CSX2019 Dragonsnake being auctioned in May

When the car you've owned continuously for 39 years starts getting richer than you are, it's time to let go. CSX2019, the original factory Dragonsnake, will be at the Mecum Spring Classic Auction in Belvidere, IL at the end of May.

Quick facts: Red factory PR car, documented appearance in the Elvis Presley film "Viva Las Vegas," repainted Sungleam metallic Viking Blue and converted to Dragonsnake (the first of two factory comp cars, out of a total of only six Dragonsnakes ever produced), national record holder, still in its original paint and racing livery, never restored.

I'm the second owner, having bought CSX2019 in 1967 from Randy Berry, who had continued to race the car successfully after it was delivered to him by Shelby American. For the last 30 years, the Dragonsnake has been stored and maintained in my climate-controlled print shop in Rochester, NY.

See http://www.mecumauction.com/auctions/lot_detail.html?CART=114043454056276163&LOT_ID=SC0506-35662

and http://www.shelbyford.com for more details.

 

There were three: CSX2019 (red/black), CSX2024 (white/red), and CSX2038 (also white/red but painted silver for the movie). 2019 and 2038 were Shelby PR cars, 2024 ended up being sold as a demonstrator. For more on the movie role, and a copy of Shelby's invoice to MGM, see

http://www.shelbyford.com/movies.html

 

Your son would love to see this movie! It's not only the most successful Elvis flick but features some surprisingly realistic (for its time) Cobra racing footage. The DVD is still available from Amazon and on eBay. I've included a link to the Amazon page in the left black panel on http://www.shelbyford.com/movies.html

 

Mike, there are a number of mostly historical pictures of all the Dragonsnakes at http://www.shelbyford.com - with more to come on CSX2019 as soon as I've finished the brochure for the auction. For the most recent photo, check out http://www.shelbyford.com/specs2019.html. The wrap-around hardtop is off for refurbishing. If anyone knows where to get a replacement rubber strip to go between the top and the body, please let me know. Maybe from Kirkham or Hawk?

 

Do you know Hans Schmidt, the original owner? If you haven't read his comments on the shelbyford.com site, here is the link: http://www.shelbyford.com/schmidt.html

 

Yes, on both counts: shelbyford.com is my site, and I'm always looking for more material on the six Dragonsnakes. Because I need to get CSX2019 ready for auction (refurbishing the hardtop and rebuilding the Webers, right after I finish a 28-page color brochure on the history of the car), any updates to the site will probably have to wait until after Memorial Day.

If you'd like to get in touch with Hans, send me your e-mail address. He lives near Buffalo, sixty miles from here. I'd also be happy to send you a copy of the CSX2019 brochure when it's done, if you're interested. Let me know.

 

No, it's CSX2093, the Costilow & Larson/Ed Hedrick car. Originally built as a street model, the car was later converted for drag racing. Note the wire wheels up front. All six Dragonsnakes came with mag wheels on all four corners.

For more on this Cobra, the most successful of the independent drag cars, go to http://www.shelbyford.com/independents.html. When Ed Hedrick raced it, be took home the 1967 NHRA national points championship. For more from Ed, see http://www.shelbyford.com/hedrick.html

 

Don't know about Jim Costilow, but Bruce Larson is alive and well and living in Stoney Creek, near Harrisburg, PA. He managed to buy CSX2093 for his museum a few years ago. See http://www.shelbyford.com/independents.html