Gooding to Auction 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra at Pebble Beach

By E. Musarra

The Gooding Auction Co. will offer a 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra at their Pebble
Beach Auction on August 18 & 19th 2012 at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, located at the corner of Portola Road and Stevenson Drive. Preview days will start on Wednesday, August 15 continuing through Sunday, August 19. The auctions will commence at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.  It is just one of 260 road cars produced.  

An excellent representation of what collectors look for in an authentic Cobra today, CSX 3216 has a genuine, date-coded 427 FE big block engine and has been extensively restored to its original livery of Wimbledon White over an original black interior that has acquired a beautiful patina. This is after it was in an auction a few years ago painted blue; the trend now being to go back to the color a car was originally.  The car is equipped with a complete file of documentation dating back to its first owner. Its estimated sales price is $750,000 - $950,000.  

To see the difference in the paint color, here is how it was in blue with white stripes at Maxted-Page Ltd. (Essex UK) a couple years ago and here is how it is in white.  I find the white preferable, if only because I would like to see more original era Cobras look like they did the day they were sold.