Description
Lot #1396 - Pursuant to the Shelby American Registry, CSX2495 was billed to Shelby American on June 25, 1964, shipped to Los Angeles on July 10, and invoiced on October 21, 1964, to Fort Lee Motors in New Jersey. The car's first known owner, Fred Knapik, brought 2495 to a Cobra Club event in Lime Rock, CT, in the spring of 1973. By this time, the car had been painted light green metallic and featured Webers, a lift-off hood secured by four klik-pins, a hood scoop and had the flat section of the rear flares cut out. Knapik offered the car for sale in June 1973 and sold it to Ronald Sinisgalli in New York. Jim Inglese of Connecticut bought 2495 in 1977 and added 6/5" FIA Halibrands, gold LeMans stripes and Belanger drag headers with side pipes. Inglese also installed a set of Webers, and after spending a great deal of time getting them to work, he used that experience to start a Weber rebuilding/tuning business part-time. Before long, the business was expanded to full-time and became the world-renowned Inglese Induction Systems. After taking first place at the Northeast Fall Rally in Great Barrington, MA, in October 1978, Inglese traded 2495, plus $20,000, to John Daly for CSX3318. He kept the FIA wheels, and used them on his 427 car. Daly put 7.5" Sunburst wheels on 2495 in 1990, with new leather and carpet, repainted it red with white LeMans stripes, replaced the hood hinges and latches as well as the previously removed flat section of the rear flares. He advertised 2495 in 1990 with new leather and carpets at $265,000. It was purchased in 1992 by Dale Bliss of Oklahoma, who, in 1999, offered it for sale: "Red/white stripes, authentic mag wheels, knock offs; Webers; 9800 total miles." Bliss later sold 2495 to Robert Benson of Penngrove, CA, who commissioned a restoration to what it is today. He repainted the car blue with silver stripes, and it still features Webers and Halibrand wheels. This is a well-known, no stories, beautifully restored 289 Cobra.
