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.

Super Stock - October 1965

The most famous of the independents, CSX 2093 was initially campaigned by Jim Costilow and Bruce Larson. The team held records in A/SP and AA/SP. Their many victories included the '65 Springnationals at Bristol (TN) and the Winternationals at Pomona (CA).

Hi-Performance Cars - January 1967

Motion Performance owners Joel Rosen and Jack Geiselmann have been competing with their Cobra since it was new in 1964. Raced as a stock AA/SP (pre-427 Cobra), the Motion Cobra holds ten track records, 1/8-mile national record, and copped Canadian National Street Eliminator honors in 1965. Top time was an 11.04, 119-mph turned at the 1965 Canadian Nationals.

The rear setup in the Cobra differs greatly from the basic Ford drag car suspension package. Instead of longitudinal leaf springs there are small coils pirated from a six-cylinder Mustang. The shocks are Sting Ray HD racing units valved for 70/30 control. The Cobra is driven hard off the line by bringing the revs to 7,000 and popping the clutch. Gear changes are made at 8,000 rpm and the car sails through the traps at 8,700 rpm with 8-inch Goodyears, and 8,300 rpm with the 9-inch shoes. A battery of 48 sheet metal screws per wheel keeps the shoes from spinning on the rims. Tube life is short, but traction is unbelievable!

In 1966, Costilow sold the car to Ed Hedrick who continued to set records and won that year's NHRA World Championship, after he had won the Winternationals, the Springnationals, the US Nationals, and the World Finals, with a best run of 11.65 seconds, 117.8 mph in B/SP.
CSX 2093 at the USA-1 Drag Fest held annually at Bruce Larson's Stoney Creek barn north of Harrisburg, PA.
The Motion Performance Cobra in 1966 at the Vargo Dragway near Allentown, PA.
1967 Winternationals - Pomona, CA
Ed beat the tow truck that day, and everyone in his class.

"This is the true history of CSX 2093 as I recall it when I campaigned it in 1966 and 1967 in the NHRA NE Division 1 . . . click for more from Ed

Harr Ford independent comp Cobra - small block forerunner to the big block Harr Ford Dragonsnake (CSX 3198).
CSX 3159, the "King Cobra" owned and campaigned by Clem Hoppe and modified for drag racing by Motion Performance in Baldwin, NY. Joel Rosen recalls how they once drove the car from Long Island to the ATCO dragstrip in South Jersey, changed plugs and tires, then lowered the record by a full two seconds!