1964 Shelby 289 Cobra “Snake Charmer” (CSX2227)
Carroll Shelby’s vision of combining American V8 power with lightweight European chassis engineering created one of motorsport’s most legendary partnerships.
This particular example carries extraordinary provenance through its longtime owner Henry “Hank” Williams, a WWII veteran and jazz musician who earned the celebrated nickname “Snake Charmer” after literally talking Carroll Shelby into giving him the Le Mans team shirt off his back at a California race.
About 528 Mark II examples were produced from early 1963 through summer 1965, representing the refined second generation of the Cobra program.
The Mark II featured significant improvements over earlier models, including rack-and-pinion steering borrowed from the MGB and a new steering column from the VW Beetle. Design changes included slightly flared wheel arches, side vents, and a wider grille opening to improve cooling.
This specific Cobra (chassis CSX2227) includes an original removable hardtop, now extremely rare, which Williams acquired so his wife could comfortably ride along. The Snake Charmer campaigned this car in nearly 400 races over six decades, accumulating over 140,000 miles while maintaining single ownership until his passing at age 99.
The 289-cubic-inch Ford small-block V8 replaced the earlier 260-cubic-inch unit, providing substantially more power through a single four-barrel carburetor and a four-speed manual transmission.
Transverse leaf spring suspension front and rear, with inboard disc brakes, kept weight minimal (about 2,100 lb / 953 kg) while delivering the performance that dominated road courses against European competition.
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