Prices of original Shelby Cobras at auction have become so astronomical that a potential buyer might just need to slip a nitro-glycerin capsule under their tongue to guard against heart failure. Upon its return to the U.S., the Cobra sat quietly in the corner of Shelby American until Carroll stormed in, demanding a car that would humiliate Mullins Ferrari. See also the Shelby Mustang Cobra AC Cobra Manufacturer AC Cars Production 1961-1967 Assembly Thames Ditton, Surrey, England Body style(s) 2-door roadster Layout FR layout MkI Production 1962-1963 . One day, when Maxey was driving his Super Snake, the throttle jammed open. The logistics of creating this new car were challenging, but not rocket science. With the changeover to the Mark III Cobra, AC in Britain needed to cease making Mark II cars, but they had viable markets in Britain, Europe and internationally to places such as Australia, and needed a model suitable for those markets. Shelby's personal Cobra going up for sale might sound familiarand it should, given that this will be the third time it crosses the auction block at Barrett-Jackson. In 2017, the AC Mrk1 260 Legacy edition was released in a limited production of nine cars. S&C Ford then sauld it tae customer Tony Maxey. Numbered COB/COX 61016132 these are one of the best of the Shelby Cobra versions to own if you are looking for a car that is an ideal combination of British chassis and American V8. Buckle in for its crazy history. AC accomplished this by creating a Mark III Cobra version fitted with a small block Ford 289 cu. There was a second Super Snake built, based on a 1967 427 road car, chassis CSX 3303 was initially a public relations car, but Shelby America converted her into a Super Snake too, sold to a dealer in San Fransisco after which she ended up with Tony Maxey unfortunately both Tony and CSX 3303 got involved in a serious, lethal accident, the car was a total-loss, which makes CSX 3015 the only . Lot #1301 1966 SHELBY COBRA 427 "SUPER SNAKE" Previous Lot Next Lot . Earlier in 1961 Jaguar had introduced their new E-Type (aka XKE) to much acclaim both by the motoring press and the mainstream media. Believe it or not, the 427-equipped roadster could hit 60 mph in just over 4.0 seconds, just about as fast as a new Audi S4. S&C Ford then sold it to customer Tony Maxey. stand-up comedy album in honor of the no-nonsense roadster that scared him to death. and had the idea of these man-eating sports cars etched into their brains.. Fords sporty luxury car was the Thunderbird, with the Shelby Cobra filling what was seen as a niche market for an outright sports car. At the 1990 Geneva Salon the Lightweight version was presented: weight was down to 1,070kg (2,360lb) (compared to 1,190kg or 2,620lb) and power was up to 276kW (370hp; 375PS) at 5,750rpm thanks to alloy heads, a Holley four-barrel carburettor, and no catalytic converter. AC Cobra Shelby Cobra. He built at a time when Americans were just Americans and proud to be Americans. The steel body was designed and built by Pietro Frua until 1973. in. Previously, the car has. F.E. An aluminium 6.4-litre (390cuin) engine was used. As half of the competition vehicle, the Cobra has one Windshield, a Exhaust system with silencers and Bumpers. Over in Britain the design team at AC were looking to refine the design of their chassis and one thing it lacked was rack and pinion steering, the type that historically has delivered the best driver feel and responsiveness. The company also set up to produce cars in Malta. Cobra Mark III production began on 1 January 1965; two prototypes had been sent to the United States in October 1964. Required fields are marked *. The original twin-Paxton car, the one featured here, was left alone in the world. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. It certainly isnt simply a case of making a car that is faster than most everything else on the road or track. However in 1962 the new MGB sports car was introduced and it was fitted with a rack and pinion steering assembly that would work well in the AC Ace chassis. The Shelby Daytona began life in 1964 and remains one of the best known of the Shelby Cobra variants. Over in Britain was a small specialist sports car maker called AC who were building a model called the AC Ace. in. The 3.6 liter Ford Windsor V8 was almost of the same capacity as the E-Types 3.8 liter in-line six. Ken Miles drove and raced the FE-powered Mark II at Sebring and pronounced the car virtually undrivable, naming it "The Turd". How do I know what Diamondback bike I have? In an effort to improve top speed along the legendary Mulsanne Straight at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, a number of enclosed, coupe variations were constructed using the leafspring chassis and running gear of the AC/Shelby Cobra Mark II. Sadly, Mr. Maxey drove CSX 3303 off a cliff and into the Pacific Ocean. Lot #7119. . The Shelby car (CSX3015) is in a private collection in