Assembling the First Shelby Cobra at Dean Moon's Hot Rod Shop in Santa Fe Springs, California, February 1962 - The Henry Ford
https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/453182
I always want to show the first photo to the people telling me "This car had the XXX Cubic Inch special engine installed by Carroll Shelby HIMSELF", yeah...look at this photo of the first Cobra being assembled. Shelby was an idea man, an assembler of TEAMS to accomplish his visions. He's wearing dress slacks watching the first Cobra get a 260 installed.
Quote from: rhjanes on December 16, 2024, 09:41:56 AMI always want to show the first photo to the people telling me "This car had the XXX Cubic Inch special engine installed by Carroll Shelby HIMSELF", yeah...look at this photo of the first Cobra being assembled. Shelby was an idea man, an assembler of TEAMS to accomplish his visions. He's wearing dress slacks watching the first Cobra get a 260 installed.
You mean CSX 2000, that was built in 1962 by Carroll Shelby and a group of Southern California hot rodders.
The car was originally painted pearlescent (probably a Dean Moon special) yellow, but was repainted several times to convince customers and the press that the production line was running smoothly
That one
This is a worthy post by the troll so I will chime in.
Dean Moon was Shelby's landlord. CS rented space to sell his Goodyear race tires from. Dean Moon had the Firestone race tire franchise. At some point once CS started getting more ink the tire companies realized they and their competitors tires were being sold from the same address. CS was forced to move out.
They were acquainted and Dean's shop probably helped out with molds and maybe getting CS in the door at Buddy Bar (although Ford was also using them).
I can't see them being bosom buddies. By the mid 70s Dean was a fairly grumpy old dude and not real pleasant to be around. They also traveled in different circles. Moon was a hot rod land speed drag race guy and CS hobnobbed with elitist sporty car crowd. Think coat & tie vs Tshirts.
I don't know if anyone ever sat down with Dean and did an interview of his CS/SA connection. I never thought to ask him about it. A friend was dating his daughter and there always seemed to be tension when he went to pick her up. Dean would offer you fresh popcorn if he had made a batch for his evening TV watching. He had one of those old fashioned popcorn machines you see at Disneyland. All restored and of course Moon Yellow.
I think the multiple paint jobs to fool the press has been disproven.
Dean Jeffries sprayed the pearl yellow paint and Shelby "payed" him with a Weber-equipped hi-po 289 and a four speed gearbox that Jeffries put in the Mantaray.
This is all according to Tom Cotter's book "Dean Jeffries".
- Phillip
Quote from: propayne on December 16, 2024, 04:55:33 PMDean Jeffries spayed the pearl yellow paint and Shelby "payed" him with a Weber-equipped hi-po 289 and a four speed gearbox that Jeffries put in the Mantaray.
Sounds like Shelby - got car painted in early 1962 and didn't pay the bill until 6-12 months later when the 289 HiPo came out.
Dean Jefferies was the goto guy for show quality paint and pin stripe work. He was a Hollywood custom car builder who could produce results quickly and with no BS. That is probably why Phil Remington took him along to Ford's wind tunnel when he had to redo the J car. Phil & Dean developed and produced the first production MkIV body in less than 2 weeks. This is also the timeframe Dean saw an unused Ford GT parked in the corner and bought it for $1. It's too bad that it has been restored back to day 1 rather than with the small cleanup changes that Dean did to it.
I also suspect when Jim Russell bought the first Daytona Coupe Shelby sent him to Jefferies for the show quality paint and bodywork it received. It also went to the custom car world's best upholster Tony Nancy for a whole new leather interior.
Quote from: 98SVT - was 06GT on December 16, 2024, 03:41:35 PMThis is a worthy post by the troll so I will chime in.
Dean Moon was Shelby's landlord. CS rented space to sell his Goodyear race tires from. Dean Moon had the Firestone race tire franchise. At some point once CS started getting more ink the tire companies realized they and their competitors tires were being sold from the same address. CS was forced to move out.
