AC Cobra 289 Mark I

CSX2082 is an early Shelby Cobra 289 that keeps the Mark I details enthusiasts look for: narrow wheel arches and wingless vents. It was built at AC's Thames Ditton works and sent to New York in February 1963, finished in red with a black interior, black soft top and tonneau cover, and fitted with a heater.

Its American history is well documented. The car went to an Illinois dealer that struggled to sell it and returned it to Shelby American in 1964, then passed through a series of private owners. An Ohio owner in the early 1970s found signs of an earlier accident and poor repairs, and dismantled and restored it. The car came back to the UK in 2003 and has had three owners since, the current one since 2016.

AC Heritage's own works carried out a restoration of about 2,000 hours, around 1,500 of them on the chassis and metalwork, with the aim of keeping as much original material as possible. Suspension, differential and brakes were also overhauled. The work was the subject of a ten-page Octane feature, including the cover, in April 2021. Price is on application and no mileage is stated.