A very special 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster will
be auctioned off during Monterey Car Week in the coming days. VIN number
CSX2588, this Cobra Roadster is particularly special because it was the last
289 Cobra ever sold to the public and the second-last built. The final unit
built, CSX2589, has been owned since new by Carroll Shelby and his family.
Set to be sold by Mecum Auctions, the car retains
its original chassis, body, engine and drivetrain, making it an exceptionally
desirable piece for collectors. It was originally sold new to A.L. Gassaway
from Long Beach, California, before passing through the hands of five other
owners before its impending auction.
Pre-auction estimates suggest it will sell for
between US$ 1 million and US$ 1.2 million. While such a figure is high for a Cobra,
it is nothing compared to the record price paid for one. At last year’s
Monterey auctions, the very first Shelby Cobra, VIN CSX2000, sold for US$ 13.75
million.
