1963 Shelby Cobra CSX 2175 Museum Placard - Larry H. Miller Collection

This is a photograph of a museum display placard at Miller Motorsports Park describing CSX 2175, a 1963 Shelby Cobra owned by Larry H. Miller. The sign explains that in 1962 Carroll Shelby needed funding for his racing operation and approached Ford Motor Company with the idea of combining the AC Bristol sports car (built in Surrey, England) with Ford V8 power to create a 'California-bred hot rod.' It notes that early Cobras used a 260 CID V8 and recirculating ball steering; CSX 2000 was the first chassis produced and was used to market the car, while CSX 2002 was the first of the Shelby factory race cars. Beginning with chassis CSX 2128, the 260ci engine was replaced with the larger 289ci powerplant and the steering was upgraded to rack and pinion. The placard states that CSX 2175 was Larry Miller's first of many Cobras and that this street version retains its original interior and 289ci engine configuration. The bottom lines of the sign are cut off in the photograph. The placard bears the Miller Motorsports Park logo and a Cobra badge. Note: this document describes a 1963 Shelby Cobra, not the 1972 Ford Ranchero it was filed under.