In the Carroll Shelby chronicles — of which there are many chapters, often filled with triumph, occasional heartbreak and plenty of lightning-fast racers — the King Cobra stands out as one of his wildest creations. It was a car which signified an experimental stroke of rebellion, melding F1‑like agility with raw V8 brutality. Though swiftly overshadowed by the GT40 and Daytona projects, these cars proved Shelby American’s vision and versatility and are among some of the rarest racers in the brand’s history. Six examples were built, and this one, known as CM/5/64, is the newest jewel to grace Grand Prix Classic’s impressive inventory.
Carroll Shelby purchased the Cooper T6I, a proven glory-getter with a Peter Brock-designed full aluminium body, and the decision was made to cram Ford’s 289 V8 into the rear, sat just inches away from the driver’s ears. The plan was simple: race the car in the USRRC Series, dominate the competition, and return home with all the trophies and champagne one could carry. Borrowing Cooper’s spaceframe and double-wishbone suspension, albeit heavily reinforced to tame the American engine’s brute force, CM/5/64 would go on to be raced by Bob Bondurant at the 1964 Los Angeles Times Grand Prix at Riverside International Raceway, finishing in fifth place.
Two weeks later, Bondurant raced this King Cobra in the Monterey Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, claiming a third place overall. Somewhat satisfied with the performance, Carroll Shelby knew he could eek more from the car’s ability and sent CM/5/64 to Ford Advance Vehicles in England for Roy Salvadori to race with factory support at Silverstone and Goodwood.
After a string of races and podiums under its tyre tread, the car would undergo a comprehensive five-year restoration by Dave Handy and Jeff Horne at Sasco Sports, based out of Virginia International Raceway, at a cost of over 300,000 dollars. It was overseen by Chuck Brandt, the SAAC Registry historian on the King Cobras, with assistance from Peter Brock, who it's fair to say knows a thing or two about this outrageous machine!
While cars like the GT40 and Cobra steal the limelight, the King Cobra can quietly claim the title as the catalyst for Shelby's later successes. With names like Cooper and Ford, as well as Salvadori and Brock all playing a key role in the car’s journey, it’s easy to see why the King Cobra holds such charm. While only six were built, nowadays even fewer exist, and this one has been prepared to the highest level to continue racing once more. Eligible to participate in most historic racing venues and concours competitions, this King Cobra is waiting to reclaim gold, either on the racetrack or the concours lawns!
