[Steve Bisson]

It's the spring of 1966 and a young, overeager customer is visiting his local Ford dealership. He's read about the 427 Cobra's massive big-block power, and he just has to have one.

The salesman repeatedly tries to steer the young enthusiast toward the more practical and docile small-block version, the 289 Cobra, but the potential customer will have none of it. So the salesman dutifully wheels a bright-red Cobra to the front of the lot and takes the youngster for the ride of his life.

Upon their return, the customer is visibly shaken. Once he is able to quell his trembling enough to finally catch his breath, he sheepishly admits that perhaps the 289 version might be a little more to his liking after all.

The salesman looks over at him and says bluntly, "That was the 289 version."


An excerpt from "Dream Drive" in the September issue of Classic Motorsports