The only Dragonsnake Cobra equipped at the factory with the Stage III quadruple-Weber carburetion system, this 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra, CSX2427, was ordered new by Don Reimer of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, who—with his younger brother Mike—took delivery of the car from Adams County Motors Corporation. Invoiced to that Gettysburg Ford dealer on August 3, 1964 at $8,695 plus a $305 freight charge for a total of $9,000, the car arrived wearing special- order yellow paint to match the color of the Reimer brothers’ Thunderbird tow vehicle. After a few shakedown runs at a local airfield, the Reimer brothers began racing at the now legendary York U.S. 30 Drag-O-Way, with Mike at the controls and Don managing the team, competing in both A/Modified and AA/Modified Production racing with great success, as well as running at the Indianapolis Nationals that year. It was a serious effort, involving a small crew with matching yellow uniforms and a sharp aluminum car hauler complete with Cobra signage. But at the end of the season, Mike decided to return to school the following year and his father decided the car had to be sold. Even the ad placed in the December 1965 issue of “Car and Driver” magazine had a professional ring to it, reading: “SELL - 1965 Cobra - built by Shelby American especially for drags, complete with special suspension system, drag shocks, modified springs, dyno tuned headers, mag wheels, chrome roll bar, Hurst shifter, M&H Racemaster slicks, 4.56 rear. $4650.00 firm. Also will sell many extras: mag wheel and tire, new clutch and pressure plate, aluminum oil pan, Webers including many jets, trailer. Reason for selling, son returned to college.”
