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toward gettin’ ‘em, fixin’ ’em and
sellin’ ‘em. I had seen this many times
before, from car hobby people who dab-
ble in Cobras, Corvettes, Ferraris,
Alfas, Bentleys, Rolls and any “mucho
expensivo” vehicle on four wheels that
had even the slightest bit of collec-
tability in its DNA. It’s wonderful that
car enthusiasts, with deep seven-fig-
ure pockets or shallow four-figure
pockets, with a lot of mechanical abil-
ity or little or no mechanical ability, all
seem to be the same sixteen year-old
kid when talking about whatever year,
make, or model is “special” to them.
I’ve even met fanatical Yugo collectors,
although they freely admit they’re the
ones who are actually a little, well let’s
just say, “special.”
Okay, now I’m back to work be-
cause parked next to the 540 K is the
1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Dragonsnake,
and my right index digit is snapping
photo after photo of this SCREAMING
fuchsia, fire-breathing beastoid. Why
is it so special to those of us in the
Cobra world? Well, according to the
RM/Sotheby catalogue, this slithering
quarter-mile critter is one of only
three Cobras independently prepared
to Dragonsnake specs, has won multi-
ple NHRA National Championships,
and is a national record holder. Add to
that, it is unquestionably the most
successful drag-racing Cobra ever and
you just know it has earned the repu-
tation of being one of “the” Cobra
icons.
Right now though, I do have a com-
plaint about this car. The bright,
flashy, super metallic finish, combined
with the ultra-shiny reflecting sun, is
wreaking havoc with my pics – black
shadows, white glares, black shadows,
white glares! Leave it to me to gripe
about the weather being too good
when photographing a Cobra.
After thickening the callous on the
tip of my camera finger, I set out to
find the main reason for my attending
the RM/Sotheby preview – a 1965
Shelby 427 Competition Cobra owned
by gentleman, scholar and long time
SAAC member Don Lee. Throughout
this article I will be sickeningly gratu-
itous toward this fine individual be-
cause he has invited me to join his
lovely wife, Amanda (a great writer),
and a few others to sit with him
Thursday evening at the RM/Sotheby
auction. There, I will be honored and
privileged to watch, in great apprecia-
tion, as Don’s black on black, gold leaf-
striped, #19 road racer, CSX3010,
crosses the block.
I am a little worried I may have
only been invited to assist in carrying
Don’s supine form out of the auction
hall after his beautiful Cobra goes on
the block to pass on to another realm.
Let’s face it, this image is not unusual
when you consider he will be losing a
“loved one.” A tad extreme perhaps,
but hey, it could happen!
My Cobra quest is successful, be-
cause there finally sits the elegant,
venomous ophidian, a sight for sore
eyes, coiled dangerously in the warm
sun, directly in front of the main en-
trance to the Arizona Biltmore. Pho-
tographers and onlookers are keeping
a respectful distance, speaking in
hushed tones, so as not to disturb this
magnificent example of regal Co-
bradom, for one knows not to disturb
a king on his throne. The bright sun is
creating a fluid image of velvet black
shadows flowing from the jet black
paint, to meld an even more muscular
image of the 427’s already over-testos-
teroned body shape. Sometimes I get a
little dramatic when confronting
greatness.
Why is this particular 427 Cobra
an example of automobile greatness?
Well, once more consulting the R/M
Sotheby catalogue, one finds this par-
ticular writhing skinned, aluminum
sculpture is one of just 23 Competition
427 Cobras ever produced and the
winner of both the 1968 U.S. SCCA
A/Production Championship and the
Eastern Canadian Endurance Cham-
pionship in 1970, making it the only
427 Cobra to win championships in
two countries. It is also the veteran of
many historic racing events and 1,000-
The SHELBY AMERICAN
Spring 2016 45
CSX2093
CSX3010