Cobra is a Shelby backed 1965 GT350 R “one-off” built by a Shelby craftsman. There were only 36 R cars produced on 1965. Cobra’s recent Shelby build is the 37th!!!
Cobra is a 1700 hour, three year build with some $465,000 documented investments.
Cobra is named in honor of Shelby and on a personal note, the owner flew the U.S. Army Cobra attack helicopter during his 27 year military career.
Cobra is a rotisseri, ground-up, three year build that is designed to dominate SCCA’s newest Autocross class: Classic American Muscle.
Cobra’s powertrain, drivetrain and suspension have been fully re-engineered to significantly increase “acceleration, braking and handling.”
Cobra’s powertrain was custom built by Prestige Motorsports and is still under an unlimited warranty. The 347 Stroker produces 450 HP and 427 lbs torque. Cobra is a 4second 0-60 car!!
Cobra’s drivetrain includes a TREMEC Super Duty Cobra T5z 5-speed. Shifts are made positive by a Steeda Tri-Ax short throw shift mechanism with a Hydramax hydraulic actuated McLeod Super Street Pro clutch. Cobra has a 3.5 inch aluminum racing driveshaft spinning a Shelby 9 inch Notchback K Code rear with Speedway Engineering 3.89 posi and Moser 31 spline axles.
Cobra’s suspension is a collaboration between Maier Racing and Chris Alston Chassisworks that dramatically increases skid pad runs to 1.17 g!!! QA1 provided their coilovers that with Cobra’s Shelby drop can lower ride height by three inches.
Cobra’s livery is new and old. She uses the seventh and most famous GT350 R livery with Essex Wire corporate racing team colors of black and orange. She also draws from the new 2024 Mustang GT race version named “Dark Horse.” Specifically, Cobra uses Dark Horse black features like the roof and tail light panels, black glass molding, black door handles, black wheels, dark tinted glass, and black hood and trunk pins.
Cobra’s “active aerodynamics” include a Peter Brock aero front fascia with air dam that accelerates air under the car that when combined with slower air moving over the car creates downforce. Rear diffusers reduce vortex drag. Cobra’s rear uses a Peter Brock “boat tail” design that extends and smooths her quarter panels, A Maier Racing fiberglass bumper is tucked and frenched in. Taken all together, Cobra’s seamless rear end accentuates the classic Mustang’s sharp reveals!!
Cobra’s race bred bespoke custom interior draws on the R car race-bred interior with a R car 6 gage instrument cluster with Speed Hut and Autometer gages. SCAT Pro Car Rally buckets with aggressive side bolstering and Shelby logo embroidered head rests and Wilwood swing mount billet pedals. The one piece alcantara headliner gives the driver two more inches of head room. The rear deck contains the spare.
Cobra’s custom upholstered Mustang to Fears trunk contains her Taylor spun aluminum Taylor box. Hinges are billet by CVF Racing.
