Vehicle Description
1965 Cobra Factory Dragonsnake For Sale - SAAC Gold Award Winner,
Factory Comp Car LMC is very proud to offer for sale this 1965
Cobra Factory 289 Dragonsnake Carroll Shelby and his famous Ford
powered Cobras need no introduction to any motorsports enthusiast.
The years of Carroll Shelby and Ford's partnership created some of
the best race and street cars in automotive history. First
introduced in 1963, the DragonSnake was Shelby's offering for the
automotive enthusiast who preferred the � mile opposed to the
Cobra's normal road course roots. With only four 289ci DragonSnakes
ever built, these Cobras are among some of the rarest Shelby
offerings around. In 1963, three production employees at Shelby
American pitched the idea to of creating a company drag car to
compete in local competitions. They wanted to build a Ford Fairlane
with Hi-Po 289 which they thought would "Go like Stink" prepared
correctly. Carroll Shelby knowing the popularity of drag racing in
Southern California, approved the program with some stipulations.
The terms were that the car was to be built on their own personal
time, and there was a very limited budget and most importantly they
must use a Cobra to race. The program was a success and after
winning many competitions, Shelby American soon discovered there
was a demand for drag race parts and even for a handful of turnkey
drag models. The order for this Cobra was placed on January 26 th ,
1965 by Ed Hugus of Continental Cars (Pittsburgh, PA) for a "Stage
II Dragonsnake", on behalf of customer Russ Freed. Hugus and Shelby
American agreed to use a factory team comp car that was yet to be
finished and had been stored since the fall of 64'. Freed's order
had Shelby American reconfigure this original Cobra Team race car
into a "Stage II Dragonsnake" package with special factory
modifications. The modifications to the standard Stage II
Dragonsnake were as follows: 3.77 rear end, Koni Shocks instead of
drag type, Stewart Warner Tachometer, Chrome Roll Bar, Heater,
Radio, FIA style wheels, Shoulder harnesses and stock car tires
rather than drag specific tires. Belanger headers were added which
connected to a rear exit street exhaust so you could drive it to
the track, take off the side exhaust caps and have a full
competition exhaust. Also, his modifications included a Berry
Hardtop with deluxe side curtains and modified Roll Bar so the top
will fit. Exterior modifications included factory flared fenders, a
hood scoop, badge delete and factory painted in understated British
Racing Green. With these options, Freed had created much more of a
road-race spec Cobra with the powerplant of the fire breathing
Dragonsnake II package. Freed's version of the Dragonsnake wasn't
prepared as a drag car so much but, rather a road course car that
could be driven on the street with a competition engine. One could
say he was building a comp 289 version of the 427 S/C (Semi
Competition). Freed owned and raced the car until 1967, when he
sold the car to J.J. Rodman. Over the next few years, J.J. and his
sister used the Cobra to participate at autocross or hill climb
events all through the Northeast. The car's performance potential,
combined with the siblings' talents behind the wheel, proved a
winning combination, and under the Rodman's long term ownership the
car took home an unequalled amount of podium finishes. After it's
impressive racing career, having never been damaged, the car was
rewarded with a ground up, no expense spared restoration. It had
been so well done, that it would earn a Gold Award at the SAAC
National Convention. It is finished in its factory original British
Racing Green to a concourse quality, like the rest of the car. A
complete unbroken ownership chain, documenting the car right from
its inception at Shelby American in 1964. This Dragonsnake is the
perfect addition to anyone's collection being a very rare factory
comp Cobra with a rare story free history. Additional Details: 1965
SHELBY DRAGON SNAKE COBRA -
