Vehicle Description
There are several different types of Cobra replicas out there:
those that merely look like a Cobra and are cheap to build, those
that virtually exact reproductions, and those like this Backdraft
Racing Cobra, a take-no-prisoners tribute to the original that
looks pretty authentic but has the moves of a modern sports
car.
It's hard to build a more attractive 2-seat sports car than the
venerable Cobra, and the guys at Backdraft Racing have done a great
job replicating the timeless shape. Sinuous curves, bulging
fenders, and that big air intake up front still look awesome. The
body is fiberglass, of course, but that only means that it's
durable and easy to maintain, unlike those fragile aluminum skins
that dent if you just look at them too hard. Coated in traditional
Guardsman Blue paint with familiar white racing stripes and a
gumball on the nose, it has a predatory vibe that the modern colors
seem to miss, and only the very foolish would tangle with this
snake on the street. And thanks to quality workmanship, you can see
how well the doors fit, how neatly the trunk lines up with the rear
fenders, and the shiny paint that was rubbed and buffed to a
brilliant finish. All the famous Cobra design cues are there, from
the jacking stubs in place of bumpers to the twin chrome roll bars
to the flip-up gas cap on the rear fender, all designed for the
track. This sucker is the real deal.
Curvy bucket seats look right and grab you and hold you in place
during aggressive driving, one notable upgrade over the original.
Actually, they did a lot of work inside this Backdraft Racing
replica to give it that authentic feel, ranging from the
wood-rimmed Shelby steering wheel to the forward-canted shifter for
the 6-speed manual transmission underneath. Racing-style shoulder
harnesses are available for both driver and passenger, but this is
also a civilized car, so it has carpets, Backdraft-logo floor mats,
and correct Plexiglas sun visors and wind wings. Big Auto Meter
analog gauges fill the instrument panel with information, and they
do a good impersonation of the reverse-rotation Smiths units in the
originals while being more reliable and accurate. The trunk is
neatly finished in plain black carpets, which is all you really
need anyway.
For power, it's hard to beat technology, so a modern-tech 5.0 liter
Coyote V8 keeps this Cobra Ford Blue throughout. It's a neat fit in
the Cobra's engine bay, and the silky-smooth DOHC V8 thumps out
more than 400 horsepower on pump gas while weighing a fraction of
its 427 cubic inch ancestors. Factory fuel injection means it
starts and runs beautifully and there's no tuning required, just
turn the key, hit the button, and go! A few polished pieces dress
it up and everything works like it should to make this Cobra easy
to drive. The chassis is fabricated rectangular tubing for
durability, with custom suspensions fore and aft to make this Cobra
as agile as it is fast. 4-wheel discs, rack-and-pinion steering,
and professional assembly make this a supercar that you can drive
every day if you choose. Retro Halibrand-style wheels look right
and wear 245/40/18 front and 295/40/18 rear Nitto rubber.
Performance is king with this Backdraft Cobra, but the looks ain't
too shabby either. With only 609 miles on the build, this is one
that is so fresh you can still smell the paint. Call today!