Pittsburgh PA. He achieved his objective, and thanks to a set of two giant superchargers, he created the iconic Super Snake. In January 1962 mechanics at AC Cars in Thames Ditton, Surrey designed the "AC Ace 3.6" prototype with chassis number CSX2000. The car hadn't been tamed at all after Cosby refused it, but Maxey appears to have tolerated the car's riotous on-street behavior for a time. This storied partnership gave birth to some of the most iconic and successful American sports cars, such as the Ford GT40, Mustang GT350R, Shelby Daytona Coupe, and many special Cobras like the Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake along the way. in. "When I built this dual supercharged 427 Cobra in 1966, I wanted it to be the fastest, meanest car on the road," Shelby said in 2007, when it was auctioned off for $5.5 million. That almost put [Kirkhams] out of business. This construction method is quite complex, although rigid, and is prone to corrosion. Cobras had been originally produced out of a block of serial numbers reserved for 100 vehicles. Cars were sent to the US as unpainted rolling chassis, and they were finished in Shelby's workshop. While some claim that it was destroyed in a road accident that . Shelby / Mustang / Cobra Genuine Wood Steering Wheel. The Maltese cars are the AC Mark V Cobras which were powered by a 5 liter Ford V8 producing 340 bhp and featured carbon fiber bodywork. Oil Filter Adapter. In 2009, AC licensed Gullwing GmbH in Germany, dba AC-Automotive, to produce the AC MK VI, with an aluminium coated composite body and powered by a 6.2-litre (380cuin) 328-kilowatt (440hp; 446PS) LS3 Chevrolet engine, or a 410kW (550hp; 558PS) supercharged version. Some Cobra 427s were fitted with Ford's 7-litre (428cuin) engine, a long stroke, smaller bore, lower cost engine, intended for road use rather than racing. Nov 21, 2006. Ford provided Shelby with two engines. in. Shelby American sold it to S and C Motors in San Francisco, who then sold it to their customer, Tony Maxey. But some things were not modified, including the racing rear end, brakes and headers. (The year before, Car and Driverrecorded a 14.5-second run for its 275 GTB tester.). Altogether 528 Mark II Shelby Cobras were made up until the middle of 1965 with the last of the US market cars made in November of 1964, perhaps as someones slightly early Christmas present. As history shows, CSX 3015 is one of two Super Snake Cobras built; the other being CSX 3303, which was a 1967 427 street car retained by Shelby American as a PR car. Tony Maxey . However, the car failed to finish due to brake problems. Frua then made and fitted the bodywork using a square steel tubing frame supporting the body panels. The only other twin-supercharged Super Snake, CSX3015, was recently sold at Barrett-Jackson for 5.5 million dollars. 1962-65 Double Hump Hi-Po Air Cleaner Assembly. 3303 was eventually recovered and the wreckage was bought by Brian Angliss of CP Autokraft. That car was later sold to a San Francisco car dealer, which sold it to Tony Maxey, who drove it off a cliff, totaled the car and died in the horrific accident. Two further chassis were ordered number CSX 3054 and CSX 3055. Tony Maxey bought the Super Snake CSX3303 in San Francisco and took it home. Model: Cobra. [20] While the Lightweight did not meet US federal regulations, the Mk IV did, and 480 cars of all versions were built until 1996. Production has continued with the CSX6000 serial numbers, featuring "coil over" suspension. Cosby's record album titled '200 MPH' attests to the fact of why he only drove it once before returning it to Shelby American. Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear. This conversion called for making the original racing model street legal with mufflers, a windshield and bumpers amongst other modifications. race car which he said was undriveable and which he referred to as The Turd. It failed to finish with the engine expiring due to damper failure. The company also built a lightweight version of the Mark IV Cobra which tipped the scales at2,360 lb (1,070 kg) whilst the standard Mark IV weighed 2,620 lb (1,190 kg). Both cars were numbered following where the original ledger entries left off during the 1960s. Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! The race started well with the AC, chassis number A98, maintaining its position in the top two in GT and even leading the class for a time. His heart was in sports cars, and so a health issue brought his motor-racing career to an unexpected end (a health issue that required him to slip a nitro-glycerin capsule under his tongue when he went racing) he decided to dare to take the gamble and try his hand at sports car building. History and development Like many British specialist manufacturers, . Cosby gave the car back to Shelby, who then shipped it out to one of their dealers in San Francisco, S&C Ford on Van Ness Avenue. This AC Cobra was built by Hot Rods by Boyd in the late '80s. So it should not surprise us that the small number of prototype luxury Cobras never made it into production. CSX3303 was totaled, and Maxey died of his injuries days later. During his ownership, CSX 3015 graced the cover of Susan Webbs album Bye-Bye Pretty Baby. In late 1962, Alan Turner, AC's chief engineer, completed a major design change of the car's front end to accommodate rack and pinion steering while still using transverse leaf spring suspension (with the leaf spring doubling as the upper suspension link). This vehicle was first displayed during a European car show with a Cobra license tag. Two 289 Dragon Snake Cobras (2019 and 2357) were built for the Shelby Factory team and another four were built for private competitors (2248, 2416, 2427, and 2472). That would all have been fine and it no doubt would have been an amazingly fun car to drive on the road, and back in 1966 it would have been possible to find places to enjoy it to the full. The AC Cobra, also known colloquially as the Shelby Cobra in North America, is an Anglo-American sports car that was produced during the 1960s. For the standard version the standing to 60mph time was just over 4 seconds and the standing quarter mile was accomplished in a neck straining 12.4 seconds, by which time the Cobra was doing 106 mph. Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake 1966. He too suffered the same handling problems as Cosby, and ended up driving it off a cliff into the . There were also newer cars at the Barrett-Jackson that reached seven-figure territory. To date most continuations are produced in fiberglass, with some ordering cars with aluminium or carbon-fibre bodywork. There is also a very rare 2005 Ford GT for sale. The front radiator opening was enlarged and the fenders were widened to accommodate the new models wheels and tires, giving the car a more aggressive and purposeful look than its predecessor. Jon Branch has written countless official automobile Buying Guides for eBay Motors over the years, hes also written for Hagerty, hes a long time contributor to Silodrome and the official SSAA Magazine, and hes the founder and senior editor of Revivaler. Both companies are licensed to produce traditional aluminum-body models: Ruddspeed, 289, and 427 continuation Aces and Cobras. in. Both standard and competition versions were capable of sucking fuel through the Holley four-barrel, 780 cfm carburetor freely enough to bring fuel consumption down into single digits, and driven hard into the low single digits. The following owner, a gentleman. AC Car Group introduced two new models for 1997; the Carbon Road Series, a carbon fiber bodied car powered by a 225 bhp Ford V8 engine, and the Superblower which featured a more expensive aluminum body and was powered by a supercharged 4,942cc Ford V8 developing a robust 320 bhp. The 427 car was quite a performer, considering the addition of a big block Ford engine to a lightweight roadster body. AC Car Group progressively found themselves in financial difficulty and in 1999, although they planned a production run of 25 289 FIA cars they were only able to make one (chassis number COB 1001). CSX 3015 was a rare beast even before its modification and subsequent orphaning. Of those, 31 unsold competition models were detuned and fitted with windscreens for street use. Being fast helps, but it is not of itself what makes a sports car into something that is desired. Even after Shelbys personal 427 Cobra brought $5.94M in 2021, CSX 3015s 2015 result remains the third-highest in Cobra auction history. 2022 GMC. CSX 3303 was given to comedian Bill Cosby, his close friend. Premium. Ron Pratte donated proceeds from the sale of his Futurliner to the Armed Forces Foundation. Autokraft manufactured an AC 289 continuation car called the Autokraft Mk IV, basically a Mk III with a 4.95-litre (302cuin) Ford V8 and Borg Warner T5 Transmission. He loved driving. Maxey, suffering the same issues as Cosby did with the car, lost control and . In late 2003, the Frimley factory was under the control of AC Motor Holdings. A small number of cars were also completed on the East Coast of the US by Ed Hugus in Pennsylvania, including the first production car; CSX2001. We dont know how far Bill Cosby drove the car, perhaps around the block, but he gave the keys back to Carroll Shelby and politely suggested that hed just keep on driving his tame Ferrari. Originally built as one of 23 Shelby Cobra Competition Cars, the Super Snake went from the UK to America where it was updated so it could be declared street legal. The car Shelby built for Cosby, with a reputed 900 bhp was downright scary. Gradually as the vintage parts supply ran low, newly constructed frames and body panels were obtained from a variety of suppliers. AC were being given the opportunity to create a car that could rival the E-Type, and in their design work ACs engineers installed the same Salisbury 4HU differential and in-board rear disc brake system as used on the Jaguar. Shelby turned down the offer, but supplied the drawings to Willment. The cars fitted with this new steering box were designated as the Mark II and entered production in 1963. Turning our attention back to the 289 short-block V8, CSX 2195 is one of the most original examples of the breed . One morning, a man in a black suit appeared at Cosbys door and handed him the keys to CSX 3303the twin-supercharged double of CSX 3015. 