Produced from 1962 to 1967, the Cobra was rather short-lived. It was also made in a very limited amount, with only 998 units emerging from Carroll's shop.
The nameplate spawned three different iterations and was available with various packages for road or track use. In short, each version of the Cobra is a low-production gem.
When it comes to street-legal Cobras, the Super Snake is arguably the scarcest. Shelby put together only two examples, and only one has survived to this day.
As for race-spec Cobras, the Dragon Snake is a rare bird with only six produced by the factory. However, the 427 Competition model is far more desirable.
The race-prepped Cobra was conceived in late 1964 for the 1965 racing season. Shelby was planning to build 100 units for homologation, but only 56 were eventually completed.
Of those, 31 were fitted with windscreens and detuned for street use. The roadster you see here is one of only a few Competition cars that actually saw action at the race track.
Sporting chassis number CSX3009, this Cobra is famous for two things: its "Essex Wire" livery and being the winningest Shelby Cobra of all time. It was test-driven by Ken Miles and then campaigned by Robert "Skip" Scott in the 1965 season.
Affectionately called "Ollie the Dragon" due to its carburetor occasionally shooting fire through the hood scoop, this Cobra achieved numerous victories and scored three championship wins in the SCCA series.
Specifically, it won the A Production Championship in 1966 and the National Championship in 1973 and 1974.
Unlike many racing legends, the "Essex Wire" Cobra survived years of track abuse to tell its story.
It was restored by Mike McCluskey with assistance from Carroll Shelby himself, and it has spent recent years winning multiple awards. And now it's looking for a new owner.
The world's most winningest Shelby Cobra is scheduled to go under the hammer at Mecum's Kissimmee 2025 event.
The roadster will hit the auction block in pristine condition and with an extensive history file, including photos, documents, and restoration details.
The winning bidder will also receive Ed Lowther's original helmet, race suit, and gloves.
Lowther drove the Cobra to its first championship in 1966. An amazingly accurate 1:5 scale model is also included in the sale.
The Cobra will be auctioned on January 18, 2025, and although the company doesn't provide an estimate, it will probably sell for a seven-figure sum.
