NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – While the near single-digit temperatures and incessant snow in the northern states keep most collectible rides and hot rods tucked away under covers and in garages, warm-weather states like Florida make for perfect year-round cruising. Today, we get an insider’s look at The Sunshine State’s famed Canal Street Cruise, where we find longtime Ford Performance enthusiast and SAAC-MCR club founder Jeff Burgy, and a truly distinct pair of Cobras.
If you read last week’s installment of Fast News, you may have noticed our feature story on Jeff’s ERA 289 FIA Cobra Replica. Jeff is a Michigan local, but spends time in Florida during the cold winter months to fully enjoy his automotive passion with his Cobra. Just about every other Saturday, you can find him at the Canal Street Cruise just south of Daytona Beach. Last month, he drove his Cobra to the cruise-in and found Shelby Cobra CSX2174, the very Cobra that was loaned to Steve McQueen by Carroll Shelby in the summer of 1963. While McQueen never took ownership, it made for quite the publicity for Shelby’s vehicle program. Burgy, of course, took that opportunity to snag a few photos of his Cobra (the “First Production” ERA FIA Cobra Replica) and CSX2174 together, as it was certainly a rare occurrence to get these two notable vehicles together. His photos are below:
FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY JEFF BURGY