Vehicle Description
The Superformance Mk III is the only Cobra replica built under
license from Carroll Shelby licensing. They are engineered in the
image of the original and are dimensionally and aesthetically
correct. Factory built using new parts, they are then delivered to
the customer who has the choice of which drivetrain to install.
Carroll Shelby said of the Cobra, "It's a massive motor in a tiny
lightweight car". Taking the old axe that "there is no replacement
for displacement" to heart, a 460-cubic in V8 was shoe-horned into
this one.
Meticulous attention to detail in the design and construction of
this car shows itself in both obvious ways, and in ways that evoke
a feeling that you can't quite explain by pointing to something.
Fit and finish and the quality of the paint obviously live up to
the Superformance reputation for first class workmanship. You can
point to things like the way the Aeroquip lines run to the oil
cooler in the huge grill and to the rivets in the hood. Side pipes
are a way to get the car lower to the ground by not having to fit a
massive exhaust system underneath the car. And talk about evoking a
feeling? The sound of those pipes from both the inside the car, or
as a bystander, gets your heart pounding! Massive fender flares,
the hood scoop, racing stripes, roll bar and knock off wheels true
to the original Halibrands, all add up to produce one of the most
recognizable limited production cars of all time.
Reach inside and pull the lever to open the door. You will find an
interior that is simple as is appropriate for a race car but
finished and appointed nicely as is appropriate for a street car.
Have a seat in the simple leather bucket and grab a hold of that
wooden three spoke wheel with the Cobra center. You will notice
that there are a few unique things in this interior. The gauges are
laid out differently. Oil, water, and tachometer are obviously the
most important things to keep track of during a race, so are right
in the driver's line of sight. Three more gauges sit off to the
right, just over a speedometer that operates backwards just like it
did in the original cars. The shifter is also a bit different with
it forward tilt, but it works great and using it becomes second
nature in no time. There is a cockpit cover that looks awesome when
it is snapped in place, and a soft top that can be used to keep the
weather out.
Open the hood and you will find a neat and clean and small engine
bay. Shoe horned into it is a massive motor. 460 cubic inches of
big block torque. It is topped by a chrome air filter and fed by a
Holley 4bbl carb working through an Edelbrock Performer intake
manifold. Finned aluminum valve covers with Cobra script help a bit
with oil cooling and look great. Dual electric fans on the radiator
keep temperatures under control. Power is sent back through a
5-speed manual transmission to a limited slip differential. A fully
independent coil over shock suspension system offers great handling
on the street, and if you have the urge to take this car out on
track, it's adjustable so that you can optimize corner weights and
ride height. Massive, Willwood 4-wheel disc brakes will haul this
car down from speed in a hurry. The rubber meets the road through
275/60R15 tires in the rear, and 255/60R15s in the front, mounted
on those awesome center spin wheels.
If you have ever had the desire to own one of these cars, check
this one out. It is true to the original and the build quality is
second to none.