Guardsman of History.(Escape Roads)

Byline: LEIGH DORRINGTON

The SHELBY Cobra is the most copied automobile in history, but seeing a virtually new example is an extraordinary experience.

The story of the Cobra has been widely written. American Carroll Shelby found his race-car driving career cut short by a heart condition. Casting about for the next thing, he stuffed a Ford 260-cid V8 into an AC Ace/Bristol built in England and called it a Cobra.

The Cobra was introduced in 1962. The first car, CSX2000, was featured on the cover of Sports Car Graphic with a bare aluminum body. The same car was repainted many times in different colors as other magazines clamored for it. The 260 engine was replaced by the 289 V8 in 1963 after production of the first 75 cars.

The car featured here, CSX2104, is the 104th Cobra built and the 29th with the 289 engine. Most significant, this car is the first Cobra painted Guardsman Blue, the color that would forever become associated with Shelby's cars.

This particular car was sold new in Indiana and remained with the original owner until she passed away in 1987. It was sold in 1989 with only 9000 miles. The car's odometer read 9252 in 2007, shortly after being acquired by Steve Lenger of Mill-brook, New Jersey.

Details of the sale of CSX2104 highlight many fine points found only on early Cobras, such as the absence of the fresh-air vents in the front fenders. Other less visible details include the two-blade cooling fan and an original grease gun. The dashboard ...