX2416 at Shelby American after being returned for a color change new.
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/1254-070918093044-1983537.jpeg)
CSX2416's engine bay as new car at Shelby American.
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/1254-070918103905-1986144.jpeg)
CSX2416's engine bay Sept 2018.
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/1254-070918103905-1987941.jpeg)
The next two pictures are of CSX2416 currently in Sept 2018.
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/1254-070918103905-1988795.jpeg)
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/1254-070918103905-19891756.jpeg)
It looks fantastic! Thank you for sharing photos and history!
Sounds like an amazing bit of detective work went into clarifying this cars history. Thank you for sharing it.
CSX2416 and CSX2427 belong together. Both are absolutely breath taking!
Good job.
Hope you get better soon.
Brent A
Thanks for the story!
Looking forward, hopefully, to more details and photos, history and restoration, in an article in the "Shelby American". 8)
Beautiful - the dealer tag really adds to the restoration. These little dealer details are starting to take off. Take a look at eBay for old dealer license plate frames and tags - $50 - 200+.
Wow
Quote from: 98SVT - was 06GT on September 07, 2018, 11:04:46 PM
Beautiful - the dealer tag really adds to the restoration. These little dealer details are starting to take off. Take a look at eBay for old dealer license plate frames and tags - $50 - 200+.
If you are lucky enough to find one!
It really came out beautifully and sure is a unique Cobra. Great job Steve. It's a great example of what creates Cobra envy. ;D
I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't remember the specs on a Stage III engine? Does it include GT40 heads and a special cam?
What a beautiful Cobra!!!!!! I hope you feel better soon!!
Steve ,it looks like a absolute jewel . What a car. Keep on keeping on my friend.
Cool history, and a beautiful Cobra. Thanks for posting!
Thank for taking the time and effort to share with us.
I hope that you find as much joy as you can with your health what it is; it's not easy is it? But we are both here....and we both have lovely Shelby vehicles...it could be worse...
Good luck.
Mark Samson Palo Alto, CA
Hey, Steven - hope you're doing well and feeling good. Am I correct in recalling that 2416 has one of the unusual footbox tags like the comp cars? If so, it suggests it was ordered from Shelby American as a comp car, even if it was never used as one. Can you advise?
Hi Ned. I literally just got home from another 10 day hospital stint. Not wanting to air my existence in a public forum all I can say is that there is a limit to how much a person values life over ending the pain.
First it seems fairly easy to rule out that 2416 was built as a Dragonsnake. The obvious closed extra silenced exhaust, standard gearing, uncut wheel openings, lack of roll bar, sway bars, choice of wheels/tires, radio, etc has to logically rule that out.
Regarding the tag you are correct in that it has the same tag as the factory built Competition Cars.
At the risk of those reading this wondering if all the chemo I have taken has taken its toll I am the only Cobra owner on earth attempting to get to the truth and not just easily accepting the fact that I own another true SA built Comp Car.
My opinion is that the purchaser of this car quite simply ordered (from a microscopic little dealer in KS) a cobra HIS way. After rereading the list of options he chose and/or made up we all have to agree that HIS way was pretty damn cool and had zero regard for any designation being Drag, Comp, or pizza delivery vehicle. His choices as ordered and delivered would have kept him off of every race course in America plus many of his choices would have not helped the car compete even if that was his intention. SA , as far as I read, wasn't sending out Comp cars to the public with radios, quieted closed exhaust, NO roll bar, standard suspension, chrome overrider bumpers, dual chrome tipped exhaust, etc... c'mon he even sent it back for a color change? He liked a new red he saw on a mustang over the blue he rec'd? What guy ordering a race car does that? He send it all the way back to California from Kansas for red paint? That sure sounds like a guy who simply ordered a fun car HIS way to me. So faced with this custom build the question is how did Shelby American confront it? This we can never know. Obviously this build was way out of the scope of the street car department thus it ended up in the Race Car build section. The exhaust alone had to be a nightmare to construct. Ironically it started life being built alongside the yellow Dragonsnake it sits next to now.
So my opinion is the most obvious and justifiable one. CSX2416 was simply a cobra ordered by a guy who wanted it the way he wanted it with ZERO regard for any race designation. It is what it is....a loaded up very expensive impressive street daily driver that now today falls into a unique one of one status. Anything to the contrary is hard to justify 50 years later.
The opioid has worn off so i shall to.
Miss you Ned.
Steven
One other small detail shows that 2416 was built in the race shop. The 'Powered by Ford' side emblems are located where the race show placed them, over the side vents.
Steven,
Beautiful car. Thanks for being part of it's history and sharing it with us.
My sincere best wishes during your difficult health issues.
Rod
CSX2416's footbox tag prior to starting the restoration....as the person that started this restoration, I bagged and tagged every component that was removed down to the bare chassis and body, I photographed every detail along the way.
CSX2416 looks fantastic and I would very much like to see it in its completed form. Great job Steven and hang in there!
Amazing story and quite the finished project I must say. My thoughts and prayers go out to you Steven for your continued progress.
Well, Steven...I am glad your car made it back to the nest. It is now public knowledge that you have, as well. I shall miss our conversations and laughter together. Rest in peace and know you will not be forgotten. My condolences and best wishes to your family.