Team Speed at Long Beach Grand Prix: Brilliant Custom Hansen Cobras

Custom-built roadsters on loan from the Petersen Museum show how ingenuity and creativity made these racers truly special. 

As Team Speed made the rounds at the 2019 Long Beach Grand Prix, we saw a lot of amazing cars. One of our favorites was the Hansen Cobras, on loan from the Petersen Automotive Museum. These roadsters were built by hand by brothers Wally and Harry Hansen. The Hansen brothers thought really outside the box for these remarkable rides. And the result was brilliance.

The Hansens made the Cobras in 1953 from handcrafted fiberglass molds which they mounted on a custom built chassis.

One car used a Oldsmobile V8, while the other ran on a Cadillac V8. The builds utilized parts from a number of cars. It took 17 months to finish the build. But they came together perfectly.

You might be able to spot parts from classic Lincolns, Studebakers, Chevys, Cadillacs, and Oldsmobiles.

The cars were not just exceptionally stunning, they could perform. Part of the reason the Hansens custom built the Cobras was to create a car that gave them the perfect driving experience they craved.

The cars were shown in 1954 at the Petersen Motorama, eventually earning the brothers many awards style, design, and craftsmanship. They were featured in magazines such as Motor Trend.

Both cars are in pristine condition, and can be seen at the Petersen.

The details are fascinating, and the white cars with red accents possess a timeless vintage style. They also could hit top speeds of 90 and 100 mph, with horsepower of 200 in the Oldsmobile V8 engine, and 235 in the Cadillac powered Cobra.

Truly these Cobras two one-of-a-kind builds that embody racing and car history.

The preservation of the two cars is outstanding, from the upholstery to the gauges.

Be forewarned, you will want to hop in and drive these cars across the country. But they do frown on that sort of behavior.

If you’d like to see more of these awesome roadsters, head over to the Petersen.

Photos for Team Speed by David Ciminelli

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S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.