King Cobra

[cobraracer]

I've been hunting everywhere I can think of to try and find some info on the Motion 'King Cobra' with no luck. All I have to go on is what little I remember from when I was a kid. Does anyone know of a lead I could check out? Any info would be greatly appreciated...I've been chasing this ghost for years! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Thanks,Ed

[AutoInsane]

Well here it is in model form. One hell of a bad assed car! Where is it today?????

http://www.diecast.org/diecast98/html/asp/list_reviews/xq/ASP/id.ERT33059/qx/reviewpix.htm

(taken from another modeling web site): "All Hail the King!" Before rising to fame as the creative genius behind the Baldwin-Motion Chevrolets, Joel Rosen also knighted a couple of Shelby Cobras-a 289 and a 427, both of which held National records. When Carroll Shelby came out with the 427 Cobra, Rosen took it one step further and came up with the King Cobra. Right after building the King Cobra, Rosen drove 2 1/2 hours to the drag strip, changed plugs and slapped on a pair of slicks, and the King Cobra held court by cracking off a 10.27 ET, demolishing the previous record by a full two seconds! Few dared joust with the likes of the King Cobra"

[AutoInsane]

Hey, have you checked with the Shelby Registry?? I would think they would have some idea of the ownership history of the car and if there is also a 289 car.

[JoeC]

I don't think Joel owned the King Cobra but did race it. He owned the SB Dragon Snake that he said was one of 2 built by Shelby. He set a lot of records with that car in early 60s.
here is a pic of the Ertle with Motion post card of Dragon Snake and autographed time slip /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[cobraracer]

I do have the Ertl King Cobra-it's on top of the screen I'm looking at right now! I was hoping to find old pics or history/articles. Doesn't seem like there's much out there on this car. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[55chevy]

Revell made a model kit of the King Cobra too. That's still one I need to pick up.

[JoeG]

Here's one-----------

[cobraracer]

<font color="red"> </font> NICEEE!!....more! more!
but wait..NASCAR record holder?

[AutoInsane]

Cobra, did you have any luck with the Shelby Registry?

"SAAC World Registry: About every 5-10 years SAAC publishes a (comprehensive!!) World Registry containing historical and owner information on every car built by Carroll Shelby."

SAAC (Shelby American Automobile Club)
P.O. Box 788
Sharon, Connecticut 06069 U.S.A.
860-364-0449 24-hr. voice mail
860-364-0769 fax line
email to: [email protected]

[cobraracer]

I did look around there a bit but then I tried the clubcobra site &amp; someone there had pictures (then&amp;now!) that they posted. The car still exists but is very mundane looking(and blue)with no hint of its past. I still would like to find some old mag articles on it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[JoeC]

I got an email from the owner who said he is going to restore it back to King Cobra status /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[cobraracer]

Now thats what I like to hear! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gifThis is the recent pic that clubcobra has posted.

[cobraracer]

and another one from the good ole days... If anyone knows of magazines with articles on this car could you please tell me what issue &amp; month/year. I have a pretty big collection of old magazines but I really don't want to go tearing through them looking for one or two articles.
Thanks again.

[AutoInsane]

Was there more than one car? Was there also a small block 289 car? The only reason I say this is the quote I lifted from one of the modeling websites mentioned two....

[JoeC]

yes see my first post in this thread

[olredalert]

-------Seems to me that Bruce Larsen raced a small block Dragin-Snake back in the day,didnt he?Also,I remember Larry Megibow at the Glass Car Co.in New Jersey having a small-block Dragin-Snake for sale back in the early 80s!........Bill S

[copo9566aa]

Joel Rosen /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif with the Motion Perf King Cobra. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

That year, Rosen helped launch the
new operation by running no less than
two Cobras under the Motion Perform-
ance banner. Most of the thrust was
placed on a 427 Cobra owned by Clem
Hoppe and built, tuned and driven by
Joel Rosen. The injected small block Co-
bra took a backseat to the ferocious 427
Cobra dubbed King Cobra.
During Motion's early years, racing
activities were of a low profile nature,
but whenever possible. Rosen usually
drove shop-sponsored cars to and from
the dragstrip, but that wasn't possible
with the injected Cobra. However, the
blueprinted medium riser 427 in the
King Cobra could be managed on the
street. And, Rosen drove it everywhere.
It's interesting to note that Rosen's
first run with the King Cobra netted
him a 11.90 time slip running against
an 11.40 record in the old NASCAR drag
racing books, Later, while running
against this record at a NASCAR sanc-
tioned track, he set a new record with
the King Cobra at 131 mph in 10.64 sec-
onds. Then he tried his luck with
NHRA. At the 1966 National record
runs at Atco, New Jersey, Rosen blasted
the standing record.After driving more
than 3 1/2 hours to Atco in an open 427
Cobra, he changed the plugs and tires
and made his pass. After set ting the re-
cord at 10.67 seconds, he put the street
plugs back in, changed to street tires
and drove back home. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[copo9566aa]

