Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn

[6R07mi]

Would this be one of the Ford Engineering cars? early 260?

-- "11M103" Michigan MFG plate would be Ford
-- The wall in the background suggests Ford Dearborn Engineering Center
-- the trees suggest May ~ Sept in Mich.
CSX2008 prior to body removal?
Other possibilities ??

regards,
jim p

[gt350cs]

Sorry, I do not have that plate in my records. It would be great if someone could provide this information. Good Luck.

[Richstang]

I'm doubtful it is csx2008 (edit/with correction; that white Cobra was csx2014 per Jim). It was at Riverside in February painted white and prepped for racing.
Looks more like a standard street car.

That doesn't look like it's at the Ford's 'Research & Engineering Center' or the 'Proving Grounds' test track.
That wall is built with continuous curves with no vertical posts as shown in your photo.

This photo of CS & the Cobra might be at another Michigan/Ford Campus location.

[Side-Oilers]

Any chance that's CSX2000?

I agree with Richstang.  I've been to, and driven on, the Dearborn PG many times.  This photo doesn't exactly match up.

Can't swear what it looked like in the 1960s, but judging by the flowers and the curbing behind CS's right foot, I'd guess this was outside a building somewhere on the Ford Dearborn property.

BTW: The photog should have lowered the camera by two inches to get rid of the tree branches from behind Carroll's head and making him look like crazy hair.

[Dan Case]

Any chance that's CSX2000?

No.  Later car with early production features and options. I have tried for years to figure out which chassis it is. 

In higher resolution images of that car that day it appears that the sun visors and wind wings very early ones.  Front grille guard, Shelby American type front registration plat bracket, and the particular model of rear view mirror on the dash makes me think the second or third batch completed.

[Side-Oilers]

Thanks, Dan, for the added info and clarification.

[6R07mi]

I'm doubtful it is csx2008. It was at Riverside in February painted white and prepped for racing.
Looks more like a standard street car.

That doesn't look like it's at the Ford's 'Research & Engineering Center' or the 'Proving Grounds' test track.
That wall is built with continuous curves with no vertical posts as shown in your photo.

This photo of CS & the Cobra might be at another Michigan/Ford Campus location.

Richstang, I have #98 at Riverside as CSX2014

Note: the location I suggest is not in the track compound where the wavy wall is, but rather across Oakwood in the Styling/Design complex

regards,
jim p

[Side-Oilers]

Jim,
I think you're correct about across Oakwood, at the Styling/Design complex.  The brick wall there is more consistent with the photo.
Good eye,
Van

[honker]

No idea where this was taken, but a similar wall behind the Mustang concept.

Mike

[Richstang]

I'm doubtful it is csx2008. It was at Riverside in February painted white and prepped for racing.
Looks more like a standard street car.

That doesn't look like it's at the Ford's 'Research & Engineering Center' or the 'Proving Grounds' test track.
That wall is built with continuous curves with no vertical posts as shown in your photo.

This photo of CS & the Cobra might be at another Michigan/Ford Campus location.

Richstang, I have #98 at Riverside as CSX2014

Note: the location I suggest is not in the track compound where the wavy wall is, but rather across Oakwood in the Styling/Design complex

regards,
jim p

Thanks Jim, You Are Correct!
That white Cobra I posted was the same car that Skip Hudson raced in the '63 Daytona two weeks later (csx2104).
I'll go back and edit my post. (the 'RacingSportsCars' site had it noted incorrectly back many years ago when I saved the photos.)

Also, I found a photos of csx2008 dated in late June '63.
That doesn't give it much time to be built since the trees have leaves in your Cobra body photo, but it is possible.

[Richstang]

No idea where this was taken, but a similar wall behind the Mustang concept.

Mike

Great find Mike!

I'd like to know where that location is. It does not appear to be in the courtyard of the "Research and Engineering Center' off of Oakland.
Here's a photo of the Mustang concept car in the courtyard with the wavy wall in the background.

Also, here's another photo of the concept in the same location as Mike posted showing the wall with posts. They can't be far from each other!
I was standing in the 'R&E' courtyard back in the early nineties as a design student on a tour of the facility.
Is the 'Design Center' in a different area then the 'Research Center' ... maybe that's that difference for the location of Jim's photo with CS and the Cobra?

[honker]

Rich, great photos, not seen those before. don't want to get off topic, here's CSX 3001 ? with a wall, looks to be a different colour

of bricks though ? Wonder where that's taken ?

Mike

[Richstang]

Here's a bit more info on CSX2008 noted as an original white 260 Cobra (article from Jeff Burgy aka CobraJeff)
The link seems to be down at the moment, but I saved this clip from the article; I'll try to post the link again later if this one doesn't work.


https://performance.ford.com/enthusiasts/newsroom/2018/01/long-lost-1963-_bordinat-cobra-concept.html

[6R07mi]

Rich, great photos, not seen those before. don't want to get off topic, here's CSX 3001 ? with a wall, looks to be a different colour

of bricks though ? Wonder where that's taken ?

Mike

Mike,  Your photo gives another clue, the view beyond the wall is most certainly Greenfield Village, I'll have to look around when I'm there next month.

Just a FYI, the whole Engineering center will change a lot in the next several years and many of these reference structures will be gone as Ford is spending 1.2B to renovate the campus!

jim p

[Side-Oilers]

Do you know if the Dearborn Inn will survive?  Lots of fascinating and salacious stories, if that old hotel could talk!