Borrowing from British engineering excellence, Carroll Shelby, a legendary race car driver, dreamt of an American powerhouse. His vision manifested in the Shelby Cobra, a masterful modification of the nimble AC Ace roadster.
Through a collaboration with AC and Ford, Shelby’s vision roared to life in 1962. For the next five years, the Cobra ruled the streets and racetracks, receiving a series of performance upgrades that culminated in the monstrous 427 cubic inch big-block V8 engine.
Yet, the story of the Shelby Cobra takes a more extreme turn with the Super Snake. Built upon the already impressive 427 Cobra, the Super Snake would become a bespoke embodiment of untamed power, arguably the most dangerous road-legal car of its era. A rare gem emerged from Carroll Shelby and his team in Venice in 1965: the CSX 3015, one of only 26 Competition Cobras built with the powerful 427 engine.
This thoroughbred race car, destined for the 1966 model year, started on a promotional tour across Europe alongside another Competition Cobra and two Shelby GT350R Mustangs shortly after its completion. Based on the latest Mk III Cobra with a race-prepped 427 engine, the CSX 3015 completed its mission overseas before returning to the United States a year later.
Back home, Shelby set his sights on transforming unsold Competition Cobras into the ultimate street-legal beasts, christened the S/C (Semi Competition). The CSX 3015, however, would take a different path, changing into a one-of-a-kind ride with Shelby himself behind the wheel.
This particular Cobra wasn’t destined for the track anymore. Instead, it was being transformed into Carroll Shelby’s dream a powerful, street-legal companion for everyday driving. The project kicked off in early 1967, and while CSX 3015 retained the muscular physique of its racing past, it underwent some key modifications to comply with road regulations.
These changes included the addition of bumpers, mufflers, and a larger windscreen for better visibility, replacing the smaller version used solely on competition Cobras. A legend born from a promotional tour, the Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake is a rare gem even among Cobras.
With a monstrous engine exceeding 800 horsepower, it blurred the line between the high-performance race car and a barely-street-legal monster. Though safety concerns might scoff at its existence, car enthusiasts revere it as one of Carroll Shelby’s crowning achievements, a testament to pushing boundaries and raw power.
Despite one car’s tragic demise, the surviving Super Snake, CSX 3015, continues to command staggering sums at auction, exceeding $5 million on multiple occasions. This automotive icon remains a testament to American muscle and the thrill of untamed performance.
