A uncommon Shelby Cobra, one in every of simply six prefer it, is headed to Mecum’s public sale operating January 6-15 in Kissimmee, Florida.
The automobile is a 1965 Shelby Cobra Manufacturing facility Stage III 289 Dragonsnake initially constructed by Shelby for drag racing, and it was a part of the Steven Juliano estate sale held by Mecum in 2019. The automobile failed to satisfy its reserve and is now again on the public sale circuit.
Dragonsnake Cobras are among the many rarest competitors Cobras produced. Constructed solely for drag racing, solely seven or eight have been assembled, and solely six featured Ford’s 289 4.7-liter V-8. This one, bearing chassis quantity CSX2427, is a rarer nonetheless Manufacturing facility Stage III automobile with Weber carbs and a 4-speed handbook transmission.
1965 Shelby Cobra Manufacturing facility Stage III 289 Dragonsnake – Photograph credit score: Mecum
It was ordered by brothers Don and Mike Reimer of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with the special-order yellow exterior chosen to match their Thunderbird tow car. The unique worth on the bill of the Gettysburg Ford dealership, dated August 3, 1964, is said as $8,695, plus a $305 vacation spot cost.
The Reimer brothers entered the automobile in a number of drag races in 1965, with Mike behind the wheel and Don managing the workforce. They have been regulars on the well-known York U.S. 30 Drag-O-Approach that yr, in accordance with the itemizing.
Mike needed to return to varsity after the season and the automobile was put up on the market, with an advert positioned within the December 1965 problem of Automotive and Driver. The asking worth was $4,650. It then traded fingers a number of instances, and was even rebuilt in 1967 after a crash, at which level it was painted Sweet Apple Purple. It will endure extra paint jobs in its life till Juliano bought the automobile in 2007. Juliano restored it to its authentic situation, and even consulted with authentic proprietor Mike Reimer to make the restoration as correct as attainable.
