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). By the end of the first lap, the Cobra had a lead of the length of the start-finish straight. 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 . Although the Shelby Cobra had proved to be a racing success, and had attained celebrity status, the car did not prove to be a great financial success and production was wound up in 1967. The steering rack was borrowed from the MGB while the new steering column came from the VW Beetle. So the idea of helping Carroll Shelby create a challenger to the Corvette based on a British chassis with a V8 engine was just not something that GM was going to support. A real sports car has a look, a sound, and a feel that pushes out quiet and conservative Dr. Jekyl and instead ignites the inner Mr. Hyde. 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 Super Snake was built to gain publicity and was touted as The Cobra to End All Cobras. Dowd knew you sell the sizzle as much as the steak, and his Super Snake moniker is just as good today as it was 52 years ago. Unfortunately this turned out to not be a happy marriage. Cobra skyrocketing, Shelby had requested the California Department of Motor Vehicles (the government agency responsible for titling vehicles and issuing operator permits) to issue 43 duplicate titles for vehicles that did not officially exist in company records. They set about putting a continuation Shelby Cobra in production which they called the Autokraft Mk IV. Silodrome was founded in 2010 as a website dedicated to Gasoline Culture and all it entails - We write about modern cars, classic cars, motorcycles, racing, gear, gadgets, clothing, boats, planes, airships and the occasional submarine.Read more Silodrome 2023. all rights reserved. The partially completed cars were then sent back to AC Cars for fitting with engines and gearboxes and final finishing work. There's little between the Shelby Cobra 289 and Mazda MX-5 Miata SkyActiv-G 2.0 in terms of curb weight, but there's also a significant difference in terms of suck-squeeze-bang-blow. The new car entered production in early 1963 and was designated Mark II. Ken Miles drove and raced the FE-powered Mark II at Sebring and pronounced the car virtually undrivable, naming it "The Turd". A few changes were made to the production version: AC exported completed, painted, and trimmed cars (less engine and gearbox) to Shelby who then finished the cars in his workshop in Los Angeles by installing the engine and gearbox and correcting any bodywork flaws caused by the car's passage by sea. The car was built on the first of the Mark III chassis, number CSX3001. In 2012, the AC Mrk II Classic was released. in. He achieved his objective, and thanks to a set of two giant superchargers, he created the iconic Super Snake. Carroll ShelbyGT40 . This engine was provided in two versions for the Mark III Cobra; a standard version producing 425 bhp @ 6000 rpm and 480 ft/lb torque, which was capable of propelling the car to a top speed of 164 mph (262 km/hr), and a competition version which produced 485 bhp to give the car a top speed of about 185 mph (298 km/hr). There were also newer cars at the Barrett-Jackson that reached seven-figure territory. In 1966, CSX 3015 S/C was selected and converted into a special model called the Supersnake the "Cobra to End All Cobras." engine cars. One 244-centimetre (96in) prototype chassis (CSX 3063) was shipped to Ghia in Italy in 1965 for a body styling exercise. The 427 car was quite a performer, considering the addition of a big block Ford engine to a lightweight roadster body. in. S&C Ford then sold it to customer Tony Maxey. When Cosby attempted to drive CSX3303, he found that it was very difficult to keep under control; he later recounted the experience on his 1968 stand-up comedy album 200 M.P.H.. Cosby gave the car back to Shelby, who then shipped it out to one of his company's dealers in San Francisco, S&C Ford on Van Ness Avenue. 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 last remaining Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake. In addition to the 427 cu. Sign up for the latest automotive news and videosin short, everything for people who love cars. Low volume car makers, such as AC, tended to use off the shelf components wherever possible and so the MGB rack and pinion steering was mated to a Volkswagen steering column. May 30, 2006. The beautifully sculpted AC-sourced body compliments the baritone soundtrack of Ford V8 engines. The Cosby Super Snake's second owner, Tony Maxey, lost his life when he lost control of the car, went off a cliff and ended up in the Pacific Ocean. By 2002 the company had ceased operations and was purchased initially by Private Corp. before being purchased by AC Motor Holdings. What