AC Cobra-type vehicle VIN asserted COB5998

[rstainer]

A US dealer offers for sale a vehicle described as a 1964 (sometimes 1965) 'Ford 289 Shelby Cobra s/n COB5998'. The Club categorises this vehicle, bearing an AC rather than Shelby VIN, as Replica completed in 1995.

Please email me for our public-domain findings if you would like further information.

RS

[peterpjb]

COB 5998 has its place in the June-2019 SAAC registry, so that would be the only replica in that registry.....

[jrlucke]

According to the write up at Fantasy Junction, https://www.fantasyjunction.com/inventory/1964-ford-289-shelby-cobra/overview , the chassis was delivered to Shelby as a demonstration bare chassis which was subsequently given a fiberglass bucket T hot rod body for Shelby (which he refused to accept leaving the car at the contractor's shop).

The car was not given a Cobra body until the 1990's (created by a California shop). It was apparently at that point which it was "assigned" the COB 5998 ID.

So it appears to be a period, un-numbered(?), chassis with a replica aluminum body created in the mid 1990's.

John

[peterpjb]

the fanatsyjunction story is confirmend by the SAAC registry, there is no doubt that the chassis is original, but the body not, COB 5998 shares this kind of fate with many other original cars

[rstainer]

AC never made a 5998 vehicle and the SAAC register (www.cobraregistry.org) has no record of a 5998 vehicle: it doesn't list any vehicle number between 3360 and 6001.

The ACOC Register Replicas Appendix (www.acownersclub.co.uk/members-area/models/cobra_thamesditton) records Replica VIN Asserted COB5998 as "Built by Kimmins Custom Fabrication, Cal, reportedly incorporating some original parts. LHD. FIA-style body.(Not an AC VIN)", completed in "1995". Fantasy Junction was advised of these public-record matters a year ago.

RS

[aaron]

As usual , someone is trying to jump on the Cobra band wagon and make lots of money selling a replica  :)

[Cobra Ned]

The SAAC Registry published in 5/19 does list the car. It didn't when the proofs lefty my desk; for some reason the entry for 5998 was added by the Editor. As the Registrar, it is my contention that the chassis was simply a "spare part" and even if it was a legitimate AC-built chassis, it was never given a VIN and does not carry a valid one today, beyond a meaningless number to ID it with the DMV. Creating a car from "spare parts" and legitimizing it with a VIN is something I do not endorse.