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1967 Shelby 427 Cobra
VIN: CSX3357

The 4th-to-last Shelby 427 Cobra
Complete body-off 100 point concours-level restoration by Canepa in 2010
One of just 155 examples built with 427 V8 engines
30,038 original miles
Original “Sunburst” aluminum alloy wheels designed by Peter Brock
427ci side-oiler V8 engine - 425HP, 480 lb-ft of torque
4-speed manual transmission

Powerful, lightweight, and an American icon, the Shelby 427 Cobra was the brainchild of racer and sports car builder, Carroll Shelby. The automotive legend and serial entrepreneur realized that the 289 Cobra had more potential than was currently available, so he made the obvious choice: he dropped a 427-cubic inch V8 into the aluminum body and revised tube-frame chassis and coil-spring suspension. While the aluminum body and frame had to be widened and lengthened and the chassis updated to hold the newfound power, the upgrades would yield a car that would become synonymous with lightweight performance and racecar-like handling, becoming one of the most iconic American sports cars ever made. Everything that a 289 Cobra did, the 427 did better. Just 155 examples of the 427 Cobra were built with 427 engines, making CSX3357 a rarity among even the already rare Cobras.

CSX3357 was billed to Shelby American on December 14th, 1966, fitted with a single 4V 427 engine, and was sold to Stark Hickey Ford of Royal Oak, Michigan and delivered on October 18th, 1967. Amazingly, the car has only been driven just over 30,000 miles over the last 49 years. The 4th owner of the car painted the Cobra in Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue stripes in 1983, and in 2002 at the SAAC Mid America meet it won “Best of Show” before being displayed at the Shelby American Collection in Boulder, Colorado. Over 42 years the Cobra was driven just 24,834 miles.

In 2009 Canepa embarked on a true body-off, 100-point concours-level restoration of CSX3357. While many Shelby Cobras over the years have had many of their original components and interiors replaced, this 427 was unique. The upholstery on the dash, doors, seats, rear interior, side panels, tonneau cover, side curtains and convertible top were completely original, and were given extreme care during the disassembly of the Cobra in order to preserve the majority of the material.

The Cobra was completely disassembled down to the last nut and bolt before Canepa's technicians carefully removed the all-aluminum body from the chassis, which was placed on a wooden buck while the chassis was being restored. The original 4” ladder-style tube chassis was completely restored, stripped of its existing finish and powdercoated in black. The original handformed aluminum body was stripped of its existing paint finish, revealing that the aluminum body had never been in any kind of accident before. Canepa technicians made sure to use the original rivet holes that were originally made in the aluminum body and chassis during reassembly, so that no new holes were drilled during the process to preserve the originality.

With the chassis now mated with the aluminum body, Canepa's bodymen went to work at ensuring the original curves of the Cobra were preserved, preparing it for a complete concours-level paint finish, with the panel fitment and gaps perfected. Expertly prepared, CSX3357 was painted in Shelby American's original shade of stunning Ivy Green, giving the Cobra a menacing yet sophisticated presence that anyone and everyone could appreciate.

While the Cobra was deep in restoration at Canepa's facility, CSX3357's 427 side-oiler engine was entrusted to Tony Oddo Engineering in Suisun, California. Known for building strong race engines and expertly tuned carburetors for teams throughout the NASCAR industry, and has been associated with some of the biggest names in racing, they were the obvious choice for the Cobra's engine rebuild. Fully rebuilt to factory specifications, the 427 engine was now ready to be reunited with the aluminum body.

With the body painted and engine complete, the real assembly of the Cobra could begin. All new interior aluminum panels were fabricated including the dashboard, floor, trunk, inner fenders and the firewall. The original fiberglass foot boxes and trunk base were cleaned and re-gel coated. A modern thermal barrier and insulation were carefully installed throughout the cockpit, ensuring a comfortable ride and helping resist the heat from the powerful 427 engine, hidden from view and not distracting from the car's originality. New factory correct carpets were installed, and all instruments and switches were restored to factory new condition. The original upholstery material on the dash, doors, rear interior, and side panels was completely original and used again, along with the original top and side curtains.

The 427 V8 side-oiler engine was paired to the 4-speed manual transmission and rear end, completely rebuilt and restored to factory new specification. All suspension components were crack checked, restored, and refinished to new condition. The original hardware was carefully replated and restored to period correct Shelby finishes. The original Peter Brock-designed “Sunburst” cast aluminum alloy wheels are the originals delivered with this very car.

When fully finished, CSX3357 was a show stopper of a 427 Cobra. With every minute detail addressed while preserving as many original components as possible, CSX3357 was a 2,834 hour complete concours-level restoration that looked and drove the part. After exhaustive road testing to ensure every system was sound and that driving dynamics were dialed in, the Cobra finally was completed. Since the completion of the restoration the Cobra has had very few miles added to the odometer after being owned by two caretakers, most recently part of a fantastic automotive assortment for the past 12 years. Now available for the first time in over a decade and returning to Canepa, CSX3357 presents as if its restoration has just been completed. One of the very last 427 Cobras to have been built during Shelby's production run, and one of just 155 street examples built with a true 427 V8 engine, CSX3357 is one of the finest Cobras to be had in a collection, or to take for a drive.