Photos: Auctions America

Some stories that seem strange when we hear them today, actually aren’t so strange when you put them in the context of their day. We could talk about the Mustang II and its sales success in 1974. That seems strange, but back then, it was the right car for the times and well over 400,000 buyers agreed.

Then, there are some stories that are always going to sound a little strange, no matter how you spin them. So it is for CSX2080, the fifth 289 Cobra ever built. CSX 2080 was purchased new from Mallon Motors (Tacoma, WA) in October, 1964. Four years later, the owner had the Cobra repainted, adding a hood scoop and headers from Shelby Automotive, as well as side louvers from AC Cars to assist with cooling.

The car changed hands a couple of times, eventually being acquired in 1981 by Carl Windham, who reportedly paid for the Cobra using $30,000 in gold coins borrowed from his father. That’s strange, for sure. The history of the meticulously documented Shelby gets rather fuzzy here, but it seems that Windham parked the car in 1981 with 68,000 miles on the odometer.

Recently discovered, the car was complete with its original drivetrain, dashboard, wire wheels, air cleaner, carburetor and and intake manifold. The 1963 Cobra 289 also retains its original top and tonneau cover. The engine bay remains virtually untouched, still with the original relays and wiring harness. To make the car road ready, only a new radiator and hoses were needed.

However, a complete mechanical restoration will be performed, with close attention paid to preserving its original condition to the greatest extent possible. CSX2080 is going to auction in early March, at the Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale event, run by Auctions America. Anticipated to bring $425,000 – $475,000, this mighty snake is sure to be a star attraction for the audience. Additional information can be found on the event web site.