FIA World Championship
1964 FIA Cobra

Shelby American 1964 FIA Team Car

Chassis Number: CSX2323
Team: Shelby American
Drivers: Dan Gurney, Jerry Grant
Engine: 289 cubic inch v8
Horsepower: 370
Weight: 2094 lbs

Second Place — 1964 Targa Florio

Carroll Shelby set his sights on the FIA World Championship for GT cars in 1964 and a new generation of Cobra competition roadsters was built expressly for this purpose. This is one of the five cars built to compete in Europe in 1964 (CSX2259, CSX2260. CSX2301, CSX2323, and CSX2345.

This car was one of the last two built for the team and arrived in Europe in April. Its first race was on April 26th at the Targa Florio, driven by Dan Gurney and Jerry Grant. Gurney set the lap record and finished eighth over all and second in the GT class. The next race was the 500 km of Spa on May 17th where Innes Ireland brought the car home in 15th place. At the 1000 km of the Nürburgring on May 31st, the car was damaged in practice and was not raced.

With one race left in the season, Ferrari held a slim lead in the championship over Shelby American. Enzo Ferrari knew that the Cobra could out run the Ferrari GTO on a fast circuit and he could lose the championship. The last race was to be held on one of the fastest circuits in Europe, Monza Italy.

Ferrari and the Monza organizers pressured the FIA to allow the new mid engined Ferrari 250 to be classified as a Grand Touring car or they would cancel the race. The FIA did not give in to the demand, the race was canceled and Ferrari won the 1964 World Championship. The following year Shelby said, “Ferrari’s ass is mine” and won the Championship.

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