Sports cars have always appealed to gearheads, and naturally so, as they are literally designed to satisfy our need for speed. While there is still a great supply of new sports cars in 2024, including those that still offer manual transmissions, the lure of a classic model is far too strong for many to resist. Not only are they often more exclusive and better to look at, but they offer a pure, more analog driving experience that just cannot be replicated with a modern car.

It goes without saying then, that some of these older models are quite collectible, and thus prices can soar to six or even seven-figure sums for the most desirable models. Nevertheless, if you’ve got the cash, you can always have one. Save except for the all-American sports car which we focus on throughout this article, as only one exists. Try as they might, collectors just can’t get their hands on this genuine unicorn of a sports car.

Collectors Scramble To Own This Truly Unique American Sports Car

In the same year that Chevrolet launched the original Corvette, 1953, a small British firm by the name of AC debuted their playful roadster, dubbed the Ace. The AC Ace would initially be powered by small capacity inline-six engines provided by Bristol, but when the supply of engines dried up, AC had to find an alternative supplier. In steps none other than Carroll Shelby, who had his foot in Ford’s door at the time. The marriage between Shelby, Ford and AC was a huge success, and while earlier cars made do with 260 and 289ci V8 engines, the most potent models would go on to sport the famous 427ci big block.

Regardless of engine capacity, all original Shelby Cobras, and AC models, for that matter, are hugely collectible and command fortunes at auction. However, for the collector that simply must have the very best, there will only be one iteration of the Cobra on their mind – the 1966 Super Snake. Not to be confused with the ’67 Mustang GT500 Super Snake, this Cobra is a twin-turbocharged monster, designed solely so that Carroll Shelby himself could have a ‘Cobra to end all Cobras’.

The Super Snake was built around a competition-spec 427 Cobra, and so while performance was always present, Shelby engineers made significant changes for the Super Snake. The most notable upgrade is a pair of Paxton superchargers, which saw output soar from 550 to 800 horsepower. To accommodate the superchargers, a significantly larger hood scoop was required, while wider arches made way for a more aggressive wheel and tire combo, and a wider grill opening secured more air to keep the potent powertrain cool.

So, with 800 horsepower under the hood and timeless styling from one of the most desirable brands in American car history, it’s no mystery why the ’66 Cobra Super Snake is so coveted by collectors today. There’s a catch though, Shelby only ever made two examples – one for himself, and one for comedian Bill Cosby, and only the former car is still with us today.

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The Only Other Super Snake Cobra Was Destroyed In A Tragic Accident

Supposedly, Bill Cosby drove his gifted Super Snake just once and was so uncomfortable with the amount of performance on tap, that he sold the car immediately. The car, known by chassis number CSX 3303, would pass through a few owners before ending up with Tony Maxey. Unfortunately, when powering down a coastal road, a tragic accident left both Tony and his Cobra plummeting down a cliff-side and into the Pacific Ocean, leaving just one Cobra Super Snake left in existence.

With only one 1966 Shelby Cobra Super Snake left, collectors and enthusiasts alike simply cannot get their hands on one, no matter how much they desire to own it.

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The Cobra Super Snake Is A Prized Collectible Worth Over $5 Million

The ’66 Super Snake is made of pure unobtanium, and with only one in the world, you’d have to be insanely patient in waiting for it to come up for sale. However, in March 2021, the waiting game paid off for one lucky Shelby fan, as this 800 horsepower Cobra did finally come up for public auction.

Shelby’s ultimate Cobra was offered for sale through Barrett-Jackson auctions, and after some intense bidding action, the hammer finally fell at $5.5 million, to include the buyer’s commission. That’s a high price to pay for any car, but when it comes to American sports cars, it simply does not get any better than Carroll Shelby’s personal Super Snake Cobra. The ultimate American sports car commanded the ultimate seven-figure sum, and the reward given to the highest bidder is arguably the most desirable American sports car ever made, and one that other collectors can now only dream of.

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You Have $100,000. What Is The First Sports Car You Would Buy?

If you had the opportunity to buy your dream sports car, would you take it? Let’s assume that you have $100,000. For some, the choice might be easy, but for many there may be too many options to choose from.

Shelby’s Super Snake Sports Car Is A Twin-Supercharged Monster

Engine & Performance Specs

(Specs courtesy of Fastest Laps)

The real appeal to this awesome Cobra is the insanely powerful V8 that hides under the hood. Starting out as a competition-spec 427ci big block V8, it was always a performer, although with Shelby’s addition of not one but two huge Paxton superchargers, the Cobra is transformed into quite possibly the most dangerous sports car ever built.

Output peaks at around 800 horsepower, which is enough to challenge even the most ferocious sports and supercars of today, so it must have seemed otherwordly back in 1966. All of that is channeled through a 3-speed automatic transmission and then sent to the huge rear wheels, which are barely contained within the extra bulbous rear arches.

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Collectors On A Budget Can Settle For Continuation And Replica Models

If you are a Shelby collector or avid sports car enthusiast, and you’re just itching at the chance to sample this highly desirable yet unattainable American icon, then do not worry. Sure, the real thing is worth upwards of $5 million, and there’s no guarantee it’ll ever be offered publicly for sale again, but you can secure the next best thing for a comparable steal.

Shelby American will happily build you a continuation model of their awesome 427 Cobra, in addition to a wealth of other kit car companies too. The Shelby-built Cobras naturally fetch more money, being the ‘real deal’, but shopping around on the second-hand market means you can find some temptingly affordable options. It’s not unusual to find Cobra replicas selling for in the region of $50,000, or double that if you want something with an engine even half as terrifying as Shelby’s Super Snake.

Sources: Shelby American, Barrett-Jackson Auctions, Fastest Laps, Bring A Trailer, CarBuzz, TopSpeed