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Actual copy of original Shelby invoice copy
First time made public.
CSX2032
As displayed on the factory invoice, delivered in white with red interior. Base price of
$5,995. Optioned as follows: aluminum rocker covers ($57), racing tires ($175.38),
racing oil pan ($129.50), aluminum intake manifold ($95.95), competition ignition system
and tach drive ($188.25), Holley carburetor ($58.95), sway bars ($126), single hoop roll
bar ($152), seat belts ($20.95), front bumper guard ($35.95), rear bumper guard
($35.95), sun visors ($9.95), chrome air cleaner ($15), wind wings ($20.95), and rust
inhibitor in the cooling system ($1.25), plus sales tax and license, for a total price of
$7,493.75.
Note that the vehicle was manufactured with many of the competition options, but also
every other option available. This Cobra was "Factory Competition Optioned". Of the 73
total vehicles manufactured with the 260 Cu. In. Hi-Po
engine, 62 were built as street cars. CSX2032 is one of these cars. Also, contrary to
rumor, CSX2032 is not the first off the assembly line with the 289 engine. Documents
verify that the first 73 Cobras manufactured were fitted with the 260 Cu. In., 260 HP Hi-
Po engine. Documents, date of manufacture, and VIN number sequence render it
impossible for CSX2032 to have been a 289 car.
LANCE REVENTLOW
As verified in SAAC Registry documents, CSX2032 was billed from AC cars to Shelby
American on 10/24/62, and shipped to Los Angeles. Also verified by SAAC documents,
invoiced to Lance Reventlow on 1/2/63. Reventlow, the only son of Woolworth heiress
Barbara Hutton, was a well known Formula One racer. Through his corporation,
Reventlow Automobiles, he was also the distributor of the Scarab, a revolutionary open
wheel race car designed by Tom Barnes and Dick Troutman.
The Reventlow ownership is the most debated subject concerning this vehicle. There
are four major versions exist: 1) Reventlow purchased and raced the car; 2) Reventlow
purchased the car at the request of his father, to lure half brother Richard home from
Europe; 3) Reventlow purchased the car to give Carroll Shelby’s business a boost,
because they were friends and had business dealings concerning the Scarab venture;
4) Reventlow purchased the car, not telling his family, and had it put in storage.
Truthfully, no one will ever know if any of these scenarios are true, or if there is another
explanation. Most participles in the story have passed away. Reventlow’s wife, former
Mouseketeer Sheryl Holdridge, stated in 2000 that to her knowledge Lance never
owned a Cobra. The speculation and guess work is a moot point.
The fact that Reventlow was the original owner of CSX2032 is undeniable. Documents
in the SAAC archives include invoice from AC Cars to Shelby American, Shelby
American invoice in his name, and an invoice in Reventlow’s name for plates and
registration. Invoice includes check numbers. It matters not how long Lance owned the
car, how much he drove it, or if he did or did not race it. The documents prove positively
that Lance Reventlow was the first owner of CSX2032, and there lies the provenance
on the vehicle. There is absolutely no positive proof to the contrary. Therefore, this can
be properly referred to as the “Lance Reventlow Cobra.”
SCU LOTUS CENTRAL FOREIGN CARS
According to SAAC documents, CSX2032 was acquired by a company named SCU
Lotus Central Foreign Cars in Michigan. Historical research could not uncover any
information concerning this business. SCU in that time period referred to the very well
known Sports Cars Unlimited in Canada. SCU was owned by renowned Canadian
Formula racer Bill Brack. Sports Cars Unlimited served as the Lotus distributor for all of
Canada, as well as a source for all rare and exotic sports cars. It is unknown whether
the Canadian dealership took possession of the car, or if there was in fact a SCU Lotus
Central Foreign Cars dealership in Michigan that owned the car. At any rate, during this
time period, the first color change was applied, from white to red.
OWNERSHIP IN THE SEVENTIES:
In the late sixties/early seventies CSX2032 was purchased by Don Burgess, of Cedar
Falls, IA. Burgess advertised the car for sale in August of 1974, listing it as an AC Cobra
289. It is unknown if Burgess did an engine change or just mis-advertised the car.
Bill Kemper, of Barrington, IL. purchased the Cobra in the fall of 1974. This was a short
period of ownership, but documents reveal at this time the Cobra definitely had a 289
engine installed. It is unknown if Burgess or Kemper are responsible for the engine
change. The engine was described as a Hi-Po 289. Now the car was painted blue with
black trim. At this point, large round Cobra badges and 5.5” wire wheels were still on the
car and fiberglass scoop had been added. Kemper listed the car for sale in 1975.
Ron Ressman, New Berlin, WI. purchased the Cobra in late 1975. At some point, white
stripes were applied. Inaccurate information was supplied to SAAC for this period, and
the record is corrected here through new information obtained in owner interviews.
Ressman has been incorrectly credited with the first restoration on the car. Mr.
Ressman owned CSX2032 from late 1975 until summer of 1977, but did not restore the
car.
In the summer of 1977, William Hansen obtained the Shelby in a trade deal with
Ressman. Mr. Hansen was living in Waukesha, Wisconsin at the time. In this period of
ownership, the vehicle actually fulfilled the original intended purpose. Hansen participated
in several competitions at many high level racing venues, including Elkhart Lake and
Blackhawk Farms, winning the majority. In the fall of 1977, Hansen opted for
mechanical and cosmetic restoration. His choice of restorer was world renowned Cobra
expert Bill Murray of Murray Racing, Longmont, CO. Bill Murray raced Cobras in SCCA, and
his shop performed remarkable restorations.
Mr. Murray repainted the car in black, an undeniably elegant color that graces the car to
this day. Gold stripes were added to match Hansen’s Hertz Shelby GT 350 Rent-A-
Racer. Bob Prouty built the engine. To dispel another rumor, the car did not have a K
code competition type 289 Cu. In. engine at this time. The basis for the build was a non
K code 289. However, an extreme amount of head work, machine work, installation of a
Holley 780 CFM to replace the Holley 600 CFM, camshaft change, etc. elevated the
performance to Hi-Po standards. Interior was changed to beige/saddle. Several
upgrades were installed at this point. Mr. Murray was instructed to upgrade the Cobra to
a level consistent with competition models.
The narrow wire wheels were replaced with the wide wire wheels. This allowed the
installation of larger Hoosier D.O.T. tires. Fenders were also flared slightly for tire
clearance. Ballanger headers were connected to chrome side pipes. Side vents and an
oil cooler duct were also installed.
Mr. Hansen reveals that he actually stripped the paint from the car before delivering it to
Murray. All three original colors- white, red, and blue were still present on the original
body. Hansen also opted not to disturb the original chassis, as only approximately
40,000 miles had been logged. Hansen himself drove the car to Longmont to meet
Murray.
When Hansen advertised it for sale, the vehicle had approximately 43,000 miles. In the
summer of 1979, Hansen sold the car to well known Cobra collector Joe Rodman Jr.,
Glenshaw, PA. Continued on page 3 with AC Invoice and history.