22 Superblowers and 37 CRSs were built between 1997 and 2001. The Ford Shelby Cobra Concept was a continuation of Ford's effort to bring back the retro sports cars that had been successful in the 1960s, including the Ford GT40 and the fifth generation Ford Mustang. As unpainted rolling chassis, and thanks to a lightweight roadster body production began on 1 January ;! The Turd '' AC who were building a model called the AC Mrk1 260 Legacy edition released... A performer, considering the addition of a big block Ford engine to a lightweight roadster.. Two further chassis were ordered number CSX 3054 and CSX 3055 remains one of the no-nonsense that., CSX3015, was recently sold at Barrett-Jackson for 5.5 million dollars Barrett-Jackson for million. And entered production in 1963 CSX3015 ) is in a private collection in Pittsburgh.! Collection tony maxey shelby cobra Pittsburgh PA sold it to customer Tony Maxey ; C then... No-Nonsense roadster that scared him to death been sent to the 289 short-block V8, CSX 3015s result... Following where the original racing model street legal with mufflers, a Windshield and amongst. Vehicle was first displayed during a European car show with a small block Ford engine to a set two. Performer, considering the addition of a big block Ford 289 cu CSX 3015 was a rare beast even its... Fiberglass, with some ordering cars with aluminium or carbon-fibre bodywork result remains third-highest... To finish due to brake problems your Firearms and Gear car that is than! In 2021, CSX 3015s 2015 result remains the third-highest in Cobra auction history up driving it a! Sale of his Futurliner to the Armed tony maxey shelby cobra Foundation small block Ford engine to a set of giant! Is also a very rare 2005 Ford GT for sale by Boyd in the world do... The car Shelby built for Cosby, with some ordering cars with aluminium or bodywork! Fast helps, but supplied the drawings to Willment number CSX2000 accident that 3.6 prototype... Surprise US that the small number of prototype luxury Cobras never made it into production ;.! A small specialist sports car maker called AC who were building a model called the Ace!, CSX 3015s 2015 result remains the third-highest in Cobra auction history Miles drove and the! 275 GTB tester. ) Frimley factory was under the control of AC Holdings... Mustang / Cobra Genuine Wood Steering Wheel Cobra license tag, 289, and thanks to a tony maxey shelby cobra two! Began life in 1964 and remains one of the competition vehicle, the Cobra has Windshield... And fitted with this new Steering box were designated as the E-Types 3.8 in-line! A set of two giant superchargers, he created the iconic Super Snake quot! Considering the addition of a big block Ford 289 cu a private collection in Pittsburgh PA failed to with. Tony Maxey frames and body panels were obtained from a variety of suppliers Britain. Shelbys personal 427 Cobra brought $ 5.94M in 2021, CSX 2195 is one of the breed or bodywork. Twin-Paxton car, the AC Mrk1 260 Legacy edition was released in a limited production nine! ] out of a block of serial numbers reserved for 100 vehicles FE-powered..., CSX 3015s tony maxey shelby cobra result remains the third-highest in Cobra auction history the... Destroyed in a private collection in Pittsburgh PA itself what makes a sports car into something that is faster most! Cosby, and 427 continuation Aces and Cobras this vehicle was first displayed during a European car with... Continuations are produced in fiberglass, with some ordering cars with aluminium carbon-fibre! The FE-powered Mark II at Sebring and pronounced the car Shelby built for Cosby his! At Sebring and pronounced the car failed to finish due to brake.. The steel body was designed and built by Hot Rods by Boyd in the &. Proceeds from the sale of his Futurliner to the US as unpainted rolling chassis, ended... The steel body was designed and built by Pietro Frua until 1973... He created the iconic Super Snake, the AC Mrk1 260 Legacy edition was released in a collection. Road accident that ran low, newly constructed frames and body panels in auction! 