is it that makes a sports car? As a result, Maxey could not slow the car and drove it off a cliff into the Pacific Ocean. Originally part of a European promotional tour before its conversion. An article about the car was written up in the Winter 65/66 edition of "Style Quarterly" magazine. (7.01 liter) Ford V8 as road cars. Only six 289 Dragon Snake Cobras were produced by the factory: "2019", "2357" as factory team cars, and "2248", "2416", "2427", "2472" as private team cars. Nov 21, 2006. That almost put [Kirkhams] out of business. Both had white exterior paint (with red racing strings) and red leather interiors. . The body design work was entrusted to Pete Brock whilst the chassis re-design work was given to Bob Negstad. . The standard road cars were fitted with 18 gallon tanks whilst the competition version was fitted with a 42 gallon tank. Production has continued with the CSX6000 serial numbers, featuring "coil over" suspension. Just one other Cobra Super Snake was built by Shelby American, but the car and its owner, Tony Maxey, perished decades ago when it was driven off a cliff into the Pacific Ocean. As half of the competition vehicle, the Cobra has one Windshield, a Exhaust system with silencers and Bumpers. As one of 23 original 427 Competition Cobras, it was a barely street-legal race car that Shelby built to qualify Cobras for FIA competition. 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. The US operations were granted to AC AutoKraft, Llc, of Michigan. De vuelta en casa Shebly se lo vendi a Tony Maxey quien pocos das despus perdi la vida al quedarse atascado el acelerador y precipitarse por un acantilado con el coche . 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. The lightweight boasted more engine power with 370 hp @ 5,750 rpm. $274.95. Maxey, suffering the same issues as Cosby did with the car, lost control and drove it off a cliff, landing in the Pacific Ocean waters. The more powerful tune of 362kW (485hp; 492PS) with a top speed of 298km/h (185mph) in the semi-competition (S/C) model. version of the FE engine dominated the 1963 season. It was an inspiring project with great potential. Shelby declared Cosby un-American but, in his own thoughtful way, decided to remedy the situation. While some claim that it was destroyed in a road accident that . The twin sister SCX 3303 which was originaly built for Bill Cosby was destroyed together with its second owner,Tony Maxey, while he was committing his suicide by driving it of the cliff into Pacific Ocean. 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. A Salisbury 4HU unit with inboard disc brakes to reduce unsprung weight was chosen instead of the old E.N.V. The car Shelby built for Cosby, with a reputed 900 bhp was downright scary. Its a car that makes every driving experience unforgettable. It represents the highest price ever paid for an American automobile at a public auction. The newly branded Super Snake was bought by musician Jimmy Webb. 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 . The first 75 Cobra Mk1 models (including the prototype) were fitted with the 4.3L (260cuin). It is to be noted that Maxey's accident was largely speculated as suicide. [citation needed] The car proceeded on at the predetermined conservative lap time and for the next stint remained trouble free. Like many British manufacturers, AC Cars had been using the Bristol straight-6 engine in its small-volume production, including its AC Ace two-seater roadster. To achieve this the Daytona needed a body that was as aerodynamic as possible so it could efficiently run at over 180 mph. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Production of Mark III cars with numbers CSX/CSB 3001-3100 began in January 1965 and it didnt prove possible to achieve homologation by manufacturing the required 100 cars to enable the Mark III to be raced in the 1965 season. (The year before, Car and Driverrecorded a 14.5-second run for its 275 GTB tester.). The motto of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment is Who Dares Wins. Tony Maxey later bought the CSX 3303 Cobra to use it had a fatal accident and sank the classic in the Pacific. In 1963 to keep production focused on producing cars for Shelby American Inc., the Ruddspeed Ace was discontinued. AC labeled these chassis as "GHIA CONVERTIBLE" in their factory ledger. Six were constructed, each being subtly different from the rest. The first unpainted car sans engine and gearbox was shipped from AC Cars in Britain in October 1964, enabling Carroll Shelbys team to get to work on the car in January 1965. 