Chassis No. R249352

Between hot rod culture and the rise of the General Motors Motorama shows following World War II, brothers Wally and Harry Hansen were at the epicenter of it all in Southern California. Their innovative spirit led them to create their own custom cars, a feat that was not without its challenges. They were acutely aware of the limitations in metal shaping when it came to creating custom-bodied show cars, and this led them to the forward-thinking decision to use the newly emerging innovative product ideally suited to their needs-fiberglass.

The duo began working on their pair of cars in 1952, starting with the creation of a strong chassis from box channel steel, which featured strategically placed holes throughout to not only reduce unnecessary weight but also increase its strength. The Hansen Cobra on offer, created by Wally Hansen, utilized a front and rear axle from a 1953 Oldsmobile, which also donated its 200 horsepower V8 to the Cobra. The Oldsmobile engine was paired with a General Motors Hydramatic automatic transmission. Once the rolling chassis was complete, a wooden form was constructed to establish the basic body design. The form was then covered with plaster to create a distinctive modern body design. When the design was finalized, it was painted and coated with wax in preparation to make the mold for the fiberglass body. After the mold was cured, it was cut into six sections to allow for easier creation of the final body panels. The final touches for the bodywork included bumpers from a 1953 Studebaker, headlights from a 1953 Cadillac, the grille bar from a 1952 Chevrolet, modified taillights from a 1953 Chevrolet, and, last but certainly not least, the windshield, which was actually the rear window from a 1953 Studebaker, inside a Chevrolet Corvette frame.

The Hansen Cobras were unveiled after 17 months of hard work at the 1954 Petersen Motorama, which was organized by Robert E. Petersen. Period photos show Wally's car in white and his brother Harry's in blue placed nose to nose. Drawing widespread attention at the show, they won several awards their innovative design and exceptional craftsmanship. Their work was later featured in Motor Trend magazine in February 1955. Taken by the striking styling, the duo built a third Cobra for their friend Fred Eppele in 1957. There were plans to place the Cobra into limited production, but they were stifled with the successful introduction of the Chevrolet Corvette and, later, the Ford Thunderbird.

After a few years of enjoyment, the cars were sold, and eventually, Wally's Oldsmobile-powered Cobra ended up in Portland, Oregon, by the mid-1960s, where it was purchased as a father-son project. It was used and shown regularly in the location through 1974, when it was placed into storage, until 2006, when it was purchased by none other than Robert E. Petersen and entered The Petersen Automotive Museum Collection, where the car was later reunited with Harry's Cobra.

Nearly lost to the annals of history, Wally Hansen's Cobra remains an intriguing look at one-off mid-century custom car culture. Now, seven decades after their unveiling at the Petersen Motorama, this distinctive Cobra built by Wally remains the only example powered by an Oldsmobile engine. Today, this Cobra remains a captivating example of unabated ambition, driven by perseverance and hard work, to craft a unique, one-of-a-kind custom car that is sure to create a buzz of attention wherever it goes.