'67 Shelby Cobra 427 - Original Owner Interview

Interview with Les, the original owner of a REAL1967 Shelby 427 Cobra! Car has just returned from a mechanical refurbishment by Cobra expert Mike McCluskey and some tweaks from Moore's Garage.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

Back in the day I got to go for a ride in one of these - it was hot, loud, cramped, windy, and hit every expansion joint with a loud thump! Best car ride I ever had.

[@686Snub_NoDash]

😂 my legs hurt , my arms hurt + my back hurt from the ride I got to take in 1 but what actually hurt the most was trying to wipe the smile from my face !

[@TheInsaneShecklador]

So cool to see an original owner Cobra.

[@Davey-Drums]

I was about the same age then: We all wanted one of those 427 Cobras ! I knew one rich kid who got one. Quite a special car beck then; and an ultimate collectible. Of course now we have many cars which can surpass in power, acceleration , handling, and , yes, safety, which it great. But the beautiful simplicity of that car in pursuit of pure performance in it's day makes a timeless masterpiece.

[@RaiderX948]

Great stuff, thank you for your service and thank Dear Old Dad for not talking his 19-year-old son out of a $6,000. purchase.

[@3ducs]

The fact that a 19 year old kid bought one and survived is the big takeaway for me. I remember 289s and 427s on the showroom floor of Koon's Ford in Northern Virginia, as I recall the 289s were around $4,000, the 427s around $7,500. When I got my first real job back then I was making $3,900 a year, my first car was a 1964 Alfa Romeo Sprint 1600 Normale, cost me $1,500. I was 20 at the time.

[@MGScarlet]

Of course I don't know, but I have to assume that Dear Old dad bought the car for his son. Either that or that kid had the world's most succesful paper route.

[@blueovallife6868]

Many of those cars actually had 428 engines instead of the 427.. badged and sold as 427s..

[@markhale8084]

Comps and SCs had 427 side oilers, 1st run of street cars had 427 center oilers, 2nd run had 428 Police Interceptors, and 3rd run had 427 side oilers.

[@sorshiaemms5959]

WOW what a lucky guy and what a beauty of a COBRA a nice peace of history AWESOME

[@gregpiecuch3802]

Beautiful! I would be scared to drive it.

[@timking2822]

A beautiful original street 427.

[@Wilett614]

I bought mine in 1971 for 7100$ I was 22 Yrs old : )

[@raydevito6523]

That's $54,500.00 today.

[@frankensteincreations4740]

What an amazing car… Each one of them has a story… Makes me regret I wasn’t alive back in those days, or I’d be another story to tell…

[@Wilett614]

I was 22 Years old when I bought my First 427 ! My Father wouldn't speak to me for 2MONTHS after I bought it !! lol

[@Wilett614]

WHAT is the CSX number on this Car ? Mine is CSX3227 1967 Cobra 427 street version as this one is . I bought mine in 1971 from the first owner .

[@nilla003]

4" Tubes. 3" on the small block cars. Is it a 427 or a 428? Both were sold as 427s.

[@fredcalero4545]

Great story.

[@1980sKidRick]

Beautiful car but can we see a little more of that Mooney !? Big boys more toys!

[@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195]

I have never ever seen a 427 side oiler Cobra without side pipe headers. If this car is a 427 side oiler with exhaust manifolds it is EXTREMELY and unheard-of rare. Also have NEVER seen a 428 engined Cobra with side pipe headers.

[@markhale8084]

The side exhaust was found on Comps and SCs while the street cars (427 center oilers to 428 PI to 427 side oilers) had rear exit exhaust.

[@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195]

@markhale8084 I would believe that only after seeing a completely unchanged original 427 side oiler powered Cobra without side pipe headers. 428 powered Cobras used exhaust manifolds from large sedans. Exactly what FMC vehicles came factory with 427 side oiler engines and exhaust manifolds??? The only vehicle I know of is the 66-67 Fairlane if you special ordered that engine and it only came with a 4 speed.

[@markhale8084]

@ Well aware of manifolds on FEs (vertical bolt pattern issues until 428 cj for instance) as well as Shelby’s use of 427 s/o and 428 PIs in Cobras (and 67 GT500s too). I’m also am well aware of those fugly things put in Fairlanes to make the side oiler fit in 66 and 67. All 260 street 427 (including those fit with 428s) had under car, out the back exhaust. All is easily learned in SAAC publications…or watch Colin Comer’s video on his narrow hip 427 street car or some of Peter Klutt’s videos on 427 Cobras.

