Vehicle Description
(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this vehicle on a website
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limitations. To be sure you access all the photographs, please go
to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)
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1965 Shelby Cobra Factory Five Replica
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"The Factory Five Mk4 Roadster is the world's best-selling,
best-engineered, and best-performing replica of all time." -Factory
Five Racing
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The Factory Five body and frame is only the starting point for
these Cobra replicas. What separates the outstanding Cobra from the
many that are simply average (and some that should probably never
have been built) is the nature of the drivetrain components, and
the quality of the assembly work. Discriminating buyers will want
the details-all of the details-before deciding whether to make a
purchase.
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In this spirit, the remainder of this description-together with the
over 200 detailed photographs on our website, Garage Kept
Motors-comprise all the factual information the original owner (an
engineer) documented concerning this remarkable 1999 build honoring
�the legendary Cobra.�
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Carroll Shelby fans, read on...
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The engine (installed two years ago):
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Every component chosen for such a build is important, but none is
more crucial than the engine. The powerplant here is virtually new,
with only 1,900 miles of use. It is a Levy Racing (of Arizona)
Stage V 408 (a 351W stroked to 408 cubic-inches) producing a
tire-shredding 540 horsepower and 550 foot-pounds of torque. Among
the engine's features: black-painted block and 8-quart oil pan with
satin-black powder-coated intake manifold; Levy Racing polished
aluminum valve covers; QuickFuel 750 cfm double-pumper carburetor;
MSD ignition with rev limiter; high-output chrome alternator;
polished aluminum March pulleys; polished stainless-steel fuel line
from tank to mechanical fuel pump; and custom-fabricated (to ensure
the exhaust exits the car at precisely the same point on both
sides) stainless-steel exhaust headers connecting to polished
stainless-steel Gas-N Performance side pipes. Cooling is provided
by a Levy Racing "Big" aluminum radiator and two electric fans
controlled by thermostat relay.
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Transmission:
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The 5-speed manual transmission is a Levy Racing Super Alloy T5
model featuring a .73 fifth gear; a QuickTime bell housing is in
place, as is a drive-shaft safety loop, and all are powder-coated
glossy black. The driveshaft itself is chrome moly.�
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Brakes and suspension:
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The car's chassis is entirely powder-coated in glossy black. Its
front suspension is a Levy Racing bump-steer street kit and
features pin-drive and pin-drive-width powder-coated control arms,
FlamingRiver quick-ratio steering rack, and special Levy
Racing-modified Koni single-adjustable coil-over shock absorbers
with Eibach springs. The rear suspension is a red-powder-coated
five-link Levy Racing affair (because a Factory Five three-link or
a stock Mustang four-link system would not have been able to handle
the car's horsepower) with Levy Racing adjustable lower control
arms, the same shocks as up front, and a powder-coated black
Mustang 8.8-inch, 3:27/1 ratio solid rear axle. To answer an
obvious question as to the absence of an individual rear suspension
in favor of the solid axle, the owner points out the setup on the
car favors faster standing-start acceleration, as well as, from the
owner's experience, better behavior on the track as well.
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The brake setup employs a custom Wilwood master cylinder with
4-piston Wilwood calipers and 12.2-inch rotors front and rear, and
features polished stainless-steel brake lines. This choice was made
over a number of setups commonly used on heavier Mustangs which, on
this far lighter car, would result in nose-diving under hard
braking. (The careful observer will note the character of the
brake-line bends as but one indication of the overall build
quality.) Halibrand 15-inch authentic pin-drive wheels (not lug
nuts hiding behind fake spinner caps) from Vintage Wheels, Inc. are
mounted with Cooper Cobra white-letter tires.
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Body, paint, and interior amenities:
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"The Mk4 Roadster is designed to accurately reproduce the looks of
the legendary 427 Cobra�, keeping its essence intact while using
modern technology, parts and materials to improve performance,
reliability and comfort." - Factory Five Racing
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This Factory Five Mark IV roadster body features a classic Shelby
combination: metallic Viper (another snake!) blue paint with white
painted-on racing stripes.��The white stripes were painted first,
with the blue layered over the edges, then several coats of clear
were used as a top coat for a seam free finish.��The photographs
show the outstanding overall condition of the paint, no doubt due
in part to an Invisa-Shield coating installed on the nose of the
car. The interior features black leather seats with seat heaters,�a
drivers side dropped foot box, custom 8-speaker sound system with
400-watt MPX amplifier (located in the trunk) and a sub-woofer
behind the driver's seat, Pioneer head unit with CD player and XM
Radio. Simpson racing harnesses are installed and a wood-rim
steering wheel is also in place. Carpeting is the original looped
style with all edges bound. The gauges are the original "Smith's"
package. The trunk is fully carpeted.�?
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Without question, this is a "1-of-1" Shelby. We suppose it's
conceivable that interested enthusiasts may still have a question
or two about this stunning build. If so, by all means get in touch.
But don't wait too long. "1-of-1" means-just like the car's
mind-boggling performance-when it's gone... it's gone.
Be sure to check out all the photos and video of this stunning
build on our main website: Garage Kept Motors. Call if interested
or e-mail with any questions. Thank you for looking.