AUCTIONS AMERICA’S CALIFORNIA & AUBURN FALL EVENTS

1964 Shelby 289 Cobra

  • Auctions America announces exclusive live television coverage of its California and Auburn Fall sales on NBC Sports Network
  • Delivered to more than 80 million homes, new in-depth collector car auction coverage complements NBC Sports Network’s growing motor programming
  • Rare 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra to play starring role in coverage of Auctions America’s debut California sale
  • Auburn Fall event represents longest running collector car auction in history

AUBURN, Indiana (June 6, 2013) – Leading collector car auction house, Auctions America, is excited to announce exclusive live television coverage of its highly anticipated California and Auburn Fall auctions this August and September on the Sports Emmy Award-winning NBC Sports Network and live streaming coverage via NBC Sports Live Extra. Along with tracking live gavel-to-gavel action, the exciting new Auctions America programming will showcase the stories behind featured automobiles, as well as provide a glimpse into the characters of the global collector car hobby. This in-depth auction programming complements the NBC Sports Network’s growing motor content, which includes Formula One and the IZOD IndyCar Series.NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices and tablets, will live stream coverage of Auctions America for the first time. Coverage will stream live to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via “TV Everywhere,” which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.

“We are thrilled to be working with the team at NBC Sports Network to make the Auctions America experience available to more than 80 million homes across the U.S. later this summer,” says Donnie Gould, president of Auctions America. “The addition of live TV and streaming will help those unable to join us in person to experience all the excitement in real-time, as well as help us showcase not only the quality of our offerings and their fascinating histories, but also the expertise and professionalism of our team.”

“Auctions America is a great addition to our programming,” says Jeff Macaluso, Senior Director of Programming, NBC Sports Network. “We look forward to presenting 15 hours of exclusive live event coverage of Auctions America on NBC Sports Network and NBC Sports Live Extra for the first time ever in the coming months.”

Produced by Roger Wilco Productions, the exclusive programming will include six hours of live coverage from Auctions America’s debut California sale on August 2 – 3, plus more than nine hours of coverage from the company’s flagship Auburn Fall sale, August 29 – 31. Full details are available online atauctionsamerica.com.

Headlining the California sale will be a rare, fully restored 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra, CSX2561. One of less than 20 factory-delivered automatic cars, this fully-documented, matching-numbers, ex-Factory demonstrator is equipped with its original factory components including motor, transmission, body, and rear-end and boasts just 40,000 miles from new. Road tested by an Auctions America specialist, it is presented in fantastic running condition, ready for the road or show.

A short video highlighting CSX2561 is available below. The Cobra leads an exciting roster of more than 400 quality collector cars expected at the California sale, including a diverse assortment of American and European classics and sports cars, Detroit muscle, hot rods, and customs.

The California auction will be closely followed by Auctions America’s Auburn Fall event, August 29 – September 1 at the historic Auburn Auction Park in Indiana. A Labor Day weekend tradition spanning more than 43 consecutive years, the event is the longest running collector car auction in history. This year’s sale will feature approximately 1,300 classics, exotics, hot rods and muscle cars.

Update

1964 Shelby 289 Cobra

  • Lot No. 800; Auctioned on Saturday, August 3, 2013
  • CSX2561; Sold for $825,000

289-cid, 271-hp Ford OHV V-8 engine
Rare C-4 automatic transmission (less than 20 produced)
Well-documented example
Chrome wire wheels
Numerous factory accessories
Factory Demonstrator

The notion of producing a hybrid sports car in the 1960s was, at its core, quite simple. While British manufacturers retained the edge in styling, road holding and superb braking, American firms held a distinct horsepower advantage. This “best of both worlds” concept was, of course, nothing new. Post-war Allards, Cunninghams, and Nash-Healeys used the same basic premise. Carroll Shelby, however, considered chassis’ from Austin-Healey, Jensen and Bristol before settling on AC, after hearing that the builders of the stylish and sturdy Ace had lost their engine supplier when Bristol ceased production.

Attractive, lightweight and proven, the AC Ace could, by Shelby’s thinking, be turned into a successful production racer by replacing its aging six-cylinder engine with a powerful, deep-breathing V-8. In September 1961, Shelby wrote Charles Hurlock, of AC Cars, to propose a hybrid car using the AC sports car body and chassis. “I’m interested,” wrote Hurlock, “if a suitable V-8 could be found.” Shelby moved quickly when Editor Ray Brock, of Hot Rod magazine, told him of Ford’s new, lightweight small-block V-8. Soon after, Shelby had an early 221-cubic inch example installed in a stock AC Ace. In fact, the V-8 weighed just slightly more than the six-cylinder Bristol.

Ford engineer Dave Evans then offered Shelby an even better solution. A high-performance 260-cubic inch small-block V-8 was already in production for Ford’s Falcon, and two engines would be on the way to him soon. They were immediately sent by airfreight overseas, and on February 1, 1962, Carroll Shelby flew to England to test drive the new Shelby “Cobra.” The rest, as they say, is history.

According to the World Registry of Cobras & GT40s; the 1964 Shelby Cobra 289, CSX2561, was originally billed to Shelby American on August 25, 1964 and was shipped to Los Angeles aboard the SS Alblasserdyk. It was initially used as a demonstrator at Shelby American and was then invoiced to Hayward Ford Motors, of Hayward, California on January 27, 1965. At the time it was originally painted white with a red interior, just as it is currently presented here today. The Registry also states that CSX2561 came with an uncommon C-4 automatic transmission and was sold at a “Factory Demonstrator” price of $5,250.

The first owner of 2561 was Edwin Ovilice, of Oakland, California. By the early 1970s, the car was owned by Jim McCarthy, also from Oakland. The Cobra was later offered by Norm Sinai of Hayward in late 1980. A gentleman named Mr. Cole from California bought the car and then sold it circa 1982 to Donald Mansker of Houston, Texas. Jim Yancey of Paris, Texas next bought 2561in 1983. By this time the car had been fit with a chrome rollbar and had blue interior (both have since been removed and returned to original specifications). The Cobra was next seen being advertised for sale in spring of 1990, then later in 1992 was offered by an auction house. In 1993, the car reappeared in the classifieds and was sold later in the year to Guy C. Eavers from Staunton, Virginia. It is last mentioned in the aforementioned Shelby Registry as being for sale in the December 1996 duPont Registry as completely and immaculately restored with an unwrecked aluminum body, 38,950 miles and the rollbar removed and the interior color returned to its proper red leather.

This example is a standout among its peers. The factory C-4 automatic transmission is quite rare, records indicate that less than 20 examples were sold in this configuration. Ford Mustang floor-shift mechanisms were utilized, as seen in this car. Finished in white with red leather upholstery and red carpet, CSX2561 rides on chromed wire wheels and is shod with Goodyear Integrity tires. It is also equipped with factory accessories that include a soft-top, a spare wire wheel, front grille guard and rear bumper, chrome air cleaner, aluminum Cobra valve covers, adjustable wind-wings, tinted sun visors, competition seat belts, chrome exhaust pipe tips and an outside rearview mirror. Most impressively, this Cobra leaves you with many favorable driving impressions. It is quick, comfortable, tight, and drives very well – all one wants in such a high-performance machine.

The overall fit and finish of the body, paint, upholstery and engine bay is outstanding, with nothing overlooked. There are no blemishes of note on the paint, and the interior is stunning with its black dash and Stewart Warner gauges. Outstandingly presented, CSX2561 is certainly worthy of serious inclusion in the collection of discerning aficionados of post-war American muscle.

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