“Snake Charmer!” 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra
Owned and loved for 60 years by its original owner, this never-restored 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra comes to auction in August. Henry “Hank” Williams Jr. led an interesting life, participating in the U.S. Army’s WW II D-Day operations in Normandy, France, becoming an accomplished Jazz and Blues drummer, and serving as an ambulance driver and dispatcher in California. The Cobra replaced Williams’ Austin Healey in 1965 and became a driver and weekend racer that he trailered to hundreds of events. Williams became well-known to Carroll Shelby over the years. Some months after Williams’ death in late 2023, the family offers this unique automobile for auction.
Williams had the interior redone in red Naugahyde, and the non-original Lincoln Silver Mink paint applied over 60 years ago. The car also comes with a hard top. The “Snake Charmer” nickname came after Williams literally talked Carroll Shelby into giving him the shirt off his back, according to the auction listing.
Williams added the hood scoop and wheels, imparting a muscular appearance to the svelte roadster. The Cobra weighs a few hundred pounds less than a first-generation Mustang. Ford’s Hi-Po 271 HP 289 powered the low-slung roadsters, making them potent handlers on back roads and road courses.
Since Americans install V8 engines in everything from motorcycles to bar stools, I hereby nominate the practice as our official National Pastime. Who’s with me? While not the first yank V8 powered British sportscar, Carroll Shelby’s Ford 289 cid (4.7L) AC Ace and subsequent generations stand as the best known and most successful, the Shelby Cobra. This Mark II example has “AC” on the steering wheel. Some collectors favor these early examples, considering the later 427-powered Cobras too extreme and over-the-top. Rebuilt in the 1980s, this original engine powered the Cobra for over 140,000 miles, delighting Williams from 1965 until his last drive at age 98!
After 60 years and 394 races, this Mark II must have fit like a glove for Hank. Specialty cars often show low miles, and some require more maintenance to offset the lack of use than the opposite. Here we have a race-proven steed, weathered, well-maintained, and impossible to duplicate. Thanks to RMSothebys for pictures and details. Visit the auction in Monterey, California on August 15 – 17 2024 or bid online to own this never-restored masterpiece. If cost were no object, would you prefer the nimble Mark II or the no-holds barred 427 Cobra?
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Comments
Beautiful car, Todd and a great feature. And whoever would’ve figured anyone could talk Carroll Shelby out of anything let alone the shirt off his back?!?! A true Snake Charmer indeed and interesting life story.
Interesting car and history. Excellent writeup Todd.
Ditto on above. When I bought my ’72 MG Midget off the dealers floor for
$1.800 it was sitting next to a black MGB for $2,600 and a white Cobra for $4,400. Bought the Midget based on my bank balance, or the imbalance of it. Don’t know what the Cobra is going for but would bet my $1,800 wouldn’t buy a wax job for it today.
Agree on the kudos to the writer! Is this a $1,000,000 car? I hope so for the family. Also sounds like they sure don’t make ’em like “Hank” anymore. And that’s a shame.
I was debating about taking the Corvette out and rowing tonight in the rain, but I think “Hank” would encourage me to do both! This one’s for you Hank! Thanks for your service.
I saw a 427 powered Cobra at a car show once and thought the seat thing. It’s too much. The acceleration must be terrifying. The 289 makes more sense, In terms of handling.
Another site just sold one … Its a word let say first word break out in “BATman” on the first week of July sold for 900 grand for a 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Mark II.
Its a treasure for sure and some lucky bidder will get a gorgeous beautiful Shelby.
Good luck with retirement finances and again a beautiful historic weekend racer.
I can hear the music in my head singing “Hey lil Cobra” playing by the rip cords now…
Great job on the write up. One word from me SWEET!!
I much prefer the 289/Ace shape to the 427; they look best in flat dark colours with body coloured wires, to my eyes. I think that it makes them look smaller and less obvious – a stealth sportscar.
It’s nice that at least one is just a used car – albeit well cared-for – that’s always been given beans.
I rode in a replica 427 Cobra on an autocross course. It was, by far, the most fun I’ve ever had in a car and I wasn’t even behind the wheel! He never even floored it. Not nearly enough room and we set it up for some of our higher powered cars at the time (DC BMW car club circa 2009?). The only car I’ve ever been in that came remotely close to the feeling was my 1998 BMW M Roadster (though it was much slower… and it was no slouch!). Having the rear wheels right under your butt gives it a very unique feeling when it’s right on the ragged edge. Somehow you’re more attuned to what the car’s doing when hanging back there.
Too bad this car will never be driven like that but I guess that’s what replicas are for. If you have the money to buy this you can afford an identical replica you can drive whenever you want.
