In lieu of the fact Carroll Shelby destined all the first production 427 Cobras for strictly competition use, all cars were delivered to the Shelby American facility in bare, unpainted aluminum from AC Cars in England. Each car was then slated for the chosen livery of the new owner, with the intent of whatever team colors were chosen. All full competition Cobras were delivered with black interiors.

CSX 3012 was invoiced to Shelby American on 1/11/65 from AC Cars, Ltd, and a Shelby American Work order #15067 was opened on 2/4/65. It was invoiced on 4/20/65 to Valley Mercedes Benz Service, 14104 Victory Blvd, Van Nuys, CA. As 1 427 Cobra, Chassis No CSX3012 at the cost of $9,700.00. Painted Silver, a color often used in Mercedes racing cars, 3012 was picked up at Shelby American by Lothar Motschenbacher, the owner of Valley Mercedes Benz.

The racing linage of CSX 3012 featured its debut race at Riverside on 5/2/65, then campaigned at Laguna Seca on 5/9/65, Santa Barbara on 5/29/65, Pomona on 6/20/65, and at Mid-Ohio USRRC event in early August of 1965. Late in 1965, Motschenbacher traded the car back to Shelby American, taking a 1965 Ford Country Squire Wagon and $7,000 in return for the cobra.

After a thorough clean up, the car was sold on 12/7/65 to J.D. Hurt. He, however, did not choose to take delivery until the following spring, and agreed to allow Shelby American to rent CSX3012 to MGM Studios for use in the Elvis Presley movie Spinout. Records indicate an insurance claim for damage to the car while at MGM and the deposit of Hurt was applied to another Cobra.

CSX 3012 was once again repurchased by Shelby American and was invoiced on 4/5/66 to Donald Peckman. Peckman rebuilt the car and raced it during the 66' season, painted white with a thin Blue stripe down the center of the car. Raced in Riverside and featured in a Car and Driver editorial, which stated it as: best appearing and fastest Cobra at 1966 ARRC.

Early in 1967 Charles T. Oseid purchased the Cobra in the name of his company. Sterling Automotive Mfg. Co. Oseid continued to race prior to an unfortunate accident, while being transported on a trailer, in the early 70's. Following this unfortunate incident, the car was dismantled with Oseid retaining the salvageable parts and most importantly the ownership MSO document he obtained from Peckman.

In 1985 George Stauffer purchased the MSO and various parts to 3012, and had Brain Angliss of AutoKraft in England rebuild the car utilizing a new chassis and aluminum bodywork. The finished car, painted dark green, was sold prior to its actual completion in the summer of 88' to George Gillett. Then in 1992, acquired by Jim Philion for vintage racing.

Featured in several prominent vintage events, including the Wine Country Classic held at Sears point in 6/95 and driven by Rick Titus, CSX 3012 also won top popular at SAAC-20 in 7/95. Driven in 8/95 once again by Rick Titus at the Monterey Historics, 3012 was given the Thomas W. Senter Memorial Award for representing the most significant Ford or Ford Powered vehicle at the event.

 

CSX-3012, one of the original 19 production competition 427 Cobras. . Of the 348 “big block” Cobras produced by Shelby American in the mid 60’s, Only 21 cars, including 2 prototypes, were designated “Competition Cobras” and thus carried the mantra and status of “factory built and prepared race car”.

 The mere mention of this Cobra's serial number evokes dialogue of epic proportions regarding rumor, lore and legend. The legacy of CSX-3012 begins over 42 years ago in May of 1966. This Cobra was delivered from Shelby American to a well known California racer and campaigned in various SCCA and USRRC races, with several wins and top 5 finishes.  

MGM Studios selected CSX-3012 to star in the 1966 feature film "Spinout", costarring Elvis Presley and Shelly Fabares.

Since its early competition days CSX-3012 was returned to the factory, in England, and totally and completely rebuilt and restored to its original impressive persona, including the Silver livery. 3012 is still on the original MSO and has never been titled for street use.

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