OWNER LARRY H MILLER
IN LATE 1963
SHELBY INSTALLED FORDS MUCH LARGER AND POWERFUL 427 CU.IN ENGINE INTO A STANDARD COBRA CHASSIS. AFTER AN INTIAL TEST IT WAS DECIDED THAT THIS PACKAGE COULD BE RACED, DUE TO THE WEIGHT AND POWER OF THE ENGINE THE FRAME WOULD FIRST NEED TO BE MODIFIED AND STRENGTHENED. THE 427 ENGINE WAS DERIVED FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STOCK CAR AUTO RACING (NASCAR) ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS. THE PACKAGE WAS ALSO INSTALLED IN THE STREET VERSION FOR PUBLIC SALE AND THE CHASSIS NUMBERS FOR THE 427 ENGINE WAS CHANGED FROM THE 2000 SERIES TO THE 3000 SERIES.
IN THE 1965 WHEN SALES OF THE 427 RACE CHASSIS COBRAS HAD SLOWED DOWN, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF
RACE CARS IN STOCK AT SHELBYS FACTORY. A PLAN WAS CONCIEVED TO MODIFY THESE CARS SO THEY COULD BE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC AS THE ULTIMATE "HOOLIGAN BOY-RACER AND THE S/C (SEMI-COMPETITION) CAME INTO BEING.
THE BODY REMAINED THE SAME SAVE FOR A SMALL REAR WHEEL ARCH WHICH WAS ADDED, THE ENGINE WAS REDUCED TO 10.4:1 COMPRESSION AND THE ALUMINUM RACING HEADS WERE CHANGED TO CAST IRON. AN ELECTRIC COOLING FAN WAS ALSO ADDED THE CHASSIS BUSHINGS WERE CHANGED FROM BRONZE TO RUBBER AND SOME GT40 STYLED WHEELS WERE ADDED DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF THE HALIBRAND WHEELS. THESE CHANGES WERE MADE IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE CAR MORE USER-FRIENDLY AND TO REDUCE MAINTENANCE/REPAIR COSTS, WITHOUT SACRIFICING PERFORMANCE.
ONLY 31 CARS WERE CONVERTED TO S/C'S MAKING THIS CAR A RARE FIND. CSX3017 IS LARRY MILLERS LATEST COBRA ADDED TO HIS COLLECTION.
October 12, 2010, 9:11 am
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