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Chassis:
To keep up with the ever increasing competition, Carroll Shelby asked Ken Miles to develop an even more potent version of the Cobra at the end of the 1963 season. Miles started out with a 'standard' Cobra 289 chassis (CSX2196). He had it fitted with a NASCAR sourced '427' side-oiler. After testing the first big block Cobra, Shelby requested Miles to turn it into a proper racing car by strengthening the chassis to cope with the added torque. Chassis CSX2196 made its competition at the 1964 Sebring 12 Hours where Miles crashed it heavily in practice. He, himself, repaired most of the damage overnight. The car was never quite right during the race and eventually retired with a blown engine.
Back in California, Miles continued working on the development of chassis CSX2196. It was further strengthened and fitted with a very light, one-off body. Both the nose and tail were made into a single piece, much like a clam-shell. Once on the chassis both the nose could be fully opened for full access to all of the car's vitals. The unique configuration earned CSX2196 the nickname 'Flip Top'. The car was tested with the all aluminium '390' but it was not raced in this guise. Fitted with the 427 engine, the 'Flip Top' was raced at Nassau where it lead the feature race until reliability allowed Roger Penske to catch up and overtake in one of the Grand Sport Corvettes. Due to its extensive modifications, the car was not eligible in most other races. Work on CSX2196 stopped soon after Nassau in favour of the further development of the production 427 Cobras.
Shortly after its contemporary racing career, the 'Flip Top' Cobra was sold by Shelby to Al Rivera in San Francisco. It has since spent some time in the famed Bob Lee collection before it was acquired by the current owner in 1999. Today the unique Cobra is fitted with a ferocious, all aluminium Ford 427, which produces a staggering 623 bhp on the dyno. It has been raced in some historic events was subsequently offered by RM Auctions in their January 2010 Scottsdale sale. It changed hands for a strong $632,500.
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