Dragonsnakes now?? - Page 3

Cal Metal · #41 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 10:20 AM

Special thanks to Ed Hedrick for being so kind to share his story and pictures. What a treat to have someone of Ed's stature on Club Cobra. What a great narrative and we will lean on him for some more stories, as I am sure there are many. Thanks again, Ed.

PDHse · #42 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 11:03 AM

I,ll second that. Excellelent picture Ed.

computerworks · #43 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 06:41 AM

Ed Hedrick has submitted a few more vintage images of CSX2093.

Here is CSX2093 at Niagra...

...a page from a magazine covering 1967 results. A nice shot of a "young" Ed and his Street Eliminator title.

Ed and CSX2093 at the Kendall Refinery...

Thanks, Ed!

mrmustang · #44 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 06:48 AM

Great shots..............

Bill S.

Cal Metal · #45 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 08:41 AM

Wonderful shots, Ron. Love those old PR photos. Really takes me back to the 60s. Thanks, too, Ed, for letting us post those. What a great looking car.

PDHse · #46 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 10:58 AM

Wow, great pictures Ed. Did you ever come up against other Cobras on the dragstrip? Also can you tell me was the Car the same colour as when Costillo/Larsen owned it.

PDHse · #47 (**permalink**) 12-29-2003, 10:58 AM

This is from Hot Rod December 1964.

hurricaneharold · #48 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by computerworks

Here's the essence of Cal's prior post on the Harr Ford car...

"Ah...yes..CSX 3198. Purchased through Harr Motor Co. in Worcester, Mass. for their own use. Car came without color from AC and was later painted cranberry. With hard top and accessories the car ran over $10,000.

It had "shorty sidepipes", M & H slicks, 4.50 gears, Konis, etc.

Gus Zuidema, who was the Harr's performance service manager, drove the car in A/Sports/Modified with a 10.02 @ 146 mph.

A big controversy erupted between Carroll Shelby and Harr Ford when SAI would not back the 427 when it blew up in a subsequent race. Harr blamed SAI for not installing heavy duty connecting rods. Harr Ford must have had some clout as the controversy reached the office of Lee Iacocca. Harr threatened to sign off with his sales agreement with SAI. Larson Ford also said they would back Harr and also sign off.

It was later found out that Harr Ford had blown up a transmission and the engine had overwound. In a subsequent race, Zuidema missed three gears at the NHRA Winternationals and overwound the motor. Ford's rods were built for road racing and not drag racing.

Harr didn't care and said regardless of the incidents just mentioned, SAI was responsible for the motor. SAI agreed to pay $1,200 to Harr, although in the final analysis, Harr admitted they had been misinformed by their service people regarding the motor. As such, payment was held up and the funds were never sent to Harr Ford at that time; although, it was able to recoup the $1,200 because of the incentives SAI gave to Dragonsnakes that won national events.

Car was put for sale by Harr Ford in l966. Part of sales pitch was: Car hold both ends of National Record (A/SP, NHRA) Has won A/SP class everytime out. Won Street Eliminator 50% of total attempts.

Car has unusual history. Someone attempted to build a fake of it and peddle it in Japan. Based on a fiberglass kit car, no less. Supposedly rebuilt following a "wreck". "

Interseting info there

weston24 · #49 (**permalink**) 09-23-2006, 07:17 PM

To all in the group, I had the opportunity to watch Gus Zuydemia run both of the Harr Ford Cobras many times. I went to a Regional school in Orange Mass, we had a hot rod club one of the first in the country called the "Carbs" on the first Sunday of every Month they held drag races at the Orange airport. Gus would match race a guy from Worcester called Fred Cain with a Dodge hemi with the 289 Gus used to get a spot, at that time I also raced and we used flags no lights. When he got the 427 they raced even. As I look back it was one of the most exciting times of my life. I have a Shelby GT350 that was purchased by a friend, from Harr Ford that I am in the process of restoring. when I am done it will be on to some sort of Dragonsnake Cobra.

bulletbrown · #50 (**permalink**) 10-11-2006, 12:21 PM

To the history buffs, I hear a story about a east coast Ford dealer who had Ford cast some aluminum FE,s , is this true ? was it Harr Ford ? where they tried in a Cobra ?

jsdonofrio · #51 (**permalink**) 10-15-2006, 02:00 PM

I have Cobra csx 3196. How can I find out if my car came with a side oiler engine, or a center oiler?

hurricaneharold · #52 (**permalink**) 10-15-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsdonofrio

I have Cobra csx 3196. How can I find out if my car came with a side oiler engine, or a center oiler?