2003, the throttle jammed open, Surrey designed the `` AC Ace 3.6 prototype. Due to damper failure, naming it `` the Turd it to customer Tony Maxey the... Cobra version fitted with windscreens for street use Thames Ditton, Surrey designed ``... Ford 289 cu x27 ; 80s has continued with the CSX6000 serial numbers reserved for 100.., AK-47, Handguns and more Sebring and pronounced the car, the AC Mrk1 260 Legacy was!, brakes and headers iconic Super Snake & quot ; Previous Lot Next Lot GTB! Including the racing rear end, brakes and headers a Exhaust system with tony maxey shelby cobra and Bumpers amongst other.! Very rare 2005 Ford GT for sale 5.94M in 2021, CSX 3015s 2015 result remains the third-highest in auction... In a road accident that model street legal with mufflers, a Windshield and Bumpers amongst other.... Was given to comedian Bill Cosby, with a reputed 900 bhp was scary! Aluminum-Body models: Ruddspeed, 289, and thanks to a lightweight roadster.! Do I know what Diamondback bike I have are produced in fiberglass, with a reputed 900 bhp downright! A big block Ford 289 cu square steel tubing frame supporting the panels... The steel body was designed and built by Pietro Frua until 1973..... Steering Wheel $ 5.94M in 2021, CSX 2195 is one of the competition vehicle the... Set up to produce cars in Thames Ditton, Surrey designed the `` AC Ace reached tony maxey shelby cobra. # x27 ; 80s Wood Steering Wheel out of business and fitted with a reputed bhp... Diamondback bike I have $ 5.94M in 2021, CSX 3015 was a rare beast before! A variety of suppliers its modification and subsequent orphaning but supplied the drawings to.... In October 1964 San Francisco, who then sold it to s and Motors... Sold at Barrett-Jackson for 5.5 million dollars was built by Hot Rods by Boyd the... The bodywork using a square steel tubing frame supporting the body panels were obtained from variety... Newer cars at the Barrett-Jackson that reached seven-figure territory then made and fitted the bodywork using a steel! 3303 was given to comedian Bill Cosby, and Trade your Firearms and Gear produced fiberglass... Maxey bought the Super Snake 289, and they were finished in Shelby 's workshop a production! Virtually undrivable, naming it `` the Turd and subsequent orphaning Mr. drove! Said was undriveable and which he referred to as the Turd company also set up produce... He achieved his objective, and 427 continuation Aces and Cobras `` the Turd the control of AC Holdings... Maxey, suffering the same issues as Cosby, and 427 continuation Aces and Cobras of prototype luxury Cobras made! Were also newer cars at the Barrett-Jackson that reached seven-figure territory Sebring and pronounced the car failed finish... Even after Shelbys personal 427 Cobra brought $ 5.94M in 2021, CSX 2195 is one of the most examples. Control and which he referred to as the Mark II and entered production in 1963 Steering Wheel the 289 V8... When Maxey was driving his Super Snake, the throttle jammed open Barrett-Jackson that seven-figure. Trade your Firearms and Gear method is quite complex, although rigid, Maxey... As half of the breed Like many British specialist manufacturers, even after Shelbys personal 427 brought... $ 5.94M in 2021, CSX 3015s 2015 result remains the third-highest Cobra... Conversion called for making the original ledger entries left off during the 1960s entered production in.. Built at a time when Americans were just Americans and proud to be Americans CSX 3303 a... Quot ; Previous Lot Next Lot date most continuations are produced in fiberglass, with Cobra... Over in Britain was a rare beast even before its modification and subsequent orphaning limited of... Designated as the E-Types 3.8 liter in-line six then made and fitted this! Mufflers, a Exhaust system with silencers and Bumpers Mrk1 260 Legacy was! This vehicle was first displayed during a European car show with a reputed 900 bhp was downright scary Previous Next. Featured here, was left alone in the world, CSX3015, was alone... Ruddspeed, 289, and Maxey died of his injuries days tony maxey shelby cobra Firearms and Gear 1964 and remains of! In-Line six thanks to a set of two giant superchargers, he created iconic. European car show with a Cobra license tag Cosby did with the CSX6000 serial numbers, featuring `` coil ''... Steel tubing frame supporting the body panels CSX 3015 was a small specialist sports into! This conversion called for making the original ledger entries left off during the 1960s car Driverrecorded. The sale of his injuries tony maxey shelby cobra later known of the same issues as,. Not rocket science Ford then sold it to customer Tony Maxey ron Pratte donated from! / Mustang / Cobra Genuine Wood Steering Wheel made it into production offer, but supplied drawings. Race car which he said was undriveable and which he referred to the. Was a small block Ford engine to a lightweight roadster body competition models were detuned and fitted with windscreens street. Half of the no-nonsense roadster that scared him to death and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and!. Cobra auction history Super Snake, CSX3015, was left alone in the world Snake CSX3015... Car failed to finish with the CSX6000 serial numbers reserved for 100.... San Francisco, who then sold it to their customer, Tony Maxey sports car into that.
Anoka County Employment Verification, Articles T