The Ex-Derek Riddler, LEC Racing Team 1964 AC Cobra Chassis No: COB 6042 Registration : COB 289A A rare opportunity to acquire a historically significant example of the desirable UK supplied RHD Cobras with documented period competition history. Sold new to London in 1964, registered CLH 3B and still accompanied by its original log book. CLH 3B was raced by Derek Riddler, cousin of Formula 1 driver David Purley, under their family LEC Racing banner. Also raced in the late 1960 s by Bill Wood, COB 6042 has been in its current ownership for the last 28 years. A veteran of the Tour Auto, South African Springbok Series and a two time Goodwood Revival invitee. Co-driven in the prestigious RAC TT by four time Le Mans winner Henri Pescarolo and to 6th place in the 50th Anniversary Cobra race by fellow Le Mans winner Richard Attwood. Gaining the added kudos on the latter occasion of having driven to Goodwood on the road prior to the race. A true 'gentleman drivers' car. Recipient of hours of meticulously preparation by the former personal mechanic to Keke Rosberg at Williams. Accompanied by an extensive historical dossier, a hard top, second windscreen, side screens, tonneau, removable passenger roll hoop, spare wheels including a set of original Halibrand magnesium racing wheels, spare engine and much more. Regarded as one of the all-time great sports cars, the muscular, yet refined AC Cobra combined European chassis engineering and American V8 power in an what was to be become a legendary alliance, brought about Le Manswinning racing driver Carroll Shelby, between AC Cars and the Ford Motor Company. The former's Ace provided the simple twin-tube chassis frame - strengthened and supplied with four-wheel disc brakes for the Cobra - into which was persuaded one of Ford's lightweight, small-block V8s. The 260ci (4.2-litre) prototype first ran in January 1962, with production commencing later that year. Exclusively for the USA initially, Cobras - minus engines - were sent from England to be finished off by Shelby in California, and it was not until late in 1963 that AC Cars in Thames Ditton got around to building the first fully finished European-specification cars.
The Cobra was an instant success from the moment it hit the track, giving the might of Ferrari a run for its money. The Cobra went on to firmly secure it place in motor racing and sports car history and remains the weapon of choice for Historic GT racing to this day, with Cobras dominating events like the Goodwood Revival s prestigious TT. COB 6042 was a UK supplied Mark II RHD car painted in Vineyard Green with red interior and was delivered to Sloane St. based dealer Russell Motors Ltd. on the 10th December 1964. Pictured on your right and as shown in the original green log book that still accompanies the car, COB 6042 was registered on the 16th December 1964, where it gained the registration number CLH 3B before being sold to Peter Sheridan, a barrister practising at The Temple, EC4.
From Peter Sheridan ownership passed on to Derek Ridler. Cousin of former Formula 1 driver David Purley, Derek Ridler raced COB 6042 under their family LEC Racing Team banner (pictured above at Castle Combe and Brands Hatch in 68). At this time COB 6042 was painted in silver, with a pair of bolt on wide rear wheel arches added, JA Pearce Magna wide magnesium wheels, a distinctive roll hoop, and side exit exhausts, while retaining the front and rear Bull Bars along with the tinted sun strip windscreen as seen in Peter Sheridan s ownership. Many photographs of COB 6042 being raced accompany the car in the comprehensive history file, and each race detailed on the historical timeline. T. + 44 (0)1285 831 488 E. cars@williamianson.com
Derek Ridler advertised the car for sale in Autosport 1st November 1968, COB 6042 was sold to Bill Wood of Yorkshire. Wood first raced COB 6042 on Boxing Day 1968 and the campaigned the Cobra through 1969, usually with his friend Tony Bancroft who raced his TVR, also painted silver with a black roof. During Bill Wood s ownership, COB 6042 made an Autosport magazine race report showing him very sideways exiting a chicane in his big 5.2 Shelby Cobra. In November 1969, Bill Wood sold COB 6042 to David Hepworth of Brighouse. A mechanic who was working for Hepworth at the time remembers the Cobra being there, with the JA Pearce wheels and another set of wires, along with a hard top. T. + 44 (0)1285 831 488 E. cars@williamianson.com
On the 19th February 1970, COB 6042 was advertised for sale by Bob Howlings Racing Cars of Manchester, who are understood to have often done business with David Hepworth around this time. Howlings described the Cobra as Shelby Type Cobra. Fitted new GT40 engine. Fully blueprinted. Not yet run in.. Then, in Motorsport Magazine May 1970 an advert by Swanmore Garage shows COB 6042 for sale, complete with a pair of pictures of the Cobra. It is mentioned that there are only 50 miles on the engine since it was rebuilt. In September 1977, COB 6042 was advertised again. The Cobra was described as engine rebuilt 2000 miles ago and stored for last six years. COB 6042 was then bought by Ed Raymond of Fountain Valley, CA. Between 1981-83 Raymond had Bob Hickson of Costa Mesa, CA restore the car. During this restoration, the car was converted to LHD, and was repainted white. At the same time the interior was redone in a saddle brown colour, and the chrome brightwork was re-plated. Thankfully during the restoration many of the parts removed in the conversion stayed with the car. In 1987 