Encouraged by the Ford Motor Company, Carroll Shelby used his Cobra brainchild to challenge the might of Ferrari in international GT racing, and succeeded in wresting the World Championship from the Italian manufacturer in 1965.

Chassis number 'CSK2301' started life as one of the handful of works cars deployed by Shelby in support of his 1964 World Sportscar Championship campaign, during which it was driven by some of the sport's foremost stars.

AC Cars Ltd correspondence on file reveals that '2301' was originally completed at its Thames Ditton factory on 20th January 1964 as a race car with special wide rear wings.

Unpainted and trimmed in black, the Cobra was exported to Carroll Shelby in Los Angeles, USA where it was completed to FIA competition specification with cut-back doors and painted in the team's Viking Blue livery, plus identifying maroon nose stripe.

Entered by Shelby American Incorporated, the Cobra's first competitive outing was at the '64 Sebring 12 Hours endurance ...