1964 Shelby Cobra 427 Prototype CSX2196 - Sebring - Ken Miles 0001-4495

This official archive photograph captures the number 1 Shelby Cobra 427 prototype — chassis CSX2196 — in competition at Sebring in 1964, fitted with a tubular nose brush guard, an aero screen and wide competition wheels. CSX2196 was the development car for the big-block 427 Cobra, the model that turned the Cobra from a 289-powered sports car into one of the most ferocious road cars of the 1960s.

What Is Visible in This Photograph?

The Cobra is shown three-quarter front, turning through a corner with tyre walls at the edge of the frame. A tubular brush guard protects the nose opening, a low aero screen replaces the road windscreen, and auxiliary lamps are mounted either side of the grille aperture.

The bodywork is scuffed and dirty from running, the number 1 sits in a white roundel on the door, and behind the wire fence the crowd stands several rows deep with photographers on a scaffold tower.

Why Does Chassis CSX2196 Matter?

CSX2196 is a named chassis rather than an anonymous race car — a prototype used in the development of the 427 Cobra. Photographs that can be tied to a specific chassis number are the most valuable kind of archive material for collectors and historians.

The 427 programme transformed the Cobra. Where the 289 cars were quick and agile, the big-block cars were built around outright power, requiring a new chassis with coil-spring suspension and much wider bodywork.

How Did the 427 Cobra Differ From the 289?

Key differences between the two Cobra generations:

• 427 cubic inch big-block Ford V8 in place of the 289 small-block
• New chassis with coil-spring suspension replacing transverse leaf springs
• Substantially wider body and wheel arches to cover larger tyres
• Far higher torque output, making the car notoriously demanding to drive
• Prototype chassis such as CSX2196 developed the specification before production

Who Is This Print For?

This Cobra 427 prototype print appeals to Cobra collectors, Shelby enthusiasts, chassis historians, restoration shops, offices and garages. As vintage Ford racing wall art an identified prototype chassis in period competition is genuinely rare. Choose framed, canvas, metal or Giclée formats for a home office, study, museum display or Ford wall decor programme.

Photograph Details

• Event: 12 Hours of Sebring
• Date: 1964
• Location: Sebring, Florida
• Car: Shelby Cobra 427 prototype, chassis CSX2196
• Car number: 1
• Archive reference: 0001-4495

This archival photograph is made available through Fordimages.com, the official Ford archive imagery licensee operated by Richard Weedn LLC. Each image is digitally restored before printing and handcrafted to order.

Available as:

• Framed Print — museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, hanging hardware included
• Stretched Canvas — hand-stretched over 1.25-inch pine bars, heavy cotton poly matte finish
• ChromaLuxe Metal Print — image infused directly onto sheets of alloy metal for maximum vibrancy and durability
• Giclée Art Print — 260gsm satin finish paper, finest archival inks, white border

Made in the USA or Europe depending on your location.

About the Artwork

Artwork in this collection comes from the Ford Motor Company Archives, The Henry Ford Museum, the Carroll Shelby Archives, and the collections of acclaimed photographers and painters from around the world. Reproduction rights are reserved by the respective copyright owners.

Our framed prints feature a black, hand-stained solid wood frame with a white mat, museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, and hanging hardware. The frame features a slim 0.8-inch face and projects 1.3 inches from the wall, creating a clean, contemporary shadow-box effect. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our stretched canvas prints are produced on acid-free, pH-neutral, and fade-resistant canvas. Each canvas is hand-glued to solid wood stretcher bars and stretched over 1.25-inch-thick pine bars. Mounting brackets are included. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our Giclée prints are produced using premium 200gsm semi-gloss paper and high-quality archival inks. Each print includes a white border around the perimeter.

For the 40 x 60 size, we use 250gsm museum-quality archival paper with an off-white, uncoated finish.

The listed size refers to the overall paper dimensions. The image is printed proportionally within the selected paper size. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

ChromaLuxe prints use a state-of-the-art coating process that infuses the image directly onto sheets of alloy metal. The result is photography with an exceptional combination of vibrancy, clarity, and durability.

Each print arrives ready to hang. An alloy subframe on the back allows the artwork to float away from the wall for a sleek, modern appearance. This is the finest-quality print we offer. Made in the USA.

All images are digitally restored before printing. Production location varies by product and destination. Shipping is calculated at checkout.