How about posting some pics of the car on here....

computerworks · #53 (**permalink**) 10-15-2006, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsdonofrio

I have Cobra csx 3196. How can I find out if my car came with a side oiler engine, or a center oiler?

Nothing in the Registry to that effect.

We probably need to look at other cars bracketing the original ship date of 02/66.

It does note that by the early 70's it had an engine swap for a Boss 429.

Power Surge · #54 (**permalink**) 10-15-2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsdonofrio

I have Cobra csx 3196. How can I find out if my car came with a side oiler engine, or a center oiler?

Being a late 65 car, I would think it should have a 427 side oiler.

Definitely an interesting history to this car. A former owner even claims at one point it had a Boss 429 in it.

EDIT: looks like Ron and I were typing at the same time

mercman · #55 (**permalink**) 01-10-2007, 03:49 PM

i have read with great interest all of the replys to the origional question and i am amazed at DragonSnake
knowledge that exist in the Club. There is one thing that needs to be addressed regarding the Harr 427 car. This
car was the brain child of Don McCain who was and still is
with Carroll Shelby. Les Ritchey built the engine in this car and it was built to NHRA specs. When the "rod" problem
came up with Harr, it was explained that NHRA did not
allow for a rod that was not stock. Don came down to my parts department and got a stock 427 rod and a 427 LeMans rod and took off for Worcester to get this mess straight. He did. Hence the fessing up of missed gears.
There is more history regarding Don and this car but that is for a later date. Thanks for keeping the Drag cars alive.

PDHse · #56 (**permalink**) 01-18-2007, 02:18 AM

Mercman, please share some more of your memories please. Paul

Mark IV · #57 (**permalink**) 11-14-2008, 10:54 AM

The era ends, Harr Motor is closing.

DougD · #58 (**permalink**) 11-14-2008, 01:05 PM

jsdonofrio
"I have Cobra csx 3196. How can I find out if my car came with a side oiler engine, or a center oiler?"

This issue has been discussed previously on this forum. There is no definitive source for this info, but the extensive amount of research that went into SAAC's Registry gives some clues. 427 Cobras came with either 427 center oilers, 428 PIs, or 427 side oilers, roughly 100-150 of each of the three types. Ford provided the engines to Shelby, and 427s were never plentiful. Shelby used what Ford sent them. In the fall of '64, into early '65, there were no side oilers available as they were not produced in quantity yet. That's why the early group of cars had center oilers. The 428s were installed for two reasons - one, they were cheaper, and two, they were available. Late in production, when Shelby decided to install 427s again, the side oiler 427s were used because that was what Ford was building at the time.

This thread gives more info from an expert:

how many 427 cars had 427 ci engines

From this info, it looks like your car likely had a center oiler (or maybe a 428?) from day 1. Nedsel is the one who would know or could make the best informed guess.

Historybuff · #59 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 05:04 PM

Coincidence! I was at the Cars & Coffee meet in Irvine this Saturday and I saw a ratty Cobra
black , lots of dings, that somebody said was a Dragonsnake once. It was a small block.
It was owned by a Costa Mesa guy whose name is the same as a car dealer but I don't know if he is the car dealer since he seems to have aged from the guy I knew with the same name back in the day.
I took one picture , front 3/4, so let me know if you want to trade it for
a pic of a genuine AC Cobra from the UK. I don't know if it came out yet so contact me in a couple weeks (yes, I still shoot film and want to finish the roll...) to see if the picture came out. Be prepared to see a ratty car.

B.M.B.C · #60 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Historybuff

Coincidence! I was at the Cars & Coffee meet in Irvine this Saturday and I saw a ratty Cobra
black , lots of dings, that somebody said was a Dragonsnake once. Be prepared to see a ratty car.

Thats how they all should be. Not trailer shine and show queens like most but not all of them!!