3138: Green/black interior. Invoided to Shelby American on 9/2/65 and shipped to Los Angeles.
(Its completion by AC cars was out of sequence with cars around it by chassis number and, in addition,
it was shipped complete with engine and transmission. As later notes suggest. the car may
have been a prototype wide-hip street car). At Shelby American, work order #18059, "Build
427 Street Cobra CSX3138," was opened on 12/2/65 and closed on 1/18/66. Shelby invoice #A1933
dated 1/25/66 billed Fellini-Matfield Ford, Inc. (Springfield, MO) for the car: "CSX3138
, 1966 427 Cobra, Green, $6088." It was invoiced less freight charges as it was intended
for pick up at Shelby American. It is unclear if the sale to Fellini-Mayfield went through,
however, as by 9/66 the car was listed as a stock unit at Dick walters Ford (West Des Moines, IA) 
with mileage under 1000. It was by them to Mike Wilson (Des Moines, IA) and came back on 10/12/66
with noisy rear end bearings and a bad head gasket. Both were repaired under warranty. The
car's next known owner was Anton Chmela (Garrison, NY) from whom it was purchased in '75 by Ed Jurist/
Vintage Car Store (Nyack, NY). Jurist sold 3138 to David Ruocco (NY) in 11/75, but repurchased
it when Ruocco purchased CSX3121. Vintage advertised it again in late 1975: "Cobra 427, A genuine and
totally original AC Cobra roadster finshed in red lacquer with black leather interior, cross-bolted mains,
 and all the features of a thoroughbred American competition car. $18,500. No offers."
3138 was sold to Merill Berman. From Berman, the car was acquired in 1976 by Bud Roehrer
(Park Ridge, NJ) who advertised it in the sprong of 1981: "CSX3138, 6537 miles, perfect,
$70,000 firm." Unsold, it appeared in the classifieds again in 1984: "AC Cobra, 3138,
6827 miles, red/black leather, Sunbursts, T/A radials, side oiler with new Manley valves,
stainless steel, same owner 10 years, 95% correct, $60,000." Peter Tavoulares (NY) acquired the car
and had it substantially restored, investing over $8000 in an engine rebuild in 1994.
Registered with the NY plate "COBRA 66," 3138 appeared fro sale in 1996, with Steven
Kessler Ferrari acting as the agent: "AC Cobra 1966 427, red/black, 2-owner history with
13,480 original miles, outside filler cap, dual exhaust, Halibrand wheels. A superb
example of this great classic". George Stauffer (Blue Mounds, WI) purchased the car in Nov.
1996, equipped with Trigo 7.5"/9.5" wheels but in otherwise stock , original condition. The
car's rear falres were almost a combination of narrow and wide body styles, lending support
to the belief that 3138 had been used by AC as a test-bed for a wide street configuration.
Stauffer was confronted with a wrinkle in 2/97, when 3138's former owner, Cavalleros, said he had not
given Kessler Ferrari authority to sell his car. Investigation revealed that Kessler had lost his ferrari
franchise and gone out of business proior to Tavoulares receiving payment on his
Cobra. Creditors had apparently seized the dealership's assests, includig Stauffer's payment
for 3138, so Tavoulares was naturally anxious to question the transaction. As of
3/1/97, the issus was unreolved. CSX 3138 was featured in the book, Corvette - the
Sensuous American, vol 2, #3, pp. 34-37, and in Car Classics 12/76, pp. 29.