Equipment
289/271hp, 4-speed, Stewart Warner gauges, mag wheels with Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, includes the original build sheet, competition trophies and “Snake Charmer” team shirt.
Condition
#3 Good
Runs and drives well. Flaws not noticeable to passersby. Most common condition.
Offered by the family of the original owner Hank Williams. Not that Hank Williams, the country singer, but the car still had a cool history. This Hank Williams was a sports car enthusiast looking to buy a Corvette to replace his Austin-Healey. But, being a black man in the mid-1960s, he had a hard time getting any kind of service at Chevrolet dealerships. So he went to a Ford store and bought a 289 Cobra. Williams drove it to work during the week and raced it on weekends. He also repainted it from Princess Blue to Silver Mink (a Lincoln color). Nobody else drove or raced the car during its more than 130K miles, and Williams lived to be 99. The paint is faded and thinning in areas, and worn away at the top of the grille. The chrome is faded and the paint on the wheels is chipped. The engine compartment is faded and aged and the interior shows significant wear, however there are no rips or tears to the upholstery. A wonderful preservation car with a great story. The "NO KIT" license plate is also a great touch.
Market commentary
This is one of those sales that at first glance doesn't make a ton of sense. The price here is about twice that of a perfect 289 Cobra, and it bought a kind of shabby high-mile one instead. But the story is a cool one, and the opportunity to buy an unrestored and unmolested Cobra from the original owner is the kind of thing that, at this point, may never happen again. Even in a mixed market, exceptional and unique cars sell well.