1965 (2004) Shelby CSX4000 Cobra 427

1965 (2004) Shelby Automobiles CSX4000 Cobra 427 – 1 of 10 Carbon Fibre Body

Less than 1,500 miles recordedThe second of 10 produced with a Carbon Fibre bodyShelby Automobiles Statement of Origin confirming an official CSX4000Shelby 427-cubic inch, side-oiler V8 generating 409bhp & 462 lb/ft of torqueFactory-finished in Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White stripes

The Shelby Cobra remains an instantly recognisable performance icon, and 30 years after his creation had first taken the motoring world by storm, Carroll Shelby decided to build a fresh batch of cars.

Produced from the 1990s into the 2000s at a new factory in Las Vegas, these 4000-series Cobras were genuine cars with a ‘CSX’ chassis-number prefix and official documentation from Shelby American, and were accepted into the Shelby Registry. They were initially offered with the 427 cubic-inch engine and glassfibre bodywork, although owners had the option of specifying aluminium at an extra cost.

These Cobras were supplied as kits that could be finished by the supplying dealer, and such was the success of the 427 that Shelby American went on to also build a 289-engined version.

A 2018 letter of authenticity from the company confirms that the Cobra being offered for sale here – chassis number CSX4502 – was completed as a component vehicle on 9 September 2004. It was then fitted with a 427 cubic-inch, side-oiler Ford V8 engine that produces more than 400bhp and is mated to a four-speed ‘toploader’ gearbox.

The chassis, meanwhile, features independent suspension all round, rack-and-pinion steering, Baer brakes and 15-inch Halibrand pin-drive wheels.

While most 4000-series Cobras had bodies made in glassfibre or aluminium, this is the second of only 10 that were bodied in carbon fibre. Painted in Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White racing stripes, and with a side-exit exhaust, it has immense presence even when it’s stationary.

CSX4502 was first registered in the UK during 2018, having been imported from Florida. In 2021, it received a new flywheel, clutch and bellhousing, and has been used only sparingly throughout its life. As of the beginning of 2026, this Shelby CSX4000 has received a thorough overhaul from marque specialists Redline Engineering, including a new fuel tank, fuel system and engine service. Presented in exceptional condition, this charismatic and exciting car boasts a thunderous soundtrack from its big V8, and represents a rare and collectable example of the 4000-series Cobra.