1964 Shelby Cobra Dragonsnake CSX 2109

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1964 Shelby 289 Cobra
“DRAGONSNAKE” #CSX 2109

History Overview:
This is the Harr Ford, Worcester, Mass., National Hot Rod Association Shelby 289 Cobra A/SP “DRAGONSNAKE” drag racer. Carroll Shelby began in 1962 with a couple of engines he talked out of Ford and a car from A.C. Cars Limited in Surrey, England, and the legendary Shelby American was born. This car, CSX 2109 was delivered new to legendary Tasca Ford, a high performance Ford dealer in Providence, Rhode Island, where it became the personal car of Bob Tasca, owner of the dealership. Originally painted Princess Blue with a red interior, Tasca changed the color to the current Candy Apple Red and drove the car throughout the summer of 1963. The car’s first official owner was Larry McAllister of Worcester, Mass., who bought it from Tasca. McAllister planned to race his new Cobra and enlisted Gus Zuidema to drive the car (same driver as CSX3198) and Harr Ford to build and sponsor it. Harr Ford installed hood scoops, roll bar, hard top, scatter shield, 4.89:1 rear axle ratio, special shocks, competition seat belts, driveshaft hoop, rear mounted battery, and competition aluminum radiator. Engine upgrades included a full set of Weber carburetors, headers, a racing cam and Stewart Warner fuel pump. It raced highly successful for 1964 in Street Stock class running 11.69’s in the quarter with speed traps in the 120’s and winning 20 races. All this earned Gus a trip to the NHRA Nationals.

In the finals of that race Gus was up against Ed Terry running a Shelby American sponsored car. Gus deliberately delayed his launch for fear of being disqualified because of the HiPo heads, which were original to later model serial number cars but not his. Gus's elapse time and trap speed exceeded Terry's so he actually lost the race but an unofficial win with time and speed. Gus was unsuccessful in being able to get a ruling before the race as to the legitimacy of the HiPo heads, but following the race, they were approved. Had he known this beforehand, Gus would have been the official winner hands down.

After 1964 it was converted to a road racing car and raced from1965 to 1968, and on two occasions raced the Butler Chevrolet sponsored Cobra in hopes of determining the "Fastest Cobra in Massachusetts". CSX2109 won both. In 1968 it was sold to Bill Maxwell, the second owner who did some racing with it, but parked it after 1969. Later in 1973 he cut a hole in his basement in Dracut, Mass., drove the Cobra in, put it up on blocks, and filled in the hole again. There it would remain for 15 years until it was “discovered by the third owner, Forbes “Toby” Anderson. The car underwent a comprehensive restoration ending in 1992.

The car has an extensive set of spare parts, including a complete new worm and Sector steering box, the original hard top, soft top, side curtains, dash tachometer, and tonneau cover, plus four restored chrome wire wheels and two spare original painted wheels.
Its track records include 20 straight wins undefeated except at NHRA Street Stock finals fastest time and lowest ET of all entries. It won the coveted Gold Award at the Shelby America Automobile Club Concours in July 2006.

Originally Sold To: Tasca Ford, Owner Bob Tasca
Total Shelby Cobra Production: (All Years) 1,003
Vehicle Mileage: 29,654 miles (Original)
Original MSRP: N/A

Stock Number: C 211

1964 Shelby 289 Cobra
“DRAGONSNAKE”

VIN Number:   CSX2109
Exterior Color: Candy Apple Red w/Black Vinyl Top
Convertible Top:   N/A
Interior Trim: Dark Red Vinyl Bucket Seats
Engine:   289 CID - Ford Cobra OHV V-8
4 Dual-Throat Weber 48IDA Carburetors
325 Horsepower (Estimated)
Bore/Stroke: 4.00”X 2.87”
Transmission:    4-Speed Manual Hurst Floor Shift

Equipment:

Hardtop & Soft Top
Side Curtains
Dash Tachometer
Tonneau Cover
Dual Outside Mirrors
Competition Seat Belts
4-Wheel Independent A-Arm Suspension
4-Wheel Girling Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Koni Shocks
Chrome Wire Wheels (2 spare painted wire wheels included)
5.50L-15 Dunlop racing Tires –Front, M&H Racemaster Drag Slicks - Rear

Wheelbase: 90 inches
Height: 48 inches
Length: 153 inches
Width: 61 inches
Weight: 2,230 LBS
Vehicle Mileage: 29,654 (Original)

Stock Number: C 211

Dragonsnakes

To attempt to appropriately classify the various types of cars built by Shelby American, we break them into categories. Where the drag Cobras are concerned, the cars built as Dragonsnakes at Shelby American and raced by the factory are termed factory competition cars. These would include the worm-and-sector 2019 and the rack-and-pinion 2357.

The second category are the cars built by the factory as Dragonsnakes for private use. These fall into the factory-prepared-competition category, and would include 2248, 2427, 2472, and 3198.

The third category are the cars that were sold for street use but modified for drag racing by an early owner. We term them independent competition cars. They may or may not have used all of the factory modifications, and the parts to modify them were generally purchased "over the counter" either directly from Shelby American or a local Shelby dealer. Cars in this category would include 2093 and 3159

Ned Scudder, Cobra Registrar SAAC

THEN

ON DISPLAY IN HARR FORD'S SHOWROOM WORCESTER, MA. LATE 1965 - Photo provided by the Zuidema Family.

THE CREW AND FRIENDS SURROUNDING CSX2109 AFTER A RACE- Photo provided by the Zuidema Family.

AND NOW