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IN ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION, IT SPORTS A 289 V8 BUILT TO HI-PO SPECIFICATIONS BY BOB

PROUTY. THE FENDERS WERE FLARED TO HOUSE LARGER TIRES FOR COMPETITION, AND THE BLACK
PAINT, YELLOW FENDER STRIPES AND WHITE ROUNDELS GIVE IT A TRACK-READY APPEARANCE.
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provided as Shelby was establishing his company. “Then
there was the matter of installing equipment and storing
cars and engines,” Shelby wrote. “We started looking
around right away and came up with a pretty good answer.
Lance Reventlow was getting out of the business and
had decided to quit building Scarabs and his place was
available. He’d had all the fun out of it that he wanted, so
he had made up his mind to move out. There was a bunch
of wonderful machinery available and (we then thought)
more room than we would ever need. So we made a deal
with him and moved in during June of 1962.”
The Reventlow Cobra was one of the 73 early-production
cars that was fitted with a 260 cubic-inch V8. It was
delivered painted white with red interior, and was
heavily optioned for a Cobra. It was ordered with nearly
every competition option Shelby offered. In addition, it
was loaded with bumper guards, wind wings, sun visors
and safety belts.
Over the years the Cobra has had several high-profile
owners, most of whom left their own stamp on the car.
In its current configuration, it sports a 289 V8 built to
Hi-Po specifications by Bob Prouty. The fenders were
flared to house larger tires for competition, and the black
paint, yellow fender stripes and white roundels give it a
track-ready appearance. The upgrades and modifications
are correct for the period, and the Reventlow Cobra still
has its original body, frame and chassis.
As expected, a car with such significant history attached to
it comes with documentation, including the first original
rent check that Shelby wrote to Reventlow Automobiles
Inc. on August 15, 1962. The Lance Reventlow Cobra
is historically important and a thrilling drive, but also
a reminder that when the stakes are high, having your
friends in your corner makes all the difference.
– Steve Statham
For up-to-date information on this vehicle, visit Barrett-Jackson.com

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