PAUL WALKER’S SHELBY COBRA 427 UP FOR AUCTION

In the automotive world, cars that belonged to celebrities tend to be more valuable than their more mundane counterparts. This is particularly true if the owner’s fame has had anything to do with car culture as a whole. Perhaps then it is no surprise that there every car from Paul Walker’s personal collection that has sold since his untimely death has brought some serious coin. And while the “Fast And Furious” star is best known for his love of Japanese sports cars, he didn’t shy away from good ole American muscle either. Thanks to the folks at Mecum, you now have a chance to own Walker’s 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 CSX1000. This isn’t just a “run-of-the-mill” Cobra however, as it is just one of two FAM special edition cars built by Carroll Shelby himself.

As the story goes, Carroll Shelby commissioned a run of 14 Cobras in the 1990s to commemorate Ford’s on-track battles with Ferrari. Only two of those special cars were earmarked to become FAM Special Edition models, which legitimately stands for “Ferrari’s Ass is Mine”. Considering Shelby played a major part in Ford’s victory over Ferrari at LeMans, the name seems perfectly suited to one of Carroll’s projects.

In order to further slight the Prancing Horse, this particular Shelby Cobra 427 CSX1000 has been finished in the brand’s signature Rosso Corsa paint. Furthermore, the interior has been trimmed in tan hides reminiscent of those used in Maranello. Other visual tweaks include unique FAM badges, custom Shelby carpets, a stainless steel roll bar, and an S/C dashboard.

Of course Shelby was never one to simply upgrade the looks of a vehicle. This particular car features an all-aluminum 427 cubic-inch V8 that produces a whopping 550 horsepower. That engine comes mated to a Tremec TKO600 5-speed manual. An independent suspension at all four corners helps to ensure this thing can handle, as does the upgraded rack and pinion steering. When it comes time to slow things down, a set of Wilwood brakes and Shelby calipers are ready for service.

This Shelby Cobra 427 CSX1000 FAM Edition is slated to hit Mecum’s auction block between March 19 and 20, as part of the Steve Todhunter collection. Todhunter acquired the car shortly after Paul Walker passed away, when only 15 miles were on the odometer. Despite Paul’s limited seat time, the combined history of this car is sure to command a high price tag.