For Sale: 453 ‘289’ Shelby-AC Cobra

One of just three right-hand-drive independent racing Cobras built, this fully-restored, thoroughly-documented, storied and magnificent 453 ‘289’ Shelby-AC Cobra is available for sale at DK Engineering.

Built from thin-gauge aluminium with flared rear wheel arches and cut-back ‘FIA’ doors and fitted with BRM alloy wheels, Weber carburettors, cooling ducts on the bonnet and big brakes, this Cobra was destined for racing from birth.

It was raced in America, Africa and Europe throughout the mid-1960s and is famous for winning the first drag race held in the UK when it went up against a Shelby American works team Cobra driven by Dante Deuce in 1965.

After spending the ’60s flat-out in the fast lane it spent much of the next 30 years moving between owners and resting in storage before it was purchase by its current owner, who immediately put it to good use in the historic motorsport scene. Since then it has been driven by the likes of Jack Sears, Dan Gurney, Derek Bell, Sir John Whitmore, Stefan Johansson and Richard Attwood at historic racing events at Goodwood, Le Mans and Silverstone, as well as smaller club events.

Three years ago a full restoration was carried out which saw the car brought back to its original specification and stunning condition.

It is original, fastidiously documented, storied and, most importantly, ready to race, welcome and invited to the world’s great historic motorsport events!

It is for sale at DK Engineering and you can head to their website for more information, including some of its detailed and impressive history, by clicking this link.

Via DK Engineering

Images via DK Engineering