Shelby Cobra Coupe Becomes the First Federally Registered Historic Car

A 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe has become the first vehicle recorded under a federal program to identify and preserve important engineering marvels, the Historic Vehicle Association annouced last month.

The car, which is part of the collection at the Simeon Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, was the first of six such cars built by Shelby American and the only one built in its entirety at Carroll Shelby’s shop in Venice, Calif. Chassis CSX2287, the prototype, came in fourth over all – behind three Ferraris – at the 1964 Sebring 12 Hour race, and although it led the 24 Hours of Le Mans for 10 hours that year, it was disqualified for an illegal jump start.

Up until that time, European cars dominated Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile World Sports Car Championship races. But another of the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes – CSX2299, the second one built – won the International Championship for GT Manufacturers in 1965. Ferrari had held that distinction the previous three seasons....