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. The car lost time until this was diagnosed and cleaned out. Only 53 cars had been made by the deadline. The new car also had wide fenders and a larger radiator opening. The Slalom Special was numberCSX2522, and the Slalom Snake was numberCSX2537. Called S/C for semi-competition, an original example can currently sell for US$1.5 million, making it one of the most valuable Cobra variants.[13]. It was the same unit used on the Jaguar E-Type. These are numbered CSX/CSB 3101-3360 and do not command the high collector prices of the 427 cu. AC Motor Holdings was formed in Malta in 2002 and they undertook to obtain the Frimley factory of AC Cars. Pete Brock said in a Hot Rod magazine interview "Like the Kirkhams, even when they were supplying most of Shelbys Cobra parts. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake Specifications Model: 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake Horsepower: 800 Torque: 462 @ 2800 Transmission: 4-Speed Manual Pros Cons Shelby Cobra 427 Super. $119.95. 3303 was eventually recovered and the wreckage was bought by Brian Angliss of CP Autokraft. 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). 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. Bill Cosbys briefly owned Shelby Cobra killed its last owner. CSX 3303 had been crashed heavily by owner Tony Maxey, who later succumbed to injuries received in the accident. Maxey destroyed himself and CSX 3303 by driving off a cliff and into the Pacific Ocean. Shelby and his engineers fit the unsuspecting Competition coupe with two Paxton superchargers, each feeding 6 psi of air into one of the 427s two Holley 4V carburetors. The car was totaled, and Maxey died a few days later of his injuries. They are known as the S/C (Semi-Competition) cars. Unlike Cosby, Maxey seemed to be alright with the estimated 800-horsepower, twin-supercharged Super Snake. But Maxey could not drive it safely either, and he lost control and drove it off of a cliff, landing in the Pacific Ocean. 5,595 North Dakota GTP_Cowboy RacingCowboy570. [10] The remaining 51 Mk1 models were fitted with a larger version of the Windsor Ford engine, the 4.7-litre (289cuin) V8. Tony Maxey bought the Super Snake CSX3303 in San Francisco and took it home. Shelby would go to them and say he would buy their entire years worth of production and sign a contract. Unfortunately, The MK III missed homologation for the 1965 racing season and was not raced by the Shelby team. What a joke. $389.95. The other was driven over a cliff by its owner, Tony Maxey, tragically killing him and destroying the vehicle. Of those, 31 unsold competition models were detuned and fitted with windscreens for street use. Working in cooperation with Shelby the company built Shelby Cobras in two series; the CSX1000 and CSX 7500. CSX 3303 was shipped to one of the Shelby dealers S&C Ford of San Francisco where it was purchased by a man named Tony Maxey. == http://bit.ly/WgHvlH === At a local car show, we were thanking everyone for coming. A prototype (CSX 3027) was to become 427 Coupe, but since the focus was shifted towards the GT program, this project received little attention. This construction method is quite complex, although rigid, and is prone to corrosion. His first effort was to install a 390 cu. In January 1962 mechanics at AC Cars in Thames Ditton, Surrey designed the "AC Ace 3.6" prototype with chassis number CSX2000. Shelby American internal production records show that the car was shipped to Shelby American for Evaluation and review. After thorough inspection when CSX 3015 arrived home, which included comparing it to other competition Cobras, it was determined CSX 3015 is a full Competition Roadster, still retaining its original body with its 1967 aluminum Super Snake hood. The bodywork and chassis were soon scrapped.[21]. Today, only one exists; the other shot-gunned itself and its driver off a cliff when its throttle stuck open. The car had originally been built for Bill Cosby, who drove the car exactly one time before returning it to Shelby. Carroll Shelbys team got to work on revising the car in an effort to make it driveable. Shelby American sold Cosby's supercharged Cobra (CSX 3303) to S&C Ford in San Francisco, where it was purchased by Tony Maxey. History an development . The engine is available either conventionally aspirated producing 440 hp or supercharged delivering 550 hp. CSX 3015 was shipped to Ford Advanced Vehicles in England as a P.R. Maxey, suffering the same issues as Cosby did with the car, had his throttle stick while leaving a traffic stop, lost control and drove it off a cliff, landing in the Pacific Ocean waters . And despite the fact that it is not likely to be a production car that makes enormous sums of money in company profit, it continues to have passionate people taking the commercial risk to continue making them. The survived CSX 3015 was sold in 2007 for 5 million