What a car, what a piece of history. I’m so glad Herbie chose not to sell. An original Cobra and the original owner. Wow.

I remember this Cobra being shown at a car show in Woodley Park (San Fernando Valley, CA) many years ago. Steve was nice enough to bring it out of storage for a glimpse of sunshine. I had my red 1966 GT350 at the show, and was parked along side another GT350, a 1965, owned by Jay Leno. I was fortunate enough to win the popular vote for the 1965-66 class, and when I was driving out of the lot, this crazy guy came out, frying the tires in his GT350. He pulled up next to me, rolled down his window, and yelled at me "you took my trophy!". Of course it was Jay Leno. I still have the plaque from that show. What a day!

I'm in total awe... I love that he bought it to prove the point and show he could. More importantly that he learned it, enjoyed it and kept it as a treasure for himself. A beautiful story

Know this car very well. Myself, as well as Fernando, originally from Alto Alentejo Portugal by way of South Africa performed quite few repairs and maintenance at our shop in Santa Monica, Ca (Superformance). Fernando had formed a close bond with both Herbie as well as his wife Gigi and I met them both several times. They're absolutely first class in every way. I don't know how many miles I accumulated behind the wheel but it was significant. Sadly, Fernando passed from lung cancer a couple of decades ago, but the memories live on. Thank you for posting this up. You've rekindled fond memories.

I would have never guessed that HH would have been so nostalgic to keep it all these years. What a story!

Tom, you MUST do an on camera interview with Herbie! Let him tell the story, share some pictures, and share his passion with others! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! In the age of car flippers and price speculators, people really need to hear from a true car guy who LOVES his car with a passion and would never sell it like we do ours! The newer generations need to hear it. I really hope his grandson will love it. Start putting that kid in it right now! Drive him around to hear the exhaust and feel the acceleration, let him help wash it, put a plastic toy wrench in his hand to play with and start building those memories.

There was a you tuber that mad the comment that his dad worked at a Ford performance dealer that sold corbas. One day a dentist came in insisted they sell him a 427 Cobra which was the hottest and fastest car at the time. When he suggested they test drive a 289 Cobra the dentist was even more insistent, he was there for the 427. So he took him for a test ride in the 427 and really wrung it out. Now humbled, the Dentist said, "I think you're right. I think I need to consider the 289," to which the salesman said, "This IS the 289 Cobra."

Jay Leno did something on this car a few years ago. He and Herbie take it for a drive, and Herbie tells the story about how he came to buy the Cobra. Look it up on KZfaq. Well worth it.

Watermelon Man will always have a special place in my heart. In the '80s, my high school jazz band played at every boys home basketball game. We played during half time of the JV game, then between the two games, then during half time of the varsity game. If we were on the team, we'd run up on the stage in our uniform and play. Our coach hated when we missed the half time team meeting, but I gave up basketball to focus on music after my freshman year, anyway. If it annoyed him for a JV bench warmer like me to do it, I always wondered what he said to the varsity starters who were in the band. The break between games was longer than the halftime breaks. So, that was our big show. My junior and senior year, we opened it with me playing a big drum solo. At the end of my solo, I would segue into my Watermelon Man groove, and our director would bring in the band to play the song. I learned a lot from that experience. I learned about adding some showmanship into musicianship. I would wait until people started walking around, talking and heading out to the concession area. Then I would absolutely stomp the kick drum pedal, then slam the snare with a f'lam. I did that slowly to get people's attention, then gradually sped it up, changing the kick drum part a bit, then play the rest of the solo. It worked. People would turn around. Some would come back in from the concession area to watch us. I'm not sure Herbie would have approved of some mullet headed kid playing his song more like a rock song than jazz, but that's what I knew. My teacher, the great Mr. Saxophone, Mike Shannon, who had an amazing career as a musician, before and after teaching band and jazz band at a little podunk high school in Missouri, gave me tapes of great jazz drummers, like Art Blakey. He encouraged me to learn jazz, and tolerated the rock-'n'-roll vibe I brought into every song. When I dreamed of being a rock star as a kid, I dreamed of some day owning a Cobra. There aren't many cars that are as cool as that one. This video brought back all kinds of memories.

This is awesome, incredible. I’m a car guy and a music guy who saw both Herbie Hancock and Donald Byrd perform over the years. To think that Mr. Byrd put the bug in Mr. Hancock’s ear that led him to buy the third Cobra in existence off a showroom floor in Manhattan. And that Mr. Hancock learned to drive stick in this car, used it for years as his daily driver, raced Miles Davis in it and owns it to this day. One of the best car stories I’ve ever heard.

