Sebring 1964: Shelby Cobra No. 12 After Dark
Shelby American/Dave Friedman used under license
Not every memorable racing photograph is taken at speed. In this 1964 Sebring archive image, Cobra No. 12 faces the camera under the pit lights, surrounded by crew and onlookers, with tools on the concrete and darkness beyond. It is an intimate view of the work behind an endurance race.
The Cobra and the man at the wheel
Beneath the metallic blue bodywork is Ford's 289-cubic-inch V8. According to the Racing Sports Cars race record, No. 12 was Cobra roadster CSX2301, entered by Shelby American in the GT5.0 class for Bob Bondurant and Lew Spencer. This is the open roadster, not the Daytona Coupe. It started 11th, completed 205 laps and finished fifth overall and second in class on 21 March 1964, nine laps behind the winning car.
The driver in the blue-and-white helmet is believed to be Bob Bondurant. Dave Friedman's caption from the night-time driver change records Spencer handing the Cobra to his co-driver, adding simply: “Bondurant prepares to leave first.” This particular frame is not captioned, so the identification remains unconfirmed.
1964: taking the fight to Ferrari
1964 put Shelby's Ford-powered Cobras firmly into the international contest with Ferrari. Roadsters raced alongside the new Daytona Coupe, which went on to take GT honours at Le Mans. Shelby finished the season behind Ferrari, then claimed the international GT manufacturers' title in 1965. This photograph captures a roadster in the breakthrough season that helped make that possible.
Total Performance: from racetrack to showroom
Look above the car: the pit-front signage brings Fairlane, Falcon and Thunderbird into the scene. Ford's early-1960s Total Performance campaign set out to reach younger buyers with, in The Henry Ford's words, “sportier cars, higher-horsepower engines, and a revitalized racing program.” With a Ford-powered Cobra beneath those familiar road-car names, the scene brings that racetrack-to-showroom ambition into focus.
About this print
The vertical composition gives the Cobra real presence while preserving the night-time atmosphere, making it a strong choice for a study, garage or collection room. View archive image 0001-4537 to choose your print format.
Photograph details
- Event: 12 Hours of Sebring, 21 March 1964
- Car: Shelby Cobra roadster CSX2301, No. 12, Ford 289 V8
- Drivers: Bob Bondurant and Lew Spencer; 5th overall, 2nd in GT5.0
- Archive reference: 0001-4537
Previous story: Le Mans 1967: the Ford Mk IV pit lane
Sources: race facts from Racing Sports Cars (Sebring 1964 results and entry list); driver-change caption by Dave Friedman; quotation from The Henry Ford, Total Performance publication.