Mercury Comet A/FX

Posted on May 12, 2014 by classiccarweekly

1964 Mercury Comet A/FX Caliente

Offered by Mecum | Indianapolis, Indiana | May 17, 2014

Photo – Mecum

What was awesome about drag racing in the 1960s is that major automobile manufacturers were getting involved, building ridiculous specials utilizing everything they knew about how to make cars go fast. And they looked just like the stuff you could buy off the showroom floor.

In this case, the second generation Mercury Comet in top-trim Caliente form. Not that trim levels matter when the car is stripped bare and has numerous special bits bolted on. The engine is a 7.0-liter 427 “High Riser” V-8 rated at 425 horsepower.

This car competed in Southern Drag (as NASCAR-sponsored series) racing events. There are examples with better pedigree, but it is estimated that only 15 out the 21 A/FX Comets built in 1964 remain. This one should sell for between $275,000-$325,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $200,000.

Mercury Comet B/FX

Posted on May 12, 2014 by classiccarweekly

1965 Mercury Comet B/FX Cyclone

Offered by Mecum | Indianapolis, Indiana | May 17, 2014

Photo – Mecum

The A/FX class had been dominated in 1964 by the likes of the Comets seen at the top of this post. So in 1965, Mercury dropped down a level to see if they could broaden their dominance. Enter, the B/FX Comet.

The engines were smaller in this class, and this car has a 4.7-liter 289 with Weber carbs, putting out nearly 400 horsepower. That’s right, the Cobra engine.

Competition history on this particular example is unknown, but it is known that only nine of the original 15 B/FX Comets built still exist. This one should bring between $220,000-$300,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Mecum in Indy.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $170,000.

Dragonsnake Cobra

Posted on March 31, 2014 by classiccarweekly

1963 Shelby Cobra Dragonsnake

Offered by Mecum | Houston, Texas | April 12, 2014

Photo – Mecum

The Shelby Cobra is one of the most famous cars of all time. It was among the fastest street-legal cars built for decades after it as introduced. It dominated tracks in America and Europe and they command big money today. But did you know they also dominated on the drag strip?

Shelby offered the “Dragonsnake” drag racing package for the Cobra. It brought a host of options and made the car ludicrously expensive. This car uses the 289 4.7-Liter V-8 making 271 horsepower. And the Dragonsnake you see here is the winningest competition Cobra in history. It won seven NHRA National events and the 1966 NHRA World Championship. It also holds records in a few classes that aren’t around any more.

Only five Dragonsnakes were built by Shelby – three more were built by customers who bought the Dragonsnake package. This particular car sold in 2011 for $875,000 and failed to sell later that year for $825,000. So I guess it’s about an $800,000 car. You can read more here and see more from Mecum in Houston here.

VIN# CSX2093

Update: Not sold, high bid of $1,100,000.

Update: Sold, RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2016, $990,000.

Update: Not sold, Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2018.

Update: Not sold, Mecum Monterey 2019, high bid of $675,000.