Vehicle Description
If you want a visceral driving experience, then you should consider
this Cobra replica. You feel alive when you roll down the road in
one of these. There is a feeling of connection with the legend of
Carroll Shelby and driving one is a feeling like no other. The
power to weight ratio is incredible, so if you choose to cut it
loose, it can really throw you around.
The shape of the car is immediately identifiable, even by those who
are not Shelby aficionados. If someone doesn't realize what it is,
it's all that much more fun to have the conversation. The one about
how a little British sports car became an icon of American
ingenuity and defeated the factory backed racing teams from Europe
by stuffing a V8 engine under the hood, flaring the fenders and
squeezing some serious rubber underneath them. This one is coated
in a beautiful shade of Blue with Silver racing stripes that are
painted on. Lots of air gets in through the large opening of the
grill for the radiator and there is a scoop on the hood too. Vents
in the front fenders just below a red, white and blue Ford badge
give the hot air a place to escape. Also, it doesn't get much more
awesome than having chrome side pipes running along the rockers and
the sound they make is beautiful music.
The interior of this car is pretty spartan. It is representative of
the purpose for which it was designed, which was winning races.
There is nothing there that doesn't need to be, and what is there
is quality equipment. The bucket seats are simple but comfortable
and supportive in pleated vinyl with wraparound side bolsters on
the back. A beautiful wooden steering wheel is mounted on a three
spoke hub with the iconic Cobra badge as