This might be the strangest Shelby Cobra you’ll ever see.

But it’s not because of a strange body kit, a massive high-performance engine, or a storied racing history.

It’s because this one is missing a pedal. The clutch pedal, to be more precise.

That’s because this is one of a very small number of Shelby Cobras built with an automatic transmission. In fact, it’s fewer than 20 original cars, according to the Shelby registry.

An automatic Cobra is rare, but not surprising. Carroll Shelby’s own cars were usually automatics. That’s because he was a tall guy in a very small car. There wasn’t enough room for him to comfortably operate the clutch.

This car is an early production car, built in 1964. It has a 289 ci V8 and wire wheels and the transmission is a Ford C4 three-speed auto.

When it was new, it didn’t sell. It looks like nobody else wanted a soft version of the hardest of hardcore sports cars, even if that’s how the man whose name was on the car would’ve ordered his. The original dealer returned it for credit, which Shelby allowed as long as they agreed to order more GT350s. It didn’t sell to a retail customer until 1968.

Since then it’s been restored completely and is now up for sale again. This time, the price will gain a few zeroes. The auction listing calls it one of the most original automatic Cobras in existence. It’s on sale at the Mecum Kissimmee auction next week.

[Source:Mecum]

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