This 1964 Shelby Cobra is one of AC Cars' second generation Mark II's produced from 1963 to 1965. The Ford 289 was new to the Cobra for 1964, and before the introduction of the 427 the 289 was the standard bearer for Cobra in America. The Shelby 289 Cobra dominated the USRRC with only one loss in three years of racing.
Built in England in May 1964, this example was then shipped to Shelby American in June, arriving at McAnary Ford in Gary, Indiana in August of that year. The then Vineyard Green sports car moved through a couple of owners in its first few years. The first owner of record was Douglas Casey of Chesteron, Indiana who purchased this car from its original owner. Casey would go on to sell both this Cobra and a Dragonsnake to Dodge Olmstead of Vienna, Virginia. Olmstead never drove the Cobra, and quickly sold it to his friend Brooke Perkins in 1965.
Perkins drove the car on the street for about a year, and then decided to go racing. He arranged for two friends, Jim Sutter and Rick Mandelson, to race the car until he received his SCCA License. This wonderful car raced as # 65 and #22 at some of the most famous circuits in the USA; Lime Rock, Marlboro, Reading, Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen, Virginia International Raceway, Summit Point and Cumberland. Mandelson drove at the 1967 SCCA Nationals at Marlboro and took 1st in class, lapped Bob Tulius, and broke Mark Donohue's track record by a full second, quite an achievement for a car which had originally been purchased for road use!
In 1968, after a couple of years of racing, Perkins put the car up for sale in Autoweek magazine. Dave Johnson of Milwalkee, Wisconsin purchased the car, and after the car had been stripped to bare aluminium, repainted, and a new interior ordered Johnson decided to sell his 289 Cobra.
In 1969 the car landed back in the hands of another racer, Daniel Schott of Osh Kosh, WI. He would race under the banner "My Brother's Place Racing Team". Schott campaigned the car in SCCA B/P as #66 and #69 from 1969 through late 1972 at Brainard, Elkhart Lake, Blackhawk Farms, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, Michigan Int'l Raceway, Waterford Hills, Nelson Ledges, St. Louis, Lime Rock and Atlanta.
In 1973, after many years at the track, the car was given a rest and returned back to its original street form by its next owner, Steve Mondloch of Kaukaun, WI. He would completely restore the car in 1981, and go on to own the Cobra until 1990. After passing through another owner the car would end up in the care of the noted collector, Bill Jacobs and began living the sedate life of a treasured, collectable car.
Of course retirement doesn't work for everyone, and this racing Cobra was raring to get back to the track.
In 2011 the car was purchased by one of America's leading restorers as his own personal car and the car was immediately stripped so that a complete nut and bolt restoration could begin. The body was removed from the frame, with the intent of making the Cobra eligible for both concours and historic racing trophies.
Soon after the completion of the restoration this car took second place in the Shelby Cobra class at the prestigious Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, narrowly beaten by the first Shelby Cobra ever built.
The completely restored Cobra made its return to racing at the 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Laguna Seca, which was dedicated to the recently passed Carroll Shelby. Despite starting from last place the Cobra's post restoration racing debut was a success with the car eventually finishing in 6th Place in all Cobra race.
Following this event the car was invited to participate in the World's most famous historic race; the Goodwood Revival TT. The car was repatriated to England in 2014 and was further prepared for European historic racing including the fitting of a fresh FIA engine and the fitting of a hardtop (supplied with the car). Prior to the event the car was tested twice to ensure the setup was at its optimum. The car was then raced at Goodwood by the then British Touring Car Champion Andrew Jordan and DK's James Cottingham and it completed the race without fault finishing in an extremely credible 7th position.
Few cars have the ability to be suitable for both fast road use and competitive race use whilst being what is probably the most iconic car in existence; a Cobra. It is thus no surprise that Cobras consistently take the top step of the Podium at events including the Tour Auto (Won in 2014 by a Cobra 289). This sensational example is race ready and in full FIA specification, fresh from its recent comprehensive restoration and is eligible for world's most coveted events including notably this year's Le Mans 24hrs Support Race, the 2016 Le Mans Classic, Tour Auto, Goodwood Revival and many more.