What a beautiful story. Thanks to Herbie for allowing his story and the car to be shared on the platform.

I’d always heard that the small block Cobra’s were much better to drive without so much weight on the front end. Beautiful car, best barn find episode.

Back in the ‘80’s a friend of mine who was an Apple engineer asked me to drop off a new computer to a guy in LA who was going to demo it in his music studio. I was heading down to LA for some business and agreed to assist. That guy was Herbie Hancock. I delivered the computer. To thank me, he sampled his entire new album for me in his home studio. Then he showed me the Cobra. I can’t tell you how much he loved that car and how proud he was to own it. The day I spent in LA with Herbie, his music, and his Cobra was priceless. I’ve obviously never forgotten it.

They should show this car at the Petersen Auto Museum as a whole display for this gem. Seeing an "all original" 260 A/C Cobra and all the history with it from the legendary Herbie Hancock on display would be a chance of a lifetime. Some real American history right there. Beautiful story guys and an amazing find.

As a musician and a car guy myself (Toyota), I love this story so much. That an African American could achieve what he did in that time in history and he used it to buy an early Cobra and then drove it until the pedals were smooth? Warms my heart.

What a phenomenal car and story. I've been a fan of Herbie Hancock since I was old enough to enjoy music (born in '62), and to know that he was/is a Cobra owner and enthusiast only deepens my respect for the man. It's a real pleasure watching Tom talk about this special car with mechanic Steve Beck; Tom lives the life I would aspire to. Thanks for sharing this with the world- you betcherass I'm a member of Hagerty Driver's Club!

I live about half a mile from Ed Hugus’s old shop location here in Pittsburgh. I never knew this history of the Cobra until now, soooo cool

Believe me or not,I am one of the few fortunate people who have driven the super Snake. The twin supercharged cobra with the automatic. It was being serviced at a performance shop in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and my shop was next door. The owner of the shop who has since passed away let me drive the car to get fuel in it. It was literally across the street and one door down. But just the feeling of the power that car had was amazing. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would get to drive that beast but I did.

What a story. Way to go Herbie. Thanks for all the great music and breaking down the race barriers. He deserves to hold that record forever.

A special car. And a real one. Herbie Hancock a great musician. And passing it down to his grandson. Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing! 💯👊👍

What a great story about a great car owned by a great musician. Glad Herbie still has this car.

What an awesome story. Herbie and Donald are both incredible!

She is a beautiful work of art. Thank you for sharing Herbie's Cobra with us. Great honor.

This, is why I love this channel. No one but Tom could relate that story so well. Mr. Hancock is a king in Jazz. The fact that he’s owned this car like this, is tremendous. Really.

Dude, your videos are awesome, keep it real

What a great story, Tom Cotter knocks it out of the park again.

Lifetime Cobra devotee and Carol Shelby fanboi. The story of Herbie Hancock and his Cobra is about the coolest thing I've ever heard. Herbie swings some great music too!

It's a story that brings a huge smile to any car lovers face.

What a great story of a historical person and a historical car which had a real bond in life.

This is one of the best Barn Find Hunter episodes that I have ever seen.

Very cool interesting story (I had heard the story had not seen the car) and an awesome color combo: very British. One small correction; the first AC Aces were 6 cylinder AC powered not Bristol powered. The Bristol engine was the second version followed by a 6 cylinder Ford engine (the smallest number of the three AC versions prior to the Cobra). I not only have seen real cobras but had an Uncle who had two different ones and was privileged to have a few high speed blasts in them as a child.

We need a video on the rest of the cars there

Wow ! What a GREAT Story. I love that the car was Well Used and Loved and hasn't been butchered for the track or strip.

I met Steve last year and he showed me this car. Such an amazing experience I will forever cherish.

What a story about a wonderful man and his car. This is incredible. Thanks for sharing.

Again…amazing car with amazing history ! Thank you for sharing and thank you Herbie for your musical and mechanical legacy !!!!!

I've always like the story about Herbie using it as his daily driver.

I saw Carroll's Shelby 260 at Shelby America in Las Vegas. I got the same feeling there that I got in Memphis in the Sun Records building. Just looking at greatness and history.

Love this one! I’m a Ford guy, owned a Superformance Cobra from Olthoff and raced it at VIR sometimes, and I’m a huge Jazz and Herbie Hancock fan! Awesome!! Thanks Tom!

That garage is home to many priceless cars that Steve has been entrusted to look after in his WWII ammo shed. Tom could make have a dozen videos right there in that shed.