They were acquainted and Dean's shop probably helped out with molds and maybe getting CS in the door at Buddy Bar (although Ford was also using them).
I can't see them being bosom buddies. By the mid 70s Dean was a fairly grumpy old dude and not real pleasant to be around. They also traveled in different circles. Moon was a hot rod land speed drag race guy and CS hobnobbed with elitist sporty car crowd. Think coat & tie vs Tshirts.
I don't know if anyone ever sat down with Dean and did an interview of his CS/SA connection. I never thought to ask him about it. A friend was dating his daughter and there always seemed to be tension when he went to pick her up. Dean would offer you fresh popcorn if he had made a batch for his evening TV watching. He had one of those old fashioned popcorn machines you see at Disneyland. All restored and of course Moon Yellow.
good morning glad to hear that you approve of this "most worthy post"
Back to the topic at hand, thank you Dean Moon for ushering in the S.A. legacy
Quote from: propayne on December 16, 2024, 04:55:33 PMI think the multiple paint jobs to fool the press has been disproven.
Dean Jeffries sprayed the pearl yellow paint and Shelby "payed" him with a Weber-equipped hi-po 289 and a four speed gearbox that Jeffries put in the Mantaray.
This is all according to Tom Cotter's book "Dean Jeffries".
- Phillip
You could clearly see the different color layers of paint jobs at various paint chip points that looked like the layers of a jaw breaker candy in the chip. First time inspecting CSX2000 was at the chili factory back in the 90's during a SCAT (Shelby Cobra Association of Texas) show and in later years at the Boulder museum. Maybe disproved to fool the press but the car was painted multiple times including YELLOW. ;) Now the car resides at the Shelby American Museum in Boulder CO on loan from the Miller Family Automobile Foundation.
Quote from: Bob Gaines on December 17, 2024, 10:33:02 AMQuote from: propayne on December 16, 2024, 04:55:33 PMI think the multiple paint jobs to fool the press has been disproven.
Dean Jeffries sprayed the pearl yellow paint and Shelby "payed" him with a Weber-equipped hi-po 289 and a four speed gearbox that Jeffries put in the Mantaray.
This is all according to Tom Cotter's book "Dean Jeffries".
- Phillip
You could clearly see the different color layers of paint jobs at various paint chip points that looked like the layers of a jaw breaker candy in the chip. First time inspecting CSX2000 was at the chili factory back in the 90's during a SCAT (Shelby Cobra Association of Texas) show and in later years at the Boulder museum. Maybe disproved to fool the press but the car was painted multiple times including YELLOW. ;) Now the car resides at the Shelby American Museum in Boulder CO on loan from the Miller Family Automobile Foundation.
How many Colors and WHAT Colors was it Painted? Any Photos of the Cobra in those Colors?
Quote from: tesgt350 on December 17, 2024, 11:32:14 AMQuote from: Bob Gaines on December 17, 2024, 10:33:02 AMQuote from: propayne on December 16, 2024, 04:55:33 PMI think the multiple paint jobs to fool the press has been disproven.
Dean Jeffries sprayed the pearl yellow paint and Shelby "payed" him with a Weber-equipped hi-po 289 and a four speed gearbox that Jeffries put in the Mantaray.
This is all according to Tom Cotter's book "Dean Jeffries".
- Phillip
You could clearly see the different color layers of paint jobs at various paint chip points that looked like the layers of a jaw breaker candy in the chip. First time inspecting CSX2000 was at the chili factory back in the 90's during a SCAT (Shelby Cobra Association of Texas) show and in later years at the Boulder museum. Maybe disproved to fool the press but the car was painted multiple times including YELLOW. ;) Now the car resides at the Shelby American Museum in Boulder CO on loan from the Miller Family Automobile Foundation.
How many Colors and WHAT Colors was it Painted? Any Photos of the Cobra in those Colors?