Glad to see it is not on Craigslist or Facebook Market Place.
Hank Williams JR,whas not in world war 2, He whas in the Vietnam War.
You’re making presumptions as to who THIS Hank Williams is..
Hank’s Cobra will never be raced again. Sad.
I was wrong he was not ,in the military.
Read the original ad-or read his obituary.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/henry-williams-obituary?id=53897757
BTW-Hank Williams Jr (country western version) isn’t dead..😳
One of the best parts of the internet is when the peanut gallery throw’s unsubstantiated shade on someone, especially when that person recently passed away, for their own entertainment.
Would you make that assertion if he was white?
Steve R
Hank Williams was white, wasn’t he?
TC, you are thinking of the country singer Hank Williams Jr,, this is a different person.
Steve R
Some of my very first plastic car models as a kid , was this Cobra. As close as I ever got.
I personally met Henry many times over the years at the annual “All Ford Day” at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, He was the real deal as a wonderful person, and would answer any and all questions about his beloved Cobra. I am sorry to hear of him passing. The car itself is a treasure, Rest in Peace Sir
Ahhh but the difference between that 427 and the 289 could buy you a nice 4 bedroom 3 bathroom house with a Vette in the garage for good measurement were l love.
A brand new Vette mind you.
Henry Hank Williams Jr. he was part of the D-Day landing at Normandy.
https://www.ingoldfuneralandcremation.com/obituaries/henry-williams
There’s a great article about him on the Independent (dot) co website under Lifestyle / Motoring and then Features. I tried to post the link but couldn’t.
Anyone representing a Cobra as a real car is failing the system if you don’t photograph the data plate or at least post the CSX number.
Oh yeah, I’m sure Sotheby’s is selling a fake here.
That’s ridiculous…
Perhaps one should due their due diligence before typing. If you click on the link everything is in the RM Sotheby’s listing. They posted the CSX number in the ad copy as well as a photo of the plate.
Many years ago I was trying to buy a Cobra for a customer ,its ID was 2037 and it was a 260. I think the price was about 40 K. I got to drive it, and like many car deals it went off track. From what I remember the consensus was it would never have much value because of the small V-8 and the price was too high. If I remember right, I was not one of the nay- Sayers, but what else would you expect me to say.
As others have said, great write up and great car. Hank must’ve been a character.
Recently read an article about him buying this car. It was in the showroom of a dealership in New York City. Hank walked in and had trouble getting a salesman to talk to him. When he finally did, he asked how much the car was and the salesman told him. He said I’ll be back tomorrow with the money. The next day he showed up with the cash and bought the car, then he had to have a friend teach him how to drive a stick shift.
Hmmm, the “had to have a friend show him how to drive a stick shift” part of the story sounds pretty implausible for a WW2 veteran, as there were precious few Hydramatic equipped GM products in service postwar. Begs the question about when he learned to drive a car in the first place.
Maybe as a native New Yorker he might have had very little experience driving at all, so I’m not saying it is impossible but it sure seems a stretch.
Quite possibly the most beautiful machine ever built. And he drove the heck out of it! Sad that it will now become a trailer queen.
IDK where I’ve been, I didn’t even know he passed away
I got it, he’s not dead
Not this one no. I had a bit of confusion there until I researched the Snake part. I only knew about the singer/songwriter but he died in ’53 Hank has had quite a go of it.. jazz musician, played with BB King and other greats, was a medical professional and was at Normandy, and he raced the heck out of his lovely Cobra. What a life! :-)
In a Road and Track story which included an interview with Phil Hill, he stated that with the exception of the Spa circuit in Belgium with its very long high speed straights he preferred the 289 equipped Cobras to the 427’s.
Nice Cobra, but I would take it back to its correct wire wheels. The car is not a “Shelby Cobra”. To call it that is to deny AC its due credit. It is a “Shelby AC Cobra”, as agreed to legally between AC boss Charles Hurlock and Carrol Shelby, in their contract of February 5, 1962. What happened is that Ol’ Shel did not want to share credit with AC. This is why he did his utmost to suppress and play down that the Thames-Ditton, Surrey company south of London, was a major player. After all, it was AC’s chassis, Superleggera frame, alloy body design, suspension, interior, steering, dashboard, seats, etc. It was Shelby’s idea to install a 220 Ford V-8 (but it turned out to be a 260 that then was replaced by a 289)…but to just call the car a “Shelby Cobra” is a little unfair once one knows that the early Cobra was nothing but a Ruddspeed AC Ace modified by AC to accomodate a 260 (in 1961 and very early 1962 there was no Shelby American organization yet).