Ernie, Ron,
I have a small poster f
that is many years old in front of me about the ESSEX 1965 Team 427 Cobra.
I will type what it says. The Beach Boy's hit song "Hey Litttle Cobra" took on special meaning for ESSEX Wire Corporation in the mid-1960s. In those years the Ford 427 Cobra was one of the most exciting new sports cars on the road, designed to shut down the legendary Corvettes and XKEs. These Cobras were manufactured by ESSEX Wire's biggest customer, the Ford Motor Company. In 1965, ESSEX entered the intense world of Grand Prix Road Racing with an unparalled team of drivers and the impressive 1965 Ford Shelby 427 Cobra. Driving in the straightaways at speeds up to 150 mph, the car performed beautifully with ESSEX products. Team ESSEX driver Ed Lowther once commented that the car was so good that, "I can start the engine in this car, put it in gear and go to the men's room, and it will win the race by the time I get back." This Cobra known affectioonatley as "Ollie the Dragon", was, in fact, the winningest Cobra ever made. There is more on the poster but it is mostly just some background of the drivers and such. Skip Scott, Dr. Dick Thompson, and Ed Lowther. And of course a black and white picture of the car at speed with the number 91 on it.
Ron
