1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Snake Charmer
Henry "Hank" Williams was a man of many talents — a decorated war hero who took part in D-Day at Normandy beach, a medical professional, and a jazz musician who played drums with B.B. King, Fats Domino, and Ray Charles. Williams was looking for something to replace his aging Austin-Healey and found it at Norman Ford Sales of Pomona, California. Originally planning on buying a Corvette, Williams was ignored at a Chevrolet dealer due to the color of his skin, drove straight to the closest Ford dealer, and made a deposit on this 1964 289 Cobra, chassis no. CSX 2227 finished in Princess Blue. That nearly wasn't enough to make the purchase, however. When Williams returned to get the car, he was informed that the Cobra wasn't supposed to be sold, as it was on loan from another dealer. Williams informed the salesman that he'd leave with the car or return with his lawyer, and the Cobra magically appeared. Williams and the Cobra became legends on the West Coast, competing in 394 races, SAAC events, and car shows, and even becoming friends with Carroll Shelby himself — even talking Shelby into giving him the shirt off his back, earning Williams the nickname "snake charmer". Williams drove the Cobra over 140,000 miles, a figure that would make most collectors collapse. The car is currently for sale and includes documentation and souvenirs from the car's long history.
