Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images (2014) |
Mr. Hank Williams and his 289 Cobra CSX-2227
Article and Photographs: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images
I had the pleasure of meeting up with Hank Williams at the recent “2nd Annual Tribute to Carroll Shelby” held in Gardena, California.
Williams was an aspiring musician in the 1950’s when he determined that, “there was no future in it”. Working at USC County hospital gave him enough money to acquire his first true sports car, a black MGA, which required some work. Taking night classes at a local school he learned metalwork and was able to fix it up. After joining the local sports car club he discovered that he was competitive in slalom-style events. Around this time he was becoming frustrated with the lack of performance the MGA had and soon found a 1963 Healey 3000 Mk III. Once he stiffened it up he started winning events.
Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images (2014) |
Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images (2014) |
Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images (2014) |
The Cobra has over 140,000 miles on the odometer and shows a patina that comes with 50 years of driving. Although given a repaint in 1980 the car has never been to a body shop, rare for any car that age and even rarer for a Cobra. The car is all original down to the brass brads that attach the headlight bezels to the fenders. Williams states that due to its originality it is used as a benchmark when judging other Cobras at Concourse events. Under the hood is the original 289 V-8 that has been rebuilt by Marvin McFee. The only competition modifications done were; “I fitted five-spoke American Mag wheels, headers, a 715 Holley, and modified the exhaust to the side. Those English Armstrongs (shocks) were quickly swapped for Konis. I bought all the bits from Shelby American and did the work myself.” All the original parts he took off are still in his possession enabling him to bring the car back to original, as sold, 1964 specs.
Image Credit: Brandon O’Brien / Motor Driven Images (2014) |
Mr. Hank Williams considers the car a keeper and has no intension of parting with it. One of the reasons, “It’s always a hit with the ladies”. Did he trailer the car to the event? No, he drove it from his home near Rancho Cucamonga, about 65 miles away.
... notes from The EDJE