The fourth Shelby Cobra ever built, owned for 36 years by a Virginia collector, heads to Monterey auction in 2025.
An exceptionally rare 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra—the fourth Cobra ever produced and among the earliest examples in existence—is slated for auction at the Broad Arrow Auctions event at Monterey Jet Center in 2025. Experts anticipate it could fetch between $1.5 million and $2 million, underscoring its extraordinary historical significance.
Bearing chassis number CSX 2003, this particular Cobra was completed at European Cars in Pittsburgh, a dealership operated by legendary racing driver and early Shelby collaborator Ed Hugus. Hugus was instrumental in realizing Carroll Shelby’s dream of combining lightweight British sports cars with powerful American engines, ultimately giving birth to the iconic Cobra.
CSX 2003 retains its original 260-cubic-inch Ford V8 engine, transmission, and rear axle, making it an exceptionally authentic survivor. The car has a storied past, including a critical evaluation period at Ford Motor Company’s Special Vehicles Team in Dearborn in early 1962. Henry Ford II himself reportedly test-drove and inspected the vehicle as part of the decision-making process leading to Ford's eventual partnership with Shelby.
The Cobra made a notable appearance at the 1963 12 Hours of Sebring, displayed by its first private owner, further cementing its legacy. It passed through several prominent hands, receiving careful restoration and upkeep over the years, including meticulous preservation by its current owner—a Virginia-based collector who has cherished the car since 1989.
Under his ownership, the Cobra was used extensively—even as daily transportation—until the vehicle’s rising value necessitated its retirement to climate-controlled storage. The owner, a retired surgeon, described the car as “part of the family,” even securing Carroll Shelby’s autograph inside the glove compartment at a Ford-sponsored event.
As one of fewer than 75 original Shelby Cobras fitted with Ford’s 260-cubic-inch V8, CSX 2003 is a crucial piece of automotive history and offers collectors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a foundational Shelby Cobra. See it here.