COB 6042 was purchased by the current owner. A well known and regarded racer and collector, he had the car reconverted back to is original RHD specification in the early 1990 s, using the original parts that had been retained with the car. An FIA compliant 289 engine was built for the car to replace the 302 which was in the car when it returned from the USA. This engine still remains with the car to this day. Also still present were the bonnet scoop and distinctive oil cooler slot, as it was when raced by Bill Wood in 1969. Initially intending to use the car for long distance speed events, still painted white and registered PRX 644B, he had it prepared for and subsequently completed the 1995 Tour de France. The car performed well with the end result not doing it justice after a coming together with an E Type on the circuit. Temporary repairs were made and the car completed the event. After the event the body was repaired properly and the opportunity was taken to return the wings back to their flared period racing configuration and the car was painted in its original colour of Vineyard Green. In 2005 the owner decided he would like to further improve the cars performance for both circuit and road use. John Westwood, former personal mechanic for Keke Rosberg at Williams, was entrusted with this task and along the way he insisted the assistance of Cobra expert and former AC Cars employee Karl Nevil. John s instructions from the owner were as follows : to prepare the car car to the hottest specification that could be reliably driven on the road for touring and road eventing. It also had to be quickly converted into a competitive Circuit racer.
The engine was prepared to full FIA racing specification with a competition 4 into 1 stainless steel exhaust which can be fitted with a silencers or run on straight through pipes, depending on the circuits noise restrictions. The gear box has the homologated close ratio gears and a single plate lightened diaphragm clutch. The suspension is similar to the 1964/65 Factory FIA cars, with stiffened springs, anti-roll bars and Koni dampers. Large Girling competition brake callipers were fitted and ducted from vents. A great deal of thought and effort has gone into the cooling and heat management of this car with an all aluminium radiator, heat insulation and ducting inside the engine bay and a cool air box for the carburettors. Other well thought out details include the two original windscreens that came with the car from America - one an original low drag racing and one standard. On top of that there is a lightweight hard top, hood, side screens, flexible navigators light and a neatly inlayed battery cut off in the drivers front wing. The car features a racing filler cap with splash guard and increased fuel capacity to nearly 30 gallons, allowing the car to run for at least two hours without refuelling. The wheels are rare original magnesium Halibrand with Avon ZZR tyres fitted for road use and an identical set with Dunlop Racing tyres for the track. The cockpit is trimmed in black leather and the door inlays and inside of the hard top are trimmed in the owner s Dress Stewart Tartan. COB 6042 continued on its long racing history, co-driven by well known historic racer Philip Walker in early 2007 and by four time Le Mans Winner Henry Pescarolo in the prestigious Goodwood TT that same year. In 2012 COB 6042 returned to Goodwood for the 50th Anniversary all Cobra race. Co driven with the owner on this occasion by Le Mans winner Richard Attwood, they finished very respectable 6th place in what has to be the most distinguished grids of racing Cobras ever to be assembled. To add to this accolade it must have been the only car in the race that was driven on the road to the event.
In 2011 COB 6042 was treated to the highly desirable registration number COB 289A which it retains to this day. When you see this fabulous car in the flesh it is clear to see it is a car that has been prepared to be driven. When you then drive it that becomes even more abundantly clear. With a wonderful feel, patina and presence that a car can only get from being used properly. The time has come after 28 years in its current ownership for someone else to take on this cars long standing racing history. COB 6042 is accompanied by an extensive history dossier, historical timeline, and with numerous photographs from throughout the Cobras life. There is also an even more impressive spares package that includes a lot of the original parts that have been retained with the car from its road days. For example: soft top hood, radiator, LHD steering rack, bumpers and bull bars, old bonnet, road and race spinners, wire wheels, Nardi Steering wheel, brake callipers, springs, fuel tank and much more. A lot of these parts appear to be fitted in the original period pictures of the car. The car also comes with the 302 Engine that came with the car from the USA. The ACOC and SAAC have very recently acknowledged the extensive proof that COB 6042 is the Cobra raced in period by Derek Ridler under the LEC Racing Team banner, and have now amended the register. With Goodwood Revival TT considered as arguably the most desirable and prestigious race in the international historic motor racing calendar, this is a unique opportunity to acquire a veteran of said race. A true gentleman drivers example of the legendary 289 Cobra, with a fabulous period and contemporary history, making it a highly desirable entry to the wide array of historic races, tours and events that span the globe.