I just purchased one of his vintage vinyls and appreciate it even more now. What an inspiring story!

Awesome! I am a Cobra guy and almost managed to buy a real 289 in 1969, on offer at Glover's of Ripon, Yorkshire, England for the princely sum of 1300 British pounds. White with red interior and chrome wire wheels, it had around 32000 miles on it. On instalments it would have cost me IIRC 74 pounds per month - a lot back then - but what killed the deal was that as an under-25-aged driver the mandatory insurance premium was more than that!! Sadly I had to leave it, but decades later between 1996-2000 I built a 302 Windsor-powered replica and drove that as my daily driver for 10 years of wonderful motoring!

My favourite Herbie song is " I thought it was you" where he sang down a tube to make his voice sound electronic ! And now I find he also owns my favourite car, a Cobra. Excellent Herbie !!! NEIL (uk)

This was one of your best episodes! I love the personal stories that go along with classic cars. It’s what makes this hobby

Tom, that hood key, those flip open lock covers and the spring latch below are all Triumph TR3 parts. The lock covers and lock are used on the TR3's spare tire compartment. The key is used on the hood and the spare tire compartment on TR3's.

One of the best episodes ever. How rare is that car. Wow!!! Thank you for taking us along on this trip

Hard to believe Herbie just turned 84 ✌💖☮

I had the pleasure of rebuilding a brake master cylinder on an AC Cobra while working for a Toyota Dealer in Keene NH in 1978 or 79. We worked on all kinds of imports. My background was European cars so this was a piece of cake for me. I let my service manager road test it. He was a road racer as well. I enjoy your finds. Keep up the good work if you can call it that.

Great story and falls great into a black history month theme. Im in total shock that a black man in the 60's had the balls to be driving around in that. My dad had a 1977 BMW 520 in the 80s and the South African Police back in the day impounded it not knowing he was a government worker, their reasoning was literally " there aint no way a black man can afford thisblet alone drive one while white people drive ford cortinas"😂😂😂 got it back weeks later after bringing his white boss to the John Foster Police station (notoriously known in South africa for all the wrong reasons even to this day).... he still has photos of it. Wonderful. Herbie is the man❤

Have a friend who's girlfriend, now wife, back in '78 went into an Olds dealership to buy the New Cutlass 442, one of the butt ugliest cars ever made and standing less than 5 feet tall, she was met with not a one salesperson who took her seriously. She finally cornered a salesperson and asked point blank if they wanted to sell her a car and reluctantly said they would but questioned how she was going to pay for it. Turns out she had worked her entire career for Southern Bell, Bell South and AT&T and had more money than Carter's had Little Liver Pills... She had the cash with her to buy it.

Just a fantastic story, thanks. I have totally new awe and respect for Mr.Hancock for both buying this car and driving it for over 100k miles. And also for keeping it all these years. Besides being his grandson, he will also inherent #6 Cobra. Nothing cooler than that in Car World.

Great story. That was one kick butt daily driver that was enjoyed and loved.

A wonderful story, told by a great story teller. Thanks Tom

Wow it's almost unbelievable. Most people would have changed the motor to a 289 or 427 I admire the originality of Herrbie for keeping it in the condition he bought it. It should be one of the most valuable Cobras in existence really

Just came back to my office with lunch - was listening to Herbie Hancock Cantaloupe Island on my Apple CarPlay playlist… killer song and a great talent. Thanks for sharing the car Tom.

Great to have Steve there too! Great story, great job guys! Thank you Herbie Hancock!!!

What an unbelievably great story. Thanks for sharing!

what a story! my favourite Barn Find Hunter yet and it's great to see a Cobra that is pure, without monstrous tyres and chrome sidepipes

Very nice to share this car with us , Thanks to the owner and all involved.

Wow! I discovered Herbie as the “Rockit” man as a kid in the 80s but never thought he is actually a rocket man. 😅

This was a Outstanding story. And the car Speaks for it self.....Wow...

I thought I was a Herbie fan…I had no idea that he is so connected to the early history of the Cobra. Absolutely amazing story. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for this! From an old black FORD jazz loving Hagerty client. Y'all really get it. Keep up the good work!

Awesome story ! Now ... what's in Steve's garage ? Side note on salesmen. In the early 70s, my father was talking to his friend about buying his next Lincoln. His friend owned the LM dealership in town. On the floor was a loaded station wagon, that a guy in overalls was looking at and being ignored by the salesman. Tom, excused himself, went oveer and got the salesman by the metaphorical ear to take care of Mr. Overalls. Mr. O, gets his questions answered and pulls around $16,000, early 70s dollars, out of his pocket and buys the wagon.

