Stephen Becker Automotive Group
259 North Price Road
Sugar Hill, GA 30518
History of the DRAGONSNAKE program:
During the first half of the 1960s, the Cobra achieved motorsport success all over the world. It dominated USRRC and SCCA circuit racing, and was an increasingly persistent thorn in Ferrari�s side in international competition. In 1965, it finally broke the Italian marque�s stranglehold over GT racing by winning the International Championship for GT Manufacturers.
With the fearsome acceleration offered by a powerful V8 in a compact chassis, it was even well suited to drag racing. In 1963, a small band of employees persuaded Carroll Shelby to sanction the development of a drag-racing package. Among other upgrades, four stages of tune were offered for the 289ci engine, producing anything from 270hp to 380hp.
The famous Dragonsnake was born.
Only five factory 289ci Dragonsnakes were built, but other CSX Shelby Cobras were converted to Dragonsnake spec by independent privateers who could buy the package from Shelby when new.
The Cobra made to dominate the drag strip did just that in the 1960s
The goods:
The story goes that after a few employees at Carroll Shelby's small car company created a drag-strip-focused version of the Cobra on their own time, Shelby approved a tiny production run of this quarter-miler called the Dragonsnake. Not legal to drive on the street, they could be ordered from the factory or customers could have their Cobras fitted with Dragonsnake components like a chrome roll bar, new tachometer, revised rear fender flares to fit fat drag slicks on American Racing wheels, and sliding side windows. Only five left the the factory, four fitted with the 289-cubic-inch V8, one got the 427-ci monster. Hemmings says that including the converted customer cars, there are no more than ten Dragonsnakes in the world. The number's about to grow by five, Shelby American announcing a run of continuation cars built by company partner Legendary GT Continuation Cars.
The concept car featured here (CSX 2800) is dedicated to drag racer and NHRA champion Bruce Larson, a man the organizing body calls "NHRA's original triple-threat Pro driver." In 1963, Larson drove Jim Costilow's 289 Dragonsnake to class honors at the Winternationals, Springnationals, and Indy U.S. Nationals, setting records throughout the year in the process. Larson took the Nationals again in 1964. Because Larson was working at a Chevrolet dealership when he did this, the dealership owner had Larson in a Chevy by 1966. But the Cobra had proved itself a winning race car in yet another discipline, and would keep claiming trophies into the late sixties.
The remaining three continuation Dragonsnakes that we are now offering for sale will start as an aluminum slab-side roadster in the CSX2000 series, meaning based on the original 289-ci chassis. The tube rails are four-inch round units, the engine is a 364-ci V8 with an aluminum block and eight Weber carbs making 500 horsepower, fed by a 14-gallon gas tank and Holley electric fuel pump. It's shifted through a Tremec five-speed manual to spur a car weighing roughly 2,100 pounds. Inside, an 8,000-rpm tach mixes with black leather seats, leather door pulls, a rearview mirror, glove box, custom shift knob, and stainless steel roll bar. Other kit includes an aluminum radiator and electric fan, rack and pinion steering, adjustable Penske shocks, 1963-style disc brakes, a custom exhaust, polished side vents and chrome bumpers, and vintage Cobra badges. The car sits on 15-inch vintage FIA wheels wearing Mickey Thompson tires sized 29 x 4.5 in front, 28 x 10.5 in back.
Each Dragonsnake costs $750,000 before options. These Dragon Snakes are authenticated by Shelby and built under their guidance with CSX # 's reserved in the SAAC registry for each build.
Year: | 1965 |
Make: | Shelby |
Model: | Cobra |
Mileage: | 0 |
Exterior Color: | |
Interior Color: | |
Trim: | CSX Dragonsnake |
Body: | |
Stock: | |
Engine Size: | 364 Aluminum Shelby Motor |
Transmission: | Manual - 5 Speed |
Vin: |
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Stephen Becker Automotive Group realizes how difficult it is purchase any automobile over the internet from a classic car dealer or private party.
Is the engine original? Are all the vehicle identification numbers where they should be? Has the car been tampered with? Is the car really worth the asking price? Stephen Becker has bought/sold/inspected/appraised/certified over a thousand GT 350's, GT 500's & GT 500KR’s to happy buyers all around the world. 35+ years in business with a sterling name and reputation in the hobby. We buy/sell/broker/inspect/appraise all makes and models of classic, antique & muscle cars. Stephen Becker is a long-time NADA advisory board member.
Stephen Becker was business partners with Carroll Shelby from 1977 until his death in 2012.
Stephen Becker offers an inspection service, an appraisal service and can be very helpful with transportation details. We can inspect the Shelby, handle all financial details and take physical possession of the vehicle for safe keeping. We've shipped numerous muscle cars, of all types, to Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland and all over Europe.
Contact us before you drive to the bank and send a stranger your life savings!
Stephen Becker personally works side by side with the Shelby American Automobile Club registrars and have supported their efforts to keep Carroll Shelby’s automobiles and contribution to the automotive industry alive.
Stephen Becker is one of the most renowned Shelby authorities in the world, announced the introduction of a new certified appraisal program for 1960s Shelby Cobras, GT350s and GT500s. Previously available only to a select group of companies and celebrities, SGB’s invaluable expertise is now available to individuals contemplating the sale or purchase of a vintage Shelby car.
“For years, MOPAR, Corvette and Ford collectors have had access to detailed appraisals from experts in those cars, but enthusiasts have not been able to tap a form program when considering the purchase or sale of a Shelby,” said Becker. “With the expertise, records and access to details of Cobras, GT500s and GT350s available through me, collectors can now have the knowledge they need when making a decision on a Shelby they want to purchase or sell.”
Becker personally has performed evaluations for years and attended key collector car auctions for a small group of corporate clients like insurance companies and manufacturers. In late 2009, Stephen Becker provided an appraisal of 75 cars in the corporate and museum collection of Shelby American. The appraisals were done for Shelby’s insurance company, which requested current values of the extensive collection of significant cars. Other high profile corporate and celebrity clients have included the famous Shelby Parts & Restorations company, as well as leaders in the music and entertainment industry.
“Shelby cars are usually considered blue chip collectibles, but each must be carefully inspected and appraised to understand the true value,” noted Becker. “Not only is it important to ensure a car is a genuine Shelby, it’s critical to understand its history. The value difference between a survivor car with great provenance and a Shelby ‘rebuilt’ from a few major components left over from a wreck can be hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Stephen’s knowledge and extensive library led to the creation of the Becker Certified Shelby Certification program. A proprietary 25 point inspection and exhaustive research provides the most thorough report on the market for genuine Shelby vehicles.
Over the past decade, Stephen Becker has been retained by key automotive groups, collectors and industry leaders to authenticate and value Shelby vehicles. This led to the creation of a program for individual collectors and enthusiasts. When completed, a client received a detailed report with a history of the vehicle, if available, and documentation to validate the value.
Since 1977, Stephen Becker has been regarded as a leading authority on 1960s era Shelby Cobras, GT350s and GT500s. The company’s expertise and in-depth knowledge have been tapped by clients to purchase, broker and restore original Shelby’s. SGB has represented clients around the world on stage when their Shelby’s crossed the block.
Founder Stephen Becker was one of the youngest people to ever be selected as a finalist for the Ernst & Young/Inc. Magazine “Entrepreneur of the Year” in the early 1990s.
Stephen Becker Automotive Group Inc. is a licensed and insured Georgia car dealer.
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