Undoubtedly, among classic American cars, the Shelby Cobra is among the best known and most appreciated. There are various versions of this model but, to nitpick, one of the most exclusive and sought after is the one that was baptized as 289 Dragonsnake, which was only manufactured between 1962 and 1967 and of which only five units were produced. This is one of the reasons why we are facing one of the most exclusive Cobras in history.
The goal of legendary race car driver and car designer Carroll Shelby when creating this variant was to modify a conventional Cobra to make it better suited for endurance racing. Among the variations, those made to its 289 V8 engine stood out, such as the presence of a larger carburettor and a high-performance camshaft.
In addition to this, it is worth noting its reinforced chassis, its larger radiator and the integration of a limited slip differential, which made the car offer even more ambitious performance. The sporty results achieved helped the Dragonsnake 289, equipped with a four-speed manual transmission, quickly become a racing legend.
At the time of manufacture, this racing gem was priced at around $8,000, not exactly an affordable alternative for the mid-1960s. The unit that you can see in the photos competed successfully until 1965, the year in which it was withdrawn from the tracks and kept as a treasure. Subsequently, it changed hands on various occasions until reaching the present day.
Over the decades, many of the original Cobras have appreciated considerably, ranking among the most valuable classics in the world today. In fact, the 289 yellow Dragonsnake that you can see in the photographs has been auctioned this year for an amount close to 1.25 million euros. This figure gives an idea of ​​the exclusivity that the model has acquired over time.
Among the causes that helped to reach such a high sum are both the fact that its odometer only registered 3,596 miles (that is, 5,787 kilometers) and that most of its components were original. And it is that the care received throughout its history has helped that very few elements have had to be replaced.
One of the most significant variations of the vehicle was its color change, although it recovered the original yellow a few years ago. With regard to the interior, it should be noted that it is in excellent condition and that its materials barely show the passage of time.
In case you are interested in observing this magnificent Cobra 289 Dragonsnake in greater detail, you just have to take a look at the video that accompanies this article from the 29th second.
