CARROLL SHELBY’S 190 MPH 427 COBRA SUPER SNAKE STRIKES AGAIN

January 11, 2015
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

On January 17, 2015, just a few days after what would have been Carroll Shelby’s 92nd birthday, lightning will strike the same place twice. Carroll Shelby’s personal Cobra 427 Super Snake will once again cross the Barrett-Jackson auction block with millions of people watching in person and on live television. Arguably the quickest, most valuable Shelby 427 Cobra roadster in existence, CSX3015 is defined by its extraordinary combination of ownership history, specification, performance and one-of-a-kind exclusivity.

The legendary Super Snake last changed hands at the 2007 Barrett-Jackson sale in Scottsdale and has been in the care of collector Ron Pratte. Shelby and Pratte became friends through their mutual infatuation with American ingenuity and all things automotive. Carroll Shelby, still alive at the time of the sale, spoke clearly about the car’s rarity and performance. “This is the only one like it. I’ve been clocked doing 190 mph in this car.”

With the car up for sale, a new owner will soon sit in the same bucket seat as Carroll Shelby and mash the same gas pedal that brought a smile to the legend’s face. Carroll Shelby claimed his 800 horsepower Super Snake would run from 0-60 in around 3.2 seconds. Nearly a half-century later, only a handful of modern supercars can achieve that short acceleration time. Even more astounding, modern cars employ traction control, fuel injection and other electronic aids to achieve the same goal.

Carroll Shelby loved to ask, “What if…” and he insisted on pushing the design envelope. The Super Snake, therefore, is so much more than just metal and rubber. It’s a fire-breathing example of Carroll Shelby’s ability to package extreme performance into real world, functional performance cars. This car, a twin-supercharged 427 cubic inch 190 mph roadster with bulging bodywork, is Carroll Shelby’s ultimate proof of concept.

In the stratospheres of the collector car world, rarity is paramount. While there was a second Super Snake, it was destroyed in 1969 when Tony Maxey, its ill-fated owner, lost control and drove off a cliff. The entire car, including the body and frame, were destroyed. As such, Carroll Shelby’s personal car, CSX3015, is truly the one and only Cobra Super Snake in existence.

Though the Cobra Super Snake is considered a street legal “S/C” car, CSX3015 was originally built to full competition specs for PR use in Europe. As such it is quite different from its standard, semi-competition brethren. Underneath the skin, competition Cobras feature reinforced frames and increased track width as well as oversized fuel tanks and heavy-duty Girling brakes. Voluptuous flares cover the massive knock-off wheels and Goodyear tires. Further exterior mods include front and rear jacking points, a roll bar, oil coolers, and un-baffled side pipes.

Upon its return from Europe, Shelby American modified CSX3015 just enough to make it street legal. The most obvious addition is its windshield. Imagine being Carroll Shelby at that point in time. He must have proclaimed that he wanted to keep CSX3015 for himself. Likewise, there was “shop talk” about adding two Paxton superchargers to a 427. That notion must have raised some eyebrows—even amongst the seasoned Shelby American staff. Was the idea sheer madness or genius? What modifications would be required to mount the two superchargers?

Fabrication would be required for brackets and belt drives. The dual four-barrel intake manifold, Holley carburetors and Paxton air inlets added significant height to the engine package. Hood clearance was addressed by way of a custom fabricated, oversized hood scoop. Lastly, the Shelby American team would need to consider harnessing all of that power. Clutch technology at the time was limited. If an 800 horsepower-capable clutch assembly existed, it would likely not be suitable for street driving. Reliability would be a concern. The decision was made to adapt an automatic transmission and torque converter. Though some scoff at the thought of an automatic in a Cobra, the drivetrain choice contributes greatly to the Super Snake’s astonishingly low 0-60 second acceleration times. Additional gauges were added to the dash to keep tabs on the monster lurking under the hood.

To the outside world, it’s the baddest Cobra roadster of all time. To Carroll Shelby it was just his car. Stomping on the throttle at will, Shelby used the Super Snake to blow off steam. He drove the super Snake in a Nevada open road race called the Turismos Visitadores with his buddies. It was during that event that the Super Snake was radar-clocked in excess of 190 mph, with the captain of the Nevada Highway Patrol riding in the passenger seat. In 1970, Carroll Shelby sold the Super Snake to Jimmy Webb, a celebrity songwriter, who drove and maintained the car for 25 years. A select few enthusiasts have had the Super Snake in their care since 1995. Of course, it has been a star attraction of the Ron Pratte Collection since 2007.

Lightning will indeed strike the same place twice. Come to Scottsdale and spend some time studying the Super Snake’s lines and features. Wherever you look, this baby is special. Ron Pratte has preserved and detailed the car to a very high standard. If the stars are aligned, seize the opportunity to purchase the one and only Super Snake — a fully documented 190 mph Cobra roadster owned and driven by the legend himself, Carroll Shelby.

For more information on Lot #2509, Carroll Shelby’s 1966 Cobra 427 Super Snake, click here.