[@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195]

@markhale8084 who has an original Cobra with a Shelby installed 427 side oiler engine that came with exhaust manifolds on it ?

[@frankE91210]

amazing wheels

[@Wilett614]

Street 427s Had "Sunburst" aluminum wheels , as the Original "Halibrand" wheels were VERY Scare at that time and out of production . There was a time in 67 when Cobras sat in Los Angeles on blocks as NO wheels were available ! Crazy !!

[@johnnyfreedom3437]

At which Ford dealer was that that I can order one of these for $6,000?! When I retired in Boca Raton florida, there were three remakes on the road! There was even two privately owned rolls-royces in town!

[@spyroscharalambidis7907]

Sheer beauty!

[@MRTWINTURBO88]

Mike McCluskey is the best there is. Hands down.

[@williamgreen1489]

Great original Cobra which I hope will get driven.

[@jamesblumensheid353]

Worth millions

[@billgoodwin8742]

Imagine a 19 year old young man in 1967 buying a $6000 car. He must have saved up a bit of money to secure a loan at that time. And now that car is worth 7 figures.

[@TheInsaneShecklador]

My father bought his 69 Corvette right out of college and still owns it today. (Obviously he was not 19 but not a whole lot older either) I just googled the different options and added up their prices and it would have been $5,900 and change. I know his union had a deal with the local dealership that knocked the prices down for them so it ended up a bit cheaper than this Cobra. I think the union deal was $200 over dealer invoice but I'm not sure. I know my dad didn't have much money saved up as he washed dishes to help pay his way through college. I guess the promise of a decent salary must have been enough to secure the loans back then. My father has mentioned a high school buddy who joined the military and bought a new Austin Healey and a motorboat at 18. Dad did look at one used Cobra for sale but decided to order a brand new Corvette instead. He has mentioned regret on several occasions.

[@Wilett614]

I bought my Cobra in 1972 for 7100 $ alot of money for just a kid back then . BUT I wanted a Cobra since I first saw one in 1963 . I was LUCKY as was this fellow in the video . the VALUE and COST of an ORIGINAL Shelby Cobra NEVER was lower than at that time . These cars are Now valued at 1.8 to 2.0 MILLION DOLLARS . on todays markets

[@TheInsaneShecklador]

@@Wilett614 Awesome. How long did you have it for? Any good stories to share?

[@Wilett614]

Yes it IS ALUMINUM Body ! with NO Undercoat or Inner under body protection ! IF you happen to hit a STONE on the highway it CAN put a DING in the FENDER . I had done that twice with my car .

[@ronstiles2681]

Sweet, nothing else needs said!

[@johndavey72]

Woof ! And a double Woof ! ❤❤

[@mudnducs]

Beautiful car….but if you don’t burn off the tires once in a while, what’s the point?

[@RandC2]

Nice Mooney!

[@Wilett614]

This car SHOULD have "SMITHS" Instruments Not Stewart Warner . Most if not ALL Street 427s had Smiths Instruments with counterclockwise reading Speedometers !

[@captstatic6844]

Those are Smiths.

[@Wilett614]

They dont look like Smiths and are not like the Originals The valve covers were Pentroof Chrome steel , not Aluminum and the Outside rear view mirrors were Talbot style , not Raydot style . The Air cleaner was not Aluminum either ... the Tires should be Goodyear " blue dot" as well 😅 The Cobra is indeed beautiful , just Not exactly like it was from the Factory .

[@captstatic6844]

@ that’s not what you stated, you said those weren’t Smith’s gauges. They are.

[@BradThePitts]

Many people that restore Cobras use a company called Nisonger Instruments. They make 100% correct gauges and they even say MAKE IN ENGLAND. The insides have modern componentry and better connections to the wire loom. They all say SMITHS except the Amp gauge that says LUCAS. They upply to Superformance and Shelby American.

[@joe-hp4nk]

The challenge is finding an insurance company.

[@gregorydahlen2103]

Hagerty

[@Wilett614]

Yes , Even back when I bought mine , INSURANCE was a Factor for a 22year old kid with a 450 HP high performance Sports car ! It was NOT easy to get it Insured !! trust me

[@RosemaryLaptop]

its pronounced MOE SPORT PARK not MOSSPORT . it stands for motor sport park. NO BIG DEAL....i JUST LIVE A FEW MILES FROM IT AND HEAR IT MISSPRONOUNCED A LOT

[@mohammedal-r471]

great story god bless you

[@DogRoar-dq4ri]

The days of putting people on a pedestal just because they own something is coming to an end. Enjoy your false vanity while it lasts! You promote greed, and jealousy.