AC Cobra 289

The AC Cobra 289 was built at Thames Ditton alongside its Shelby American sibling, and only 45 right-hand-drive 'COB' cars were made. This one left the factory on 30 November 1964 and went to the Birmingham dealer Frank Grounds, which displayed it in the Rackhams department store.

Paul Channon acquired it in 1969 at 19,000 miles and owned it for about forty years. In that time he competed in more than 220 events, taking 100 class wins and several class records, and the history file includes a substantial number of race results. The car has stayed in the UK throughout its life.

A noted AC collector commissioned a restoration with marque specialists. The car was stripped to a bare chassis, with the emphasis on preserving components rather than replacing them, and the work finished in 2018. It is described as retaining its matching numbers. The current dealer found it in 2022, returned it from metallic blue to the original Svecia Red, retrimmed it in leather and recommissioned the engine and fuel systems. A factory-supplied hardtop comes with it. The price is on application.