This 1966 Shelby Cobra is one of approximately 260 street-specification Mark III examples produced and was billed to Shelby American by AC Cars Limited on July 8, 1966. Chassis 3283 was delivered new on November 15, 1966, to its first owner, who subsequently orchestrated performance-oriented modifications including the installation of a Holman-Moody-built 427ci side-oiler V8 topped with twin four-barrel carburetors.
According to the car’s SAAC registry entry, the speedometer was replaced in April 1967 at 1,555 miles.
Gauges to the driver’s right monitor oil pressure, coolant temperature, oil temperature, amperage, and fuel level.
The 427ci Ford FE V8 was rebuilt during the refurbishment with a replacement block, and components were carried over from the Holman-Moody powerplant that was installed in 1967 in lieu of the car’s original 428ci Police Interceptor engine.
The cylinder heads have been rebuilt in England in the 1990s with stainless-steel valves and gas-flowing of the exhaust ports.
Features include twin Holley four-barrel carburetors topped with chromed air cleaners, ribbed cast aluminum valve covers, a painted expansion tank, and an electric cooling fan.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Ford Toploader four-speed manual transmission have been refreshed during the mid-2010s refurbishment.
The double-wishbone independent suspension setup incorporates coil springs over tubular shock absorbers at each corner with an anti-roll bar up front.
A replacement exhaust system with stainless-steel headers was installed in 1995.
The car remained with its original owner until 1980.
The car underwent a refurbishment that included a repaint in the factory shade of green, reupholstery of the black leather interior, and an overhaul of the engine with a replacement block.
Additional features include a four-speed manual transmission, coil-spring suspension, 4”-diameter main frame tubes, aluminum bodywork with flared fenders, center-lock aluminum “sunburst” wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, and a dual rear-exit exhaust system.
The 427 variant of the Cobra entered production in competition trim in 1965 as part of Shelby’s effort to bolster the model’s racing presence by homologating a big-block-powered version of the platform.
Revisions to the AC-built chassis necessitated by the Mark III’s heavier powerplants included 5” of width added to the steel ladder frame, which featured main tubes enlarged to 4” in diameter and rode on a coil-spring suspension in lieu of the previous variants’ transverse leaf springs.
The street-oriented version of the Cobra 427 was manufactured between late 1965 and the end of Cobra production in December 1966.
This example was delivered to Shelby American finished in green have been refinished in dark blue with a white nose stripe.
A refurbishment performed in 2013 included a repaint that returned the car to its original shade.
Styling incorporates flared front and rear fenders, front and rear bumpers with guards, a chin scoop, a smooth hood panel, and round taillights.
Sunburst-style 15” cast aluminum wheels secured by three-eared knock-offs are have been sourced during the refurbishment and are mounted with Avon tires measuring 225/55 up front and 245/60 at the rear.
A trunk-mounted spare is wrapped in Goodyear Blue Dot rubber.
Stopping is handled by four-wheel disc brakes, while steering is via rack and pinion.
The cockpit is trimmed in black leather upholstery over fixed-back bucket seats complemented by color-matched storage pockets and carpeting.
Features include black latch-and-link lap belts, tinted sun visors, Leveroll seat sliders, a console-mounted ashtray, and a glovebox.
A black zippered tonneau cover is included in the sale.
The wood-rimmed steering wheel sits ahead of Smiths instrumentation including a reverse-sweep 180-mph speedometer and an 8k-rpm tachometer.
The five-digit odometer shows 30k miles, approximately 200 of which have been added under current ownership.