If I remember right there was at least 3 not including the current blue. I had a "will you look at that" moment when I distinguished the yellow in the layers given the press story but the other colors are lost in my memory.
My understanding was two shades of yellow and then the blue.
- Phillip
Don't forget the in the buff (unpainted-raw in aluminum) as first introduced to the public, early Christy test articles, etc.
February 1962 by a band of volunteers at the "Carroll Shelby Enterprises" Goodyear tire distributorship shop at 10820 South Norwalk Boulevard in Santa Fe Springs, California.
When CSX 2000 had arrived, the aluminum body had been left unpainted and was first brightened and polished with steel wool.
In preparation for the 1962 International Automobile Show held at the New York Coliseum on April 21-29, CSX 2000 received its first paint job in a fluorescent yellow color.
Exaggerations over the years have claimed that CSX 2000 had been repainted numerous times in the mid-months of 1962 with the hope of convincing auto magazine staff reviewers that Cobras were already in full production.
That is a good story, but the only color reported to be showing through CSX 2000's present cracked (medium-dark metallic blue) paint is the original fluorescent yellow.
How CSX 2000 Laid the Foundation for the Shelby Cobra Legend
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/how-csx-2000-laid-the-foundation-for-the-shelby-cobra-legend/
Quote from: FL SAAC Team Leader on December 17, 2024, 08:13:50 PMFebruary 1962 by a band of volunteers at the "Carroll Shelby Enterprises" Goodyear tire distributorship shop at 10820 South Norwalk Boulevard in Santa Fe Springs, California.
When CSX 2000 had arrived, the aluminum body had been left unpainted and was first brightened and polished with steel wool.
In preparation for the 1962 International Automobile Show held at the New York Coliseum on April 21-29, CSX 2000 received its first paint job in a fluorescent yellow color.
Exaggerations over the years have claimed that CSX 2000 had been repainted numerous times in the mid-months of 1962 with the hope of convincing auto magazine staff reviewers that Cobras were already in full production.
That is a good story, but the only color reported to be showing through CSX 2000's present cracked (medium-dark metallic blue) paint is the original fluorescent yellow.
How CSX 2000 Laid the Foundation for the Shelby Cobra Legend
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/how-csx-2000-laid-the-foundation-for-the-shelby-cobra-legend/
Seeing is believing. The chips in the paint on CSX2000 that I saw and the different colors paint layers within them indicated more then one repaint.
So the first A.C. Shelby Cobra was natural metal, yellow and then blue
But Dean was essential to the S.A. take off
So the first A.C. Shelby Cobra was natural metal, yellow and blue
And Dean was definitely essential with his help and support to S.A.
Quote from: FL SAAC Team Leader on December 18, 2024, 08:36:00 AMSo the first A.C. Shelby Cobra was natural metal, yellow and blue
And Dean was definitely essential with his help and support to S.A.
To be precise pearl yellow then eventually blue
The Troll got schooled on colors car was painted by none other than CS and Bob Bondurant in recent forum CSX 2000 color thread .
CS was renting about 1000 sqft from Moon. Moon built as business increased. He started in the orig peaked roof area then added the showroom at the front closely followed by the shop area at the rear and finally the south building by the mid 60s.
Has anyone figured out who got fired for using the license plate light to push the car? This shot gives you an idea as to how tight the "shop" space was to build the car.
Quote from: Bob Gaines on December 18, 2024, 12:30:08 PMThe Troll got schooled on colors car was painted by none other than CS and Bob Bondurant in recent forum CSX 2000 color thread .
Thanks Mr Gaines for that historical tid bit
Much appreciated and Merry Christmas!
Quote from: 98SVT - was 06GT on December 18, 2024, 03:40:13 PMCS was renting about 1000 sqft from Moon. Moon built as business increased. He started in the orig peaked roof area then added the showroom at the front closely followed by the shop area at the rear and finally the south building by the mid 60s.
