CSX2416 is the only factory Stage III 289 Street Cobra ever built, and one of the most extensively factory-optioned Cobras to leave Shelby American. The original 1964 MSRP totaled $8,684.05, a figure prominent enough to attract Shelby American’s accounting department to itemize every option in the company ledger. The car was the last Cobra restoration completed by the late Steven Juliano, finishing in 2018 after a four-year effort with Dave Riley using only NOS and original parts. It sold at Mecum Indianapolis on May 17, 2019, Lot F164, for $1,760,000.
Fast facts
- The only factory Stage III 289 Street Cobra ever built; a one-of-one specification.
- Original 1964 MSRP of $8,684.05, exceptional for a Cobra of the period.
- Stage III 289 cubic inch V8 with four Weber downdraft carburetors, lifting the engine price by $2,595 over the standard 289 (which carried a $608 credit).
- Billed to Shelby American on April 27, 1964, and shipped to Los Angeles on May 6, 1964 aboard the SS Dintledyk.
- Ordered by Frye’s Ford of Belleville, Kansas; original retail customer was Brent Ascough Jr. of Topeka, Kansas.
- Originally Princess Blue with black interior; repainted Rangoon Red by Shelby American at Ascough’s request before delivery.
- Photographed by Shelby American staff photographer Dave Friedman in front of Shelby’s office at 3221 Carter Street in Venice, California.
- Documented on page 86 of Friedman’s Shelby Cobra: The Shelby American Original Archives, 1962-1965 and page 20 of Colin Comer’s The Complete Book of Shelby Automobiles.
- Owned by Cobra collector Les Lindley of Anaheim, California from 1972 through 2011; finished second overall at the inaugural 1974 Monterey Historic Automobile Races.
- Restored by Steven Juliano and Dave Riley between 2014 and 2018 using only NOS and original parts; restoration completed weeks before Juliano’s passing.
- Sold at Mecum Indianapolis on May 17, 2019, Lot F164, for $1,760,000.
History
CSX2416 began as an order placed by Frye’s Ford of Belleville, Kansas, in early 1964. The specification was extraordinary even for a Cobra. Shelby American billed the car on April 27, 1964 and shipped it to Los Angeles on May 6, 1964 aboard the SS Dintledyk. The dealer invoice itemized a Stage III 289 cubic inch engine with four Weber downdraft carburetors, a hood scoop and cold air box, finned aluminum Cobra rocker-arm covers, an engine-oil cooler, polished American Racing magnesium wheels, a front grille guard and rear bumper guards, wind wings, sun visors, an auxiliary hardtop, front and rear sway bars, side curtains, a heater, seat belts, a radio with antenna, and a custom exhaust system that rerouted the standard pipes under the car with all four passing through glasspack mufflers to unique quad chromed tailpipes. With $200 in freight charges from Shelby American to Frye’s Ford, the bill totaled $8,684.05.
The original customer was Brent Ascough Jr. of Topeka, Kansas. Ascough sent the brand-new Cobra back to Shelby American before taking delivery, requesting a repaint from Princess Blue to Ford Rangoon Red. With the repaint complete, Shelby American photographer Dave Friedman recognized the car as something other than a standard 289 build and photographed it in front of Shelby’s office at 3221 Carter Street in Venice, California, adjacent to the original Shelby shop at 1042 Princeton Drive. The image later appeared on page 86 of Friedman’s Shelby Cobra: The Shelby American Original Archives, 1962-1965 and page 20 of Colin Comer’s The Complete Book of Shelby Automobiles.
In 1972, Cobra and GT40 collector Les Lindley of Anaheim, California purchased CSX2416. Lindley added wide wheel flares, replaced the original American Racing magnesium wheels with wider chromed wires, fitted chromed side pipes and a chromed roll bar, swapped the black interior for tan leather upholstery, and commissioned a Bronze Metallic respray by Junior’s House of Color. CSX2416 finished second overall at the inaugural Monterey Historic Automobile Races in August 1974, and appeared in the fall 1975 issue of Old Cars Illustrated wearing California vanity plates reading “SUNCAR.”
Lindley kept CSX2416 until 2011, when he sold it (alongside his Gumball Rally 427 Cobra CSX3243) privately to dealer Donnie Gould. Gould moved the car to Donn Vickrey of Carlsbad, California, who completed a mechanical restoration and showed CSX2416 in bronze paint at the 2012 Monterey Motorsports Reunion before selling it to David Lerian of Los Angeles in April 2014.
Late in 2014, Steven Juliano, with research support from Ned Scudder and Colin Comer, identified the bronze-painted Cobra as the ultimate-specification Stage III car documented in Friedman and Comer’s books. Juliano acquired CSX2416 and committed to what would be his final Cobra restoration. Working with Dave Riley over four years, Juliano returned CSX2416 to its as-delivered configuration using only NOS and original parts, including the tires and service items. The completed car returned to the Juliano collection weeks before his passing. Following the dispersal of the Juliano Estate Collection, CSX2416 sold at Mecum Indianapolis on May 17, 2019, Lot F164, for $1,760,000.
Sales history
- May 17, 2019: Mecum Indianapolis, Lot F164. $1,760,000. Sold from the Steven Juliano Estate Collection.
- April 2014: Donn Vickrey to David Lerian of Los Angeles. Private sale, price not documented.
- 2011: Les Lindley to Donnie Gould (private sale alongside CSX3243). Price not documented.
- 1972: Brent Ascough Jr. ownership chain to Les Lindley of Anaheim, California. Price not documented.
- 1964: New from Frye’s Ford of Belleville, Kansas to Brent Ascough Jr. of Topeka, Kansas. Listed MSRP $8,684.05.
Documented factory options
- Stage III 289 cubic inch V8 with four Weber downdraft carburetors
- Hood scoop and cold air box
- Polished American Racing magnesium wheels
- Auxiliary hardtop
- Side curtains
- Front and rear sway bars
- Engine-oil cooler
- Finned aluminum Cobra rocker-arm covers
- Front grille guard, rear bumper guards
- Wind wings, sun visors
- Heater, seat belts, radio with antenna
- Custom exhaust rerouted under the car, four pipes through glasspack mufflers to quad chromed tailpipes
Authenticity and current configuration
CSX2416 carries its original chassis, body, and engine. The 2014 to 2018 Juliano restoration was a research-driven return to the as-delivered Rangoon Red configuration documented in the Dave Friedman photographs and the Shelby American accounting ledger. Per Juliano practice, the restoration used only NOS or original parts throughout, including the tires and service items. The unique exhaust routing, the four Weber downdraft carburetor setup on the Stage III 289, and the period option list (itemized on the 1964 dealer invoice) are the visible signatures that distinguish CSX2416 from any other 289 Cobra.
For context on the rack-and-pinion small-block era, see the Mark II CSX 289 chassis-family page. CSX2416 sits in the same production window as CSX2588 (the last 4-speed 289 sold to the public) and CSX2208, which provide the comparison points for standard versus extraordinary option specification. For Shelby American’s program history, see the Shelby American overview, the Cobra encyclopedia, and the Cobra Authority buyer’s guide.
All images and auction documentation courtesy of Mecum.
Last updated: May 16, 2026
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