Cool car & great story! That 08 Cobra Show Car looked mind blowing! The color itself is amazing. I'd loved to see more of that one.

Love this great story Tom. What an awesome Cobra and the great man who owns it. Just amazing. Cheers!!

Amazing car. Amazing story. One lucky grandson!

Love Herbie!! He's one of my heroes. Thank you for telling us about this incredibly rare car. Wonderful stories!!

Wow! Almost makes me emotional! Amazing. And so cool how he got it.

I almost didn't watch this as I felt the subject dealt with people that could afford cars costing more than I've made in my 67 years of living. Having spent many years in private aviation I have met people that can afford cars like this out of pure passion, or other rare items like buying the second Les Paul guitar and have been enthralled by their story of how they came to owning such a piece and sharing that enthusiasm in that moment with someone that understood the passion and rarity. This story was just like that and a welcome surprise naming three artist I've enjoyed for years. I only wish Herbie could have been interviewed. This was a great interview and great story.

I have watched all of the Barn Find videos. They are all are very good and have great backstories. Tom, this one is the cream of the crop! Unbelievable. One of the best! Thank you!

Man, to realize how time has moved on, Herbie is now in his 80's. I remember when I first found out as a long haired 80's kid being about the rock n' roll and hearing Rocket, as simple as it may seem on the surface, his ability to make you wait for the next note, the man was so far ahead of what would come later on. And evidently surrounds himself with good people, and one that would tell him to buy a Cobra.

If you ever come to australia, hit me up. I know of a few barn finds that are hidden away that will blow your minds

Beautiful car and great story, thanks Tom!

What a great slice of history you've shared with us. Awsome story. Thank you, Tom.

Love it❤️❤️ best part? Giving it to his Grandson,, Wow 🤩 what a blessed Kid!! Long live Herbie and that Cobra 🐍 king of Jazz , king of Cars!!

Wow great story! That's a true car guy Herbie. He knows what he has and still drives it.

Sir I appreciate that real life story that you told. Nothing like the other side of the story🙏🏾💪🏾🙏🏾💪🏾

Thank you for sharing! Incredible car, story and history. Wow!

One of the BEST things I have EVER seen on KZfaq. I have read more than a few books on Shelby. This is the first I heave heard about cars built In Pittsburgh. Thanks for posting it was an awesome story.

This story is absolutely incredible… thank you for sharing it.

What a beautiful piece of history, praise Herbie!

That's very cool! Thanks for sharing!

Fantastic story contained in this car. Literally one of a kind and a piece of history.

I read an article years ago in an enthusiast magazine about Herbie Hancock's Cobra, but they apparently couldn't find a photo of Mr. Hacock or his car. I know what he looks like, I'm glad you showed his Cobra and told us more of story! Keep up the good work!

The cars you find blows me away. Love your show, always look forward to the next show.

An amazing car with an equally amazing story. Fantastic job guys.

I had heard about Herbie and his Cobra years ago but so cool to actually see it.

This was a special one to watch. It gave me goosebumps. What an amazing pedigree for a street car to have. Great video!!!

So cool! I had no idea. Thanks for the video! 👍🏼👍🏼

So cool and what a story! THANK YOU!

Wow, didnt think it was possible for my respect for this man, pioneering Jazz fusion AND electronic music legend, Herbie Hancock, one of my fav musicians of all time, already. To hear this man play his funk/fusion material (esp the 70s stuff, my personal fav) on a fender rhodes, is to hear god singing. The only keyboard player whom I can recognize immediately from only hearing a few seconds of playing, his style is so uniquely him, nobody can duplicate, the master, and I hear a wonderful guy. THANK YOU HERBIE for being one of my earliest musical inspirations and, (who knew!) badass of cars as well. haha. Suppose I should not be surprised, a dude of such class and style.

What a great story! Thanks for sharing guys!

Great story! Look up to Herbie even more. Super cool.

Best barn find hunter episode ever and I’ve seen them all. What an amazing piece of history. Mr Hancock if you’re reading the comments good on you for keeping it in the family, also I’m up for adoption if you want to throw a cool car my way (kidding)❤️

Love the story and storytelling 😊

Great episodes Tom. What a story.

Another awesome video! Thank you

I forgot who was interviewing Herbie Hancock but he brought the car out there was a couple years ago it was that exact car and I wonder what happened to it it's been a few years hear it but the men were always smiling in that car come on man that's just awesome

So awesome.. I only hope people can continue to see this incredible piece of history in a museum or something.. amazing story, thank you for sharing