Shelby Cobra: Books - History and Models

Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe : The autobiography of CSX2300 (Great Cars)

This fascinating book tells the fascinating history of the Daytona Coupe version of Carroll Shelby's fabled Cobra with special focus on one of the six cars built. The fabulous Daytona Coupe, brutally purposeful in both looks and performance, was created to win the FIA World Sportscar Championship and duly did so in 1965, beating Ferrari in the large-capacity class - the category that really counted as it fired the public's imagination.

The specific car covered in detail in this book, CSX2300, took part in five championship rounds (one in 1964, four in 1965) and played its part in Shelby American's unique team success.
Truly one of the 'Great Cars', the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe is a most worthy addition to this acclaimed series of books.

Author:	Rinsey Mills
Specs:	320 pages, 29 x 24.5 x 3.5 cm / 11.4 x 9.7 x 1.38 in, hardback
Illustrations:	300+ b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Porter Press International (GB, 2020)
ISBN:	9781907085420

Shelby Cobra (1962-1969) - Brooklands Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Shelby Cobra models from the years 1962-1969. Describes the Shelby Cobra 260, 289, 427, 427SC, BOSS 351, Daytona and Autokraft Mk IV.

• The 37 articles, taken from contemporary British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

Specs:	180 pages, 27 x 20 x 1 cm / 10.6 x 7.9 x 0.39 in, paperback
Illustrations:	350 photos
Publisher:	Brooklands Books (GB, 1992)
Series:	Gold Portfolio
ISBN:	9781855200234

▶  More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

Shelby Cobras CSX 2001 - CSX 2125 - The Definitive Chassis-by-Chassis History of the Mark I Production Cars

Carroll Shelby's creation of the Cobra automobile during 1961-1962 transformed an aging British sports car into a 1965 World Manufacturers GT Championship winner for Shelby American. Today, the Cobra is still one of the most recognized automobiles in the world.
This book (in 2 volumes) narrates the work required to develop the first production Ford-powered AC Ace 3.6 roadsters that today are referred to as Mark I Leaf Spring Cobras. Seasoned Cobraphiles, novice enthusiasts and especially those who had the foresight to buy the cars, will enjoy the hundreds of fascinating snippets and backstories about the people and the cars.

The author has researched each of the 125 production Mark I Cobras built and conducted several hundred interviews with the people connected with each car. This endeavor uncovered unknown histories and facts, as well as hundreds of previously unpublished photographs and documents.

Despite the lion's share of accolades going directly to Carroll Shelby and the staff at Shelby American for the success of the Cobra, some portion of that credit rightfully belongs to the hardworking craftsmen employed at AC Cars in the 1960s. The Cobra could not have been created without them.
Virtually everything except the Mark I Cobra's Ford engine and transmission had been hand-built by old-world craftsman in England. That partnership reflects the best of the Anglo-American spirit and produced one of the most iconic automobiles ever built.

Author:	Robert D. Walker
Specs:	1060 pages, 28 x 23 x 8.1 cm / 11 x 9.1 x 3.19 in, hardback
Illustrations:	1569 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Dalton Watson Fine Books (USA, 2022)
ISBN:	9781854433114

The First Three Shelby Cobras : The Sports Cars That Changed the Game (Exceptional Cars)

This book, the fourth in the Exceptional Cars series, tells the story of three cars, the first AC Cobras created by the legendary Carroll Shelby in 1962.
The prototype CSX2000 has been described as 'the most important modern American car', although it was built on a British AC Ace chassis with an American Ford V8 engine.
CSX2001 was the first production Cobra and CSX2002 the first to race, leading to a series of competition successes that made Shelby's Cobras famous and a favourite of sports-car enthusiasts throughout the world.

- CSX2000 was the only prototype Cobra and was retained by the Shelby family until 2016, when it sold at auction for a record $13.75 million.
- The first production car, CSX2001, was delivered to American race driver Ed Hugus, and subsequently sold to a Frenchman, Jean-Marie Vincent, who raced in the Tour de France and numerous European hillclimbs.
- CSX2002 nearly won its inaugural race, at Riverside, driven by Bill Krause, but was side-lined by a broken rear hub. The first Cobra win, by this car, fell to Dave MacDonald at Tucson in March 1963.

All three cars are now the pride of car collections in the United States. CSX2000 and CSX2002 are part of the Larry Miller Collection, while CSX2001 belongs to a California-based motorsport aficionado Bruce Meyer.
The book is lavishly illustrated with a mix of period and contemporary images, many of which are previously unseen.

Author:	Gordon Bruce
Specs:	128 pages, 25 x 29 x 1.9 cm / 9.8 x 11.4 x 0.75 in, hardback
Illustrations:	120+ b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Porter Press International (GB, 2017)
ISBN:	9781907085550

Shelby and AC Cobra

In the new edition of this classic text, Brian Laban brings the story of the AC Cobra up to date. In the early 1960s, a flamboyant Texan, Carroll Shelby, dreamed of a special kind of sports car, a marriage of European style with lusty, affordable American V8 power.
He took his dream forward and he persuaded British sports car specialist AC Cars to build his car, and US industry giant the Ford Motor Co to fund it. Its name also came to him in a dream - Cobra.

The original production of the Cobra lasted just five years and encompassed barely a thousand cars built within the original framework. But it was only the beginning of a story that is still very much alive, encompassing 'continuations', spin-offs, and a massive worldwide replica industry.
"Shelby and AC Cobra" details the man behind the cars, the story of their development and engineering, racing pedigree and owning and driving these powerful, iconic cars today.

Author:	Brian Laban
Specs:	208 pages, 26 x 21.5 x 2 cm / 10.25 x 8.5 x 0.79 in, hardback
Illustrations:	250 colour photos
Publisher:	The Crowood Press Ltd (GB, 2015)
ISBN:	9781785000034

Shelby Cobra 50 ans

Carroll Shelby, éleveur de poulets texan devenu pilote de courses, a eu l'audace de créer sa propre entreprise de fabrication d'automobile, d'où sont sorties des voitures de sport ultra-performantes. Après le lancement de la fameuse Cobra, en 1962, le succès de Shelby American a surpris tout le monde, sauf Shelby lui-même. En matière de performances, ses voitures ont établi des références mondiales, encore valables aujourd'hui, tout en remportant au passage un Championnat du monde.

L'ouvrage "Shelby Cobra : cinquante ans" célèbre la voiture de sport hybride anglo-américaine de Carroll Shelby. Ce faisant, le livre rappelle les étonnantes réussites de Shelby, de même que l'inestimable contribution de sa brillante équipe comprenant Phil Remington, Ken Miles, Peter Brock et de nombreux autres génies automobiles. Cet ouvrage enrichira la bibliothèque de tout passionné de Cobra, de Shelby, de compétition ou de tous ceux qui seront heureux de découvrir une belle "success story" américaine.

Author:	Colin Comer
Specs:	256 pages, 30.5 x 25 cm / 12 x 9.8 in, hardback
Illustrations:	424 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2013)
ISBN:	9782726896570