Someone paid $13.75 million for 'holy grail' Shelby Cobra but there's a lot more mystery to it than first thought

This ‘holy grail’ Shelby Cobra is arguably one of the most special cars ever built.

The Shelby Cobra in question, chassis no. CSX2000 was the first one ever produced.

It was hand-built by Carroll Shelby himself at his shop in Southern California.

And, despite selling for $13.75 million in 2016, it still remains shrouded in mystery.

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First-ever Shelby Cobra from 1962 obliterates auction record

The name ‘Shelby Cobra‘ is one that sends a shiver down the spines of car enthusiasts around the world.

And it does so for very good reason – because it represents a legendary moment in American automotive history.

After being forced to retire from his racing career due to health issues, Carroll Shelby shifted gears in his own life.

He dreamed of pairing a lightweight, British-made chassis with thunderous American power.

So Shelby did just that, getting a supply of chassis units from British car company AC on credit.

The chassis units in particular were from the Ace sports car, so they were perfect.

Shelby also reached out to Ford to obtain the powerplant necessary to support the vision.

Dave Evans of the Ford Motor Company agreed to supply two different engines to Carroll Shelby.

The 221 cubic-inch (3.6 liter) and 260 cubic-inch (4.3 liter) V8 engines were also provided on credit.

These new cars were referred to as the Carroll Shelby Experimental line, or CSX.

And it is the very first one ever built that is the subject of today’s story.

The CSX2000 was the one and only prototype Cobra built by AC Cars in England.

It was christened with the CSX2000 chassis designation – and it is a special car.

It is so special, in fact, that it broke a major record at auction in 2016.

The CSX2000 was finally offered for sale at the 2016 Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction.

Prior to that, it had spent its entire life in the hands of the Shelby family.

It ultimately sold for $13.75 million, making it (at that point) the most expensive American car ever sold at auction.

Is the CSX2000 car the ‘true’ original?

So, why is there so much controversy over this ‘holy grail’ Shelby Cobra?

Well, it’s a bit of a purist debate – and it comes down to just how pure the Cobra actually is.

Several car purists argue that the SCX2000 Cobra isn’t actually the same car that Carroll Shelby hand-built in 1962.

And that is because this Shelby Cobra has undergone several restorations over the years.

Some car experts even argue that major components, such as body panels, may have been changed.

A few people even go so far as to suggest that the SCX2000 Shelby Cobra has had parts swapped with early production Cobra cars.

If true, this would muddy the definition of just how ‘original’ the Shelby Cobra actually is.

For most collectors, the lineage of being hand-built by the legendary Carroll Shelby trumps all.

That alone, for most people, outweighs concerns about true, pure originality from 1962.