Did you know, back in the period you are talking about, Ol’ Shel built two “Super Snake” Cobras? 1100 HP as I recall. I believe Bill Cosby owned one but scared himself so bad in it he sold it to a guy who later crashed it and was killed. The remaining SS was auctioned at Barrett-Jackson a few years ago by Carroll himself and went for $5.5M.
I have a Kimble cut-away poster of the beast here in the DawgHouse as I type. Looking at it makes my niplets all tingly ;)
I remember hearing that story about Cosby a long time ago and had forgotten about it. Ironic that the next owner killed himself in the car.