1966 AC Cobra 427

At the end of the 1965 season, Filipinetti was asked to become the official importer of Ford Performance Vehicles in Switzerland. From their new purpose-built showroom in Geneva, “Performance Cars SA” sold and serviced cars like the Cobra, Cortina and Mustangs that

Filipinetti had successfully raced during the prior season. In late February of that year, racers Franco Sbarro and Michel Piller were sent to England to collect the first sales vehicles including CSX 3217, a 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra. Performance Cars Ltd adverts dated 11.03.1965 list a 427 Cobra available for sale but use CSX 3013 as the reference image likely because CSX 3217 had not arrived in time for the copy deadline. Later photos show the Filipinetti Ford Fleet including CSX 3217 at the Geneva Showroom.

On March 10th, just days after CSX 3217 arrived in Geneva, it was on display at the Geneva Motorshow. Ford Performance Cars had a separate display to Ford, and also featured the Filipinetti GT40 and the Eaux Mortes Trophy it had won just days earlier, as well as the Shelby Daytona Coupe that had competed at the 1965 Le Mans. After the show, CSX 3217 was modified for competition, fitted with a roll hoop, outside fuel filler and adorned with racing striped and the Scuderia’s logo.

The car was sold via Bonvin Automobiles to Swiss Gentleman Racer Arnaldo Maestrini in white with blue racing stripes. Maestrini entered the car in several Hillclimb races between 1966 and 1967 including the famous Ollon-Villars Hillclimb from which fantastic period photos survive on file.

CSX 3217 subsequently went through the hands of several notable collectors such as Hartmut Ibing and Lindsay Owen-Jones of L'Oreal fame until Swiss Cobra expert Ernst Kaufmann acquired her in 1991. He embarked on a 2 year restoration with the aim to make this the best Cobra 427 in Europe. During the restoration Kaufmann fully overhauled the 427 "Side Oiler" big block engine with its "Medium Riser" cylinder heads but converted the fuel system to an electric fuel injection, installed a 5-speed gearbox and had street rear-mounted exhausts fitted for better drivability. In 2002 CSX 3217 was sold to a Mr Nicolaus Springer, before being acquired by Lukas Huni in 2015. At this point the car had been repainted in Brewster Green.

The decision was then made to take the car back to its original 1966/67 Semi-Comp specification. Simon Blake of Historic Automobiles was therefore entrusted with the restoration of the car which included the fitting of original manifolds and Weber carburettors, 4-speed gearbox and side exhausts. CSX3217 was also repainted in her original Scuderia Filipinetti colours of white with blue striped.

CSX 3217 is therefore a genuine competition prepared Shelby Cobra 427 with period racing pedigree. Coming out of a fresh mechanical and cosmetic overhaul, and rare in retaining her original bodywork, she is ready to be enjoyed by her next owner may it be as a week-end country lane basher or a competitive historic racer.