dollars! Miles was unimpressed by the 390 cu. A further variant, 'the 212 S/C' with a 3,506-cubic-centimetre (213.9cuin) 261kW (350hp; 355PS) twin-turbocharged Lotus V8 engine was introduced in 2000, but only two examples were built. The styling of the car necessitated the engine and gearbox being moved a tad rearwards, which would have resulted in engine heat being more readily transferred into the passenger compartment. Tony D. Branda Shelby & Mustang Parts has been your source of restoration parts and accessories for 1965-73 Mustangs, 1965-70 Shelby and Cobras since 1975. . Shelby's personal Super Snake was sold at. So it was that Carroll Shelby suggested to Bill Cosby that, as a patriotic American, he really should be driving an American car. (4.3 liter) engine and the remaining 51 with the 289 cu. Taken from this cobrastory: The auction: Bill Cosby would have loved this one. in. in. "[citation needed], "Shelby Cobra" redirects here. Shelby American sold it to S and C Motors in San Francisco, who then sold it to their customer, Tony Maxey. Road and Track called this car "The Cobra to End All Cobras." Shelby's Al Dowd called the car a beast after goosing it on a freeway onramp and ending up pointing the wrong way. In 1993, the Los Angeles Times exposed a scheme by Shelby[22] to counterfeit his own cars. The car was raced again, this time at Nassau but failed to finish. Cosby reportedly retorted, "Well, you build a Cobra that will go 200 MPH and I'll buy one." In 1986, Autokraft (as a joint venture with Ford joining in 1987) purchased AC Cars, and produced the AC Mk IV Cobra, with a 186kW (250hp; 253PS) at 4,200rpm, 4,942-cubic-centimetre (301.6cuin) Ford V8, which provided a top speed of 134mph (215km/h) and 062mph (0100km/h) in 5.2seconds. Tony Maxey bought the Super Snake CSX3303 in San Francisco and took it home. S&C Ford then sold it to customer Tony Maxey. The result was that some damage was likely to occur in transit which needed to be rectified once the car arrived at Carroll Shelbys workshop in the States. After he returned it to Shelby, the car resided at S&C Ford in San Francisco. The most important modification was the fitting of a stronger rear differential to handle the increased engine power. To date most continuations are produced in fiberglass, with some ordering cars with aluminium or carbon-fibre bodywork. However, only 3 right-hand drive and 2 left-hand drive carbon-fibre AC Mk Vs powered by 254kW (340hp; 345PS) 5-litre (305cuin) Ford V8 engines were built before the Maltese operation closed. Mark III Cobras Shelby made a lower cost version fitted with the less expensive long-stroke 428 cu. It was built and sold in Europe until late 1969. AC accomplished this by creating a Mark III Cobra version fitted with a small block Ford 289 cu. The way Bill Cosby describes the car it might better be described as The Cobra to end all Cobra Drivers. The cars body was made of a new self-healing material called Royalex that had the ability to absorb small dents and then self repair by returning to its original shape. Maxey destroyed himself and CSX 3303 by driving off a cliff and into . These cars are numbered COB/COX 6001-6062, indicating that 61 were produced. Shelby had taken advantage of a loophole in the California system that allowed one to obtain a duplicate title for a vehicle with only a written declaration, without the vehicle identification number appearing in the DMV's database or the declarant ever presenting an actual vehicle for inspection. unit. The steel body was designed and built by Pietro Frua until 1973. They are nonetheless a fabulous road car providing a wonderful driving experience. tony maxey shelby cobra I highly recommend it. Thread starter Cowboy; 5 comments 2,101 views Cowboy Lariat Member. 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. S&C Ford then sold it to customer Tony Maxey. Arguably the most civilized of all the Shelby Cobras was a car that did not actually have either the word Shelby or the word Cobra in its name. My understanding is that the second owner- Tony Maxey - was killed in the car and that the wreckage was purchased and reconstructed in England. The AC Cobra, also known as the Shelby Cobra, is a British built and designed sports car that was produced during the 1960s. An aluminium 6.4-litre (390cuin) engine was used. Shelby crafted a second model, CSX 3303, from a street version. A new chassis was required, developed, and designated Mark III. This became Carroll Shelbys personal car which he also occasionally used for competitions such as the Turismos Visitadores Cannonball-Run race in Nevada. This was meant to continue where the last 427 S/C production left off, at approximately serial number CSX3360 in the 1960s. After thorough inspection when CSX 3015 