CSX 3015

Shelby Motors built 22 427 competition roadsters. In 1965, 1 was selected and converted into a special model called the 427 Cobra Semi-Competition Super-Snake. The first one of these (number CSX 3015) was originally part of a European promotional tour before it's conversion. This conversion called for making the original racing model street legal with mufflers, a windshield and bumpers amongst other modifications. But some things were not modified, including the racing rear end, brakes and headers. The most notable Super-Snake modification is the addition of Twin Paxton Superchargers. This gave the car an alleged 800 brake horsepower (bhp) and 462 ft. lbs. of torque at an astounding low 2800 RPM. Officially rated at 0-to-60 at 4.5 seconds, legend and lore have it as doing that in a little over 3 seconds. Another non-competition 427 roadster was converted into a Super-Snake (CSX 3303) and given to Shelby's close friend, Bill Cosby.Shelby American Cobra CSX 3303, one of the two fabled 'Supersnake' 427s built specially to Carroll Shelby's personal specifications as the 'Cobra to end all Cobras!' Shelby loved the idea of building the ultimate Cobra and when Shelby ribbed his friend Bill Cosby that he should have a Cobra, Cosby replied that he would buy one if it could go 200 mph! Shelby rose to the challenge and built a car to the same specification as his own, it featuring twin Paxton Superchargers, automatic transmission, huge bonnet bulges and delivering somewhere in the region of 800-900 bhp! CSX 3303 was delivered to his friend Cosby with a plate attached to the dashboard which read "This car is guaranteed to do 200 mph. (signed): Carroll Shelby". CSX3303 gave both parties wonderful publicity, providing Cosby with plenty of material for his comedy record album '200 mph', the Supersnake being used by both Cosby and his friend Hank Madeiros on the successful West Coast show circuit tour of 1968. With some obvious truth to a joke made by Bill Cosby that the car frightened him and following a year of substantial promotional benefit for both Cosby and Shelby, the Supersnake returned to the factory, and was displayed at the Oakland Roadster Show in collaboration with S&C Motors and Hayward Motors. CSX3303 was then sold to Mr. Tony Maxey of San Francisco CA. As documented in the Shelby American World Registry, the following year Maxey unfortunately crashed his new acquisition with disastrous personal consequences on the Pacific Coast Highway. The damaged Supersnake was then left unrepaired until purchased by Gordon Gimble of Cobra Performance in Sacramento who, after removing the special engine and running gear for use in the famous Ford Phaeton Street Rod, sold the damaged chassis and title to marque Specialist (and future owner of A.C Cars) Brian Angliss in Surrey, England. Mr. Angliss Angliss began a three year restoration of CSX 3303 utilizing a new chassis and 16 -gauge aluminium skin panels, however decided to fit a standard race 427 engine including 48 IDA Weber carburetors and running gear. Upon completion in the late Seventies the Cobra was sold to one of the UK's most respected collectors, Sir Anthony Bamford of Staffordshire, England. Sir Anthony has since owned the CSX 3303 for much of the past thirty years, passing it on to his friend Nigel Moores for a brief spell in the 1980's, returning it to his collection about ten years ago. It was only recently that Sir Anthony discovered that not only did the Ford Phaeton Street Rod still exist but was residing as a static display in a museum and it still retained the Supersnake's original special motor and many other original parts! Recognizing a unique opportunity he purchased the Ford Phaeton Street Rod allowing the respected UK restoration company Gelscoe engineering to remove from the Hot rod Ford Phaeton and reunite the Supersnake with most of its original mechanical components. The Supersnake's motor was found to be very original with the bearings still stamped 1965! Paxton Superchargers were re-fitted using the original patterns and a correct 3 speed automatic T-6 gearbox was also installed. The original brake callipers were re fitted and so also was the original rear axle and crown wheel and pinion. The steering has been returned to left hand drive configuration and the dashboard to its original layout. The immaculate coachwork is resplendent in Shelby blue, which is complimented by the black leather upholstery. Shelby's original model, CSX 3015, was kept by Carroll Shelby himself over the years as a personal car, sometimes entering it into local races like the Turismos Visitadores Cannonball-Run like race in Nevada, where he was "waking [up] whole towns, blowing out windows, throwing belts and catching fire a couple of times, but finishing." CSX 3015 was auctioned off on January 22, 2007 at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Scottsdale, Arizona for $ 5,5 Million USD + commission (a record for Cobras, and a record for a Barrett-Jackson sold price) Copy & paste this link to view the video of this Cobra going over the plate at Barrett/Jackson. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPES8hxU4dM To view a vid of Bill Cosby discussing his CSX 3303, copy and paste this link. http://uncutvideo.aol.com/users/meandstriker/f2ad41abac524db736ca1a8150b45bc1?index=0