Has anyone figured out who got fired for using the license plate light to push the car? This shot gives you an idea as to how tight the "shop" space was to build the car.
Very interesting story.
Once again directly pointing to Dean Moons involvement with what we know know as Shelby American today
Quote from: 98SVT - was 06GT on December 18, 2024, 03:40:13 PMCS was renting about 1000 sqft from Moon. Moon built as business increased. He started in the orig peaked roof area then added the showroom at the front closely followed by the shop area at the rear and finally the south building by the mid 60s.
Has anyone figured out who got fired for using the license plate light to push the car? This shot gives you an idea as to how tight the "shop" space was to build the car.
That space looks not much bigger than a two Car Garage. How many people built it, all the Photo's I have seen only show 2 People with CS over seeing.
Quote from: tesgt350 on December 19, 2024, 09:08:50 AMQuote from: 98SVT - was 06GT on December 18, 2024, 03:40:13 PMCS was renting about 1000 sqft from Moon. Moon built as business increased. He started in the orig peaked roof area then added the showroom at the front closely followed by the shop area at the rear and finally the south building by the mid 60s.
Has anyone figured out who got fired for using the license plate light to push the car? This shot gives you an idea as to how tight the "shop" space was to build the car.
That space looks not much bigger than a two Car Garage. How many people built it, all the Photo's I have seen only show 2 People with CS over seeing.
Very first post and photo shows 4 people. Somewhere years ago, somewhere, I saw a response that identified all the people. Then Carroll and another person watching.
I'd always noticed the area around the trunk latch and wondered if that was damaged in transit, or damaged some other way.
Is this the same time frame when Steve McQueen first showed up or is that after CS was at the Airport?
Still standing after all these years, but under new management 10820 S Norwalk Blvd, Santa Fe Springs
There can't be too many speed shops from the golden era of hot rodding still around, let alone operating from the same premises, but Moon Equipment Co. is an exception to the rule.
Quote from: tesgt350 on December 19, 2024, 10:50:08 AMIs this the same time frame when Steve McQueen first showed up or is that after CS was at the Airport?
The photo of McQueen and Shelby is at 1042 Princeton in Venice. Shelby moved there pretty quickly after CSX2000 was assembled. He needed to show the world a place that could actually efficiently assemble the cars.
Singh (? Spelling) a Japanese guy bought Moon's. He had been selling the stuff in Japan where he lives. His buddy Chico (also Japanese) oversees the day to day operations. After Dean's wife (Shirley?) died the place sat idle for a couple years. Dino the son never had an interest in the business or cars. His daughter Becky was married and living in San Diego. She sold it and it continues today.
The new proprietor Shige Suganuma and his working partner Chico Kodama
You know one of SAAC member had previously posted sbout a Moon Documentary...
https://www.saac.com/forum/index.php?topic=25870.msg191637#msg191637 :P
A few weeks ago, we´ve been at Moon (on our way to Pomona for the NHRA Finals). The garage where CSX2000 has been completed is not that big, indeed. It´s the one furthest to the right. They also have the well known photos posted in the garage and the shop.
There is a lot of interesting stuff to see at Moon - even their toilet lid !😀
Chico let us wander around freely, even through their machine shop.
A great and very historic place.
Quote from: Speed Six on December 20, 2024, 01:38:41 AMA few weeks ago, we´ve been at Moon (on our way to Pomona for the NHRA Finals). The garage where CSX2000 has been completed is not that big, indeed. It´s the one furthest to the right. They also have the well known photos posted in the garage and the shop.
neat pictures, imagine all that Shelbism Creativity coming out of the confines of 1,000 feet
Quote from: Speed Six on December 20, 2024, 02:56:23 AMThere is a lot of interesting stuff to see at Moon - even their toilet lid !😀
Chico let us wander around freely, even through their machine shop.
A great and very historic place.
You are very fortunate to have visited the site
Some day soon, we will also ....come on 2025 !