1964 FIA cobra

[afx]

I have the 1997 edition of the SAAC Registry and none of the team race cars include a "R" suffix in the chassis number

[cobraman]

Interesting. I hope someone can find out what the R means.

[afx]

CSX2345 is the only un-restored FIA Roadster I am aware of.  The Shelby American Museum considers it's value as "priceless".

https://shelbyamericancollection.org/cars/1964-fia-cobra-roadster-csx2345/

Edited July 28, 2020 by afx

[Gramps46]

I have the 2008 Registry and it does not say anything about an R suffice that I could find.   

Here is an enlarged photo on the passenger side foot box of the posted car.

 

[afx]

Don't wish to offend the owner but wondering if "R" is for replica?  Hard to wrap my head around this gentlemen being able to buy one of the original five FIA roadsters built.  Regardless it looks like a great car and would love to have it parked in my garage!

[cobraman]

Does it mean anything that there is not an engine number ?

[Gramps46]

AC shipped the Cobra without engines so no number when it was shipped but I would have thought SA would have added the number in California.

[vamach1]

11 hours ago, Gramps46 said:

AC shipped the Cobra without engines so no number when it was shipped but I would have thought SA would have added the number in California.

The CSX serial number was for the chassis.  My friend bought CSX2177 recently after selling two of his 65GT350’s (One restored and one original street models. There is not R in the original serial number of either the 289 or 247 Cobra’s or the 65-66 GT350’s for that matter. It could be a reissued plate perhaps but if the car is authenticated by SAAC experts as original then yes it would be worth in the millions as opposed to very nice “replica” which can cost over $100K for the ones that are look authentic but just too new.  Hopefully there will be some “real” Cobra’s at Carlisle this weekend at the all Ford show.  My friend’s car will not be there but I hope to see it soon as he was looking for any 289 Cobra for a long time and he said CSX2177 was privately owned and raced (not by the Shelby team) so you could say it was a customer car that was modified for racing in regional events which was fairly common back in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  Hopefully I will see his car in the next month and of course take some pictures.  Will he let me drive it is a whole other question.

Edited July 31, 2020 by vamach1