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The Slabside: A Southern California Story
Before it became an icon, the Cobra had to prove itself—and that happened right here in Southern California.
The first Cobra was completed in Santa Fe Springs in early 1962, combining a lightweight British roadster with Ford’s new small-block V8.
On October 13 of that year, the Cobra made its official competition debut at Riverside International Raceway.
Its breakthrough came at Riverside in February 1963, when Dave MacDonald drove CSX2026 to the Cobra’s first victory. Ken Miles finished second, giving Shelby American a commanding one-two finish and proving that Carroll Shelby’s vision could defeat America’s best sports cars.
The early narrow-bodied Cobra soon evolved into the 289 street roadster that enthusiasts now call the “Slabside.”
Today, only a short drive from where the Cobra first proved itself, our Irvine showroom holds a rare selection of completed MKII Slabsides and rolling chassis.
It is a unique opportunity to own the purest expression of the Cobra and take home a piece of Southern California performance history.
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