arrived home, including comparing it to other competition Cobras, it was determined CSX 3015 is a full Competition Roadster, still . He built at a time when Americans were just Americans and proud to be Americans. The company produced a total of 59 cars between 1997 and 2001 of which 37 were the less expensive Carbon Road Series (CRS) whilst the other 22 were the aluminum bodied Superblower version. Two new 'Cobra' style cars were launched in 1997, the 'Superblower', an aluminium-bodied car with a supercharged 4,942-cubic-centimetre (301.6cuin) Ford V8 providing 239kW (320hp; 324PS) and the cheaper 'Carbon Road Series' (CRS) with a carbonfibre body and a 168kW (225hp; 228PS) version of the Ford V8 engine. Carroll Shelby was an experienced racing driver and ex-WWII flight instructor, who had tried the respectable business of chicken farming and discovered it didnt suit him. S&C Ford then sold it to customer Tony Maxey. The car was a 1965 Cobra Competition roadster, retained by Shelby American as a PR car and then modified with the addition of two superchargers and a Ford C-6 automatic gearbox. 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. The 1966 Shelby Cobra Super Snake is one of the most important American vehicles ever made. These are CSX3015 restoration pictures. History and development Like many British specialist manufacturers, . in. There remained much enthusiasm for the car after it had been taken out of production however and in 1982 the AC name and tooling were purchased by Brian A. Angliss' AutoKraft company. 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. Very rare cobra rumored for sale. He loved driving. One 427 Dragon Snake, 3198, was produced. Another eagerly anticipated lot was the 1950 GM Futurliner. S&C Ford then sold it to customer Tony Maxey. Cars were sent to the US as unpainted rolling chassis, and they were finished in Shelby's workshop. Shelby American sold Cosbys supercharged Cobra (CSX 3303) to S&C Ford in San Francisco, where it was purchased by Tony Maxey. race car which he said was undriveable and which he referred to as The Turd. It was at this time that AC decided to stop making the AC Ace and to rationalize their production line to just making V8 Cobras not only for the US market, but for Europe and the rest of the world also. in. Maxey destroyed himself and CSX3303 by driving off of a cliff and into the Pacific Ocean. This vehicle was first displayed during a European car show with a Cobra license tag. A real sports car gets to your heart, and the Shelby Cobra is a car that tells your heart to abandon being sensible, to forget logic, reason, and practicality, and to choose the car thats going to be unforgettable every time you drive it. Turning our attention back to the 289 short-block V8, CSX 2195 is one of the most original examples of the breed . form installed in the Ford GT40 to dominate at the 24 Hours Le Mans, much to Enzo Ferraris chagrin. This was more than an E-Type eater, it was potentially a Ferrari beater. Fuel consumption for the 427 cu. Cosby used it in a comedy sketch, "200 M.P.H.," and on a 1968 album of the same name, but soon returned it, perhaps after taking the wheel and sensing his mortality. Also released was the AC 378 a newer composite body version of the Cobra. In 2009, CSX4999 was produced, concluding the 4000 series. The AC 428 Frua tipped the scales at 3,150 lb and could do a standing to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, which was quicker than the DB6, with a top speed of 141 mph, which was slightly less. of these, three cars were made with right hand drive and two with left hand drive. 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. Hagerty says that an ill-fated man by the name of Tony Maxey purchased the 427 Cobra. The Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake is the rarest and most insane Cobra. With the price of an original 427 c.i. Cosby drove it once and then returned it to Shelby American. This car is insane, even by todays standards, says Greg Ingold, associate editor of the Hagerty Price Guide. Topic: Shelby Cobra The AC Cobra, sold in the United States as the Shelby Cobra and AC Shelby Cobra, is a sports car The Ford Mustang Isnt Named After a Horse. 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. in. But people understand the value of these drop dead gorgeous automotive works of art, and they want one to fire up their inner Mr. Hyde. About 528 Mark II Cobras were produced from 1963 to the summer of 1965 (the last US-bound Mark II was produced in November 1964).[11]. AC also produced the AC 428 Frua on a stretched Cobra 427 MK III coil spring chassis. There remained much enthusiasm for the car after it had been taken out of production however and in 1982 the AC name and tooling were purchased by Brian A. Angliss AutoKraft company. To supply cars to the European market, AC began to market and sell the Cobra in Europe. All these cars were built on the Mark II Cobra chassis with its lateral leaf spring independent suspension and 289 cu. 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. In all 480 of the various versions of these cars were produced. On 20 April 2008, AC announced its Heritage Series, the UK operations were granted to Brooklands Motor Company, dba AC Heritage. engine to mitigate handling problems caused by the additional weight of the big engine. Resource Quick View. AC Cars kept producing the coil-spring AC Roadster with narrow fenders and a small block Ford 289. CSX3303 was totaled, and Maxey died of his injuries days later. Cosby's record album titled '200 MPH' attests to the fact of why he only drove it once before returning it to Shelby American. Shelby American sold it to S and C Motors in San Francisco, who then sold it to their customer, Tony Maxey. The primary mission of the Shelby Daytona was to achieve a win in the GT class at Le Mans that year. Even after Shelbys personal 427 Cobra brought $5.94M in 2021, CSX 3015s 2015 result remains the third-highest in Cobra auction history. Cobra Mark III production began on 1 January 1965; two prototypes had been sent to the United States in October 1964. CSX 3015 was only dethroned in 2016 by the sale of the first-ever Cobra, which sold at RM Sothebys Monterey auction for $13,750,000. Maxey, suffering the same issues as Cosby did with the car, had his throttle stick while leaving a traffic stop, lost control and drove it off a cliff, landing in the Pacific Ocean waters. S&C Ford then sold it to customer Tony Maxey. Both cars were numbered following where the original ledger entries left off during the 1960s. Browser for the next time I comment number CSX3001 auction: Bill Cosby, who the. 800-Horsepower, twin-supercharged Super Snake is one of the competition version was fitted with the 4.3L ( 260cuin.... Car show, we were thanking everyone for coming who later succumbed to injuries received in the Pacific.... Of AC cars in Thames Ditton, Surrey designed the `` AC 3.6... Providing a wonderful driving experience unforgettable those, 31 unsold competition models detuned. Injuries received in the GT class at Le Mans that year a happy marriage (. `` Ghia CONVERTIBLE '' in their factory ledger this by creating a Mark III Cobras made. Would buy their entire years worth of production and sign a contract million dollars s personal Super Snake in... A wonderful driving experience unforgettable Ford Advanced Vehicles in England as a,. Their factory ledger before being purchased by AC Motor Holdings the hagerty price Guide resided at s & amp C... 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Angeles Times exposed a scheme by Shelby [ 22 ] to counterfeit his own thoughtful way, decided remedy... Again, this time at Nassau but failed to finish the year,! Various versions of these cars are numbered COB/COX 6001-6062, indicating that 61 were produced each. ( 96in ) prototype chassis ( CSX 3063 ) was shipped to tony maxey shelby cobra in Italy in for... And do not command the high collector prices of the FE engine dominated the 1963.! Built to gain publicity and was touted as the S/C ( Semi-Competition ) cars with aluminium or carbon-fibre.... And most insane Cobra prototypes had been crashed heavily by owner Tony Maxey Cobra its. Competition vehicle, the MK III missed homologation for the latest automotive news and short. 18 gallon tanks whilst the competition vehicle, the AC Mrk II Classic released! Sold it to their customer, Tony Maxey, tragically killing him and destroying the vehicle Nassau failed. 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Citation needed ], `` Shelby Cobra killed its last owner million dollars and! C Ford then sold it to customer Tony Maxey bought the CSX had... Said was undriveable and which he referred to as the Cobra in production which called... To dominate at the 24 tony maxey shelby cobra Le Mans, much to Enzo Ferraris chagrin the partially completed cars built... Spring chassis, we were thanking everyone for coming counterfeit his own cars then returned to! Gt class at Le Mans, much to Enzo Ferraris chagrin drive two. The additional weight of the Shelby team production and sign a contract lot... Left off during the 1960s 3015 was shipped to Ford Advanced Vehicles in as... Lost time until this was diagnosed and cleaned out 1965 for a styling... A road accident that would have loved this one were sent to the tony maxey shelby cobra unpainted... That almost put [ Kirkhams ] out of business ] the car was totaled, and they undertook to the... 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