Greetings, all. I'm hoping someone here has a really good memory. In 1963, AC Cars entered two cars in the Paris Auto Show in the name of M. Chardonnet, their Paris agent. One car was maroon with a black interior and the other was white, interior color not known. Does anyone have any photos of the show that would show which interior, black or red, the white car had? Such a photo would go a long way towards solving a mystery regarding these two cars, CSX2186 and COX6002, which were apparently switched at birth. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Bob:

My copy of the latest World Registry of Cobras and GT40s arrived a couple of weeks ago. Under CSX2186, besides the usual information about it being shown in Paris and subsequent history, too long to quote here, it notes:

"It is thought that the AC factory may have confused CSX2186 and COX6002, a left-hand drive European car also said to have been sent to the Paris show and built at the same time. In fact, the VIN stamping on the frame of CSX2186 showed traces of a prior COX6002 imprint, and both cars' hood/trunk/door and transmission tunnel secondary number stampings were cross-matched. In addition, the car sent to Shelby [i.e., CSX2186] had a black interior from the factory rather than the stated red."

Regarding COX6002, the Register notes:

"During restoration, it was found that the car's secondary numbers, including the hood latch, trunk latch, both door hinges, and the panel behind the seats showed an "86" or "186", indicating that corresponding parts were inadvertently switched at AC Cars between CSX2186 and COX6002."

Further, it states that COX6002 was originally white with a red interior but was restored with a black interior.

Evidently CSX2168 was also discovered to be one of very few Cobras to have a positive-ground electrical system. Maybe you already know all this, though, as its current owner is said to be named Bob...

Frank