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Carroll Shelby's Super Snake Sells For Record $5 Million Dollars

Carroll Shelby's Super Snake Sells For Record $5 Million Dollars

Matt Rigney January 23rd, 2007 Matt Rigney By Matt Rigney Author January 23rd, 2007
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December 31st, 1969 Saturday is always the big day at Barrett-Jackson and it could not get any bigger with the sale of Caroll Shelby's personal Super Snake Cobra that set a Barrett-Jackson record. You could just feel the excitement in the air as the bidding reached 1 million the crowd erupted only to be outdone as the bidding went to 2, 3, 4 and then to a never before seen number at Barrett-Jackson. Lot#1301 sold for an even $5 Million Dollars to local Arizona business man Ron Pratte who is a personal friend of Carroll Shelby and Craig Jackson. The Super Snake Cobra was built back in 1966 with a 427 Dual Paxton supercharged engine capable of 800+ horsepower. "When I built this dual supercharged 427 Cobra in 1966, I wanted it to be the fastest, meanest car on the road," said Shelby. "Forty years later, it will still kick the tail of just about anything in the world. It's the fastest street legal Cobra I've ever owned." During the auction proceedings Mr. Shelby stated it was 1 of 2 Super Snakes built. The other Super Snake was built for comedian Bill Cosby but has been wrecked and destroyed, making Lot#1301 the only one in existance. In addition to the Super Snake purchase Mr Pratte bought the first Shelby GT #001 with the option of purchasing #002 for MSRP. Barrett-Jackson Press Release: CSX3015 is a 427cid/800hp Twin Paxton Supercharged V8 with a Super 3-speed automatic transmission. One of two "Supersnakes" produced and Carroll Shelby's personal "Supersnake". Starting out as one of 19 production Competition Cobras this car upgraded by Shelby to "Supersnake" specifications similar to the "Supersnake" he built for Bill Cosby CSX3303. The car is so impressive that when it was featured in the February 1968 Road & Track article it was referred to as "The Cobra to End All Cobras". CSX3015 was also driven across Nevada at least once by Carroll Shelby during the running of the states "Turismos Visitadores" fun run. The most legendary Cobra of all time as documented in the Shelby American World Registry. Just completed freshening in the fall of 2006. "Conceivably one of the most significant and valuable automobiles to ever cross an auction block". Carroll Shelby's personal 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Supersnake (Lot #1301), which was designed and built solely for the racing legend, will be sold at No Reserve during the 36th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event from Jan. 13-21, 2007, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Hailed as "The World's Greatest Collector Car Events™," the auction will feature more than 1,100 of the world's finest collector automobiles, attract over 225,000 visitors and be featured on SPEED with 40 hours of live coverage. "When I built this dual supercharged 427 Cobra in 1966, I wanted it to be the fastest, meanest car on the road," said Shelby. "Forty years later, it will still kick the tail of just about anything in the world. It's the fastest street legal Cobra I've ever owned." Shelby plucked CSX3015 from a line of 19 production Competition Cobras and molded it into one of the most impressive automobiles ever built. It has a monstrous 427cid, 800hp twin Paxton supercharged V8 with a super three-speed automatic transmission. In addition to use as his personal automobile, Shelby drove the Cobra in a running of the "Turismos Visitadores" in Nevada. In February 1968, Road & Track referred to CSX3015 as "The Cobra to End All Cobras." "This is conceivably one of the most significant and valuable automobiles to ever cross an auction block," said Craig Jackson, president of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company. "Carroll Shelby not only poured his automotive wisdom and racing pride into this vehicle, he also personally gripped the wheel of this American legend." "This incredible Cobra personifies Carroll Shelby, and the maverick he is," adds Steve Davis, senior executive vice president of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company. "CSX3015 embodies the spirit that defined a generation and is as impactful today as it was some forty years ago." Shelby built a similar Twin Paxton-enhanced 427 Cobra (CSX3303) for close friend and famed comedian Bill Cosby. CSX3303 was later wrecked, leaving CSX3015 as the only one of its kind in the world. "CSX3015 speaks volumes about the genius in Carroll Shelby," said Harley E. Cluxton III, owner of CSX3015. "His Cobra is the benchmark that defines the American Muscle car. His baby does it all, and without the help of ASR, ESP, ABS, engine management ECU's, carbon fiber, titanium or the United Nations. How cool is that."
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Saturday is always the big day at Barrett-Jackson and it could not get any bigger with the sale of Caroll Shelby's personal Super Snake Cobra that set a Barrett-Jackson record. You could just feel the excitement in the air as the bidding reached 1 million the crowd erupted only to be outdone as the bidding went to 2, 3, 4 and then to a never before seen number at Barrett-Jackson. Lot#1301 sold for an even $5 Million Dollars to local Arizona business man Ron Pratte who is a personal friend of Carroll Shelby and Craig Jackson. The Super Snake Cobra was built back in 1966 with a 427 Dual Paxton supercharged engine capable of 800+ horsepower.

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  1. By  Luke #1, Posted: 6/29/2007

    check out the video from the auction:
    http://www.autoplanet.net/index.php?13103191276

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