1965 cool Motion Perf cobra 289 story /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Rosen crossed the imaginary
line into the enemy camp-Ford. ln 1965
Motion Performance debuted its head
turning Shelby Cobra finished in Gold
Metalflake and fitted with a Rosen-built
289 cubic inch Hilborn injected small
block. The Cobra and Rosen set a num-
ber of local, regional and national drag
racing records. Prior to Rosen's pur-
chase.of the Cobra it had been a .celeb-
rity car. He bought it from controversial
disc jockey Bob Dayton whose outra-
geous comments abruptly ended his ca-
reer on New York radio.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[JoeG]

copoo9566aa,
Great article and vintage photo of Rosen in his shop
Not bad for a young mechanic from N.Y.--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif--JoeG

[sYc]

Yes, Bruce Larsen did race a Cobra, and still has it, as well as a couple of his old funny cars. Bruce told me that he enjoyed racing the Cobra, but his employer, Sutliff Chevrolet, caguht him with the Ford on their dyno, and suggested that it might look better if he raced a Chevy, thus the beginning of a long standing sponsership for Bruce from Sutliff.

[cobraracer]

I've learned more about the Motion Cobra here than I have in the past 25 years!I can't thank you guys enough /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif Keep 'em comin!!
Thanks,Ed /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[copo9566aa]

CSX 3159 was converted to drag racing specs by Baldwin Motion Performance in Baldwin, NY http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Cobra (http://www.csxinfo.net/compcars/csx3159/index.htm)

[JoeG]

Joel Rosen with owner Clem Hoppe http://www.yenko.net/attachments/99873-JHCOBRA.jpg

[427TJ]

Here's a small photo from a Marty Schorr book on Fords. Joel Rosen is seen running a Weber-carbed 289 Cobra on the Motion dyno. Note forward-braced rollbar common to the 289 cars. (Yes, a few early 427 cars had forward-braced rollbars.)

The caption in the book says: "Motion Performance campaigned a normal Cobra brought up to Dragonsnake specifications by owner-driver Joel Rosen. Car was a consistent East Coast winner, destroying Corvettes on a regular basis."

Note that it says "owner-driver" Joel Rosen.

[sYc]

Another Cora that was drag raced, and did quite well, is the one sitting in Bruce Larsen's barn. This is the car Bruce raced before moving on to his Sutliffe sponsered Chevys. Bruce sold the Cobra to our very own Ed Hedrick, who was very successful with the car.

[JoeG]

Tom-----Any photos of that Cobra--I like to see that one http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

-- http://www.yenko.net/attachments/99879-cobrastreetable.jpg

[sYc]

http://www.carmemories.com/cgi-bin/viewzoom.cgi?image=2162


Car #2.

http://www.teamwatsononline.com/rileysprint32/varioushistoricracecarspage1.htm

[427TJ]

Love it! Wires up front and Halibrands out back. Too cool.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif x 100

[JoeG]

Great stop action photo----
The color on that Cobra really "POPS"---- http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif/gorgeous--
Man would I luv to take that COBRA wot/1320----

[copo9566aa]

Thanks http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
427 DragonSnake Pic &amp; Spec http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[JoeG]

Thanks Roger http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif info---Here's a shot from the rear-- http://www.yenko.net/attachments/100081-cbbbra.jpg

[JoeC]

The Motion Dragon Snake "289" was a stroker out to about 340 cu in. Was very quick and Joel set a lot of records with it. Both were cool Cobras

[JoeG]

I'd give all your money Joe for either one http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif -

[JoeC]

Joe, send your Chevelle to my office in Nigeria and I will send both Cobras to your home http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[JoeG]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif--- http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[copo9566aa]

Not cheap for 1964 a DragonSnake 289 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Stage I-D 271 HP $6,795
Stage II-D 300 HP $7,495
Stage III-D 325 HP $8,695
Stage IV-D 380 HP $8,995

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[JoeG]

Your right Roger ----that was a lot of money back then---

[Motion Camaro]

<font color="blue">Thanks for all the great pics &amp; info. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
.</font>