How many Shelby cobras exist?
Less than 1000 original Ford AC Cobras were built by Carroll Shelby. Tens of Thousands of copies of the original 289 and 427 AC Cobras exist with most of them being kit cars copies. Only One Ever Built The 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake was a one-off prototype built as a test car for Goodyear’s Thunderbolt tire line. Only one model was ever produced, making it one of the rarest Mustangs in history, and an absolute holy grail for collectors.The rarest shelby cobra is the 1966 shelby cobra 427 super snake. Specifically, the chassis number csx3015, which carroll shelby personally owned and used, is the most sought-after and valuable due to its unique history and performance enhancements. Only two were ever made, and one was famously destroyed.Ford might have discontinued the GT500 following the 2022 model year, but Shelby-modified Mustangs are still being built every day.Only One Ever Built The 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake was a one-off prototype built as a test car for Goodyear’s Thunderbolt tire line. Only one model was ever produced, making it one of the rarest Mustangs in history, and an absolute holy grail for collectors.
How rare is a real Shelby Cobra?
According to most reliable sources, there were 998 Shelby Cobras built during the original run. They were built from 1961 to 1968 and had the moniker CSX, with different serial numbers assigned along the way. To cast some light on the original British-American AC Cobra from 1965, it was a collaboration between Texan race driver Carroll Shelby, and British company AC Cars. AC stands for “Auto Carrier”, derived from a three-wheeled delivery vehicle that started production in 1904.Because there were only 998 Cobras built by Shelby American, to call them scarce is an understatement. For a long time, the AC Cobra was priced proportionally to their Big Block brothers. The team delivered 655 AC Cobras riding on leaf springs with Small Block power.What makes the 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake so valuable? Its rarity, being one of only two ever made, and its extensive customization for high performance make it highly sought-after among collectors, significantly enhancing its value.
Why did Shelby stop making cobras?
The AC Cobra was a financial failure that led Ford and Carroll Shelby to discontinue importing cars from England in 1967. The most recent auction sale of a 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C was $147,000 on June 21, 2025 by Bring a Trailer.For the record, it’s still far from the $5. USD ($7. CAD) that Carroll Shelby’s own 1965 Cobra 427 was sold for in January of 2021.Less than 1000 original Ford AC Cobras were built by Carroll Shelby. Tens of Thousands of copies of the original 289 and 427 AC Cobras exist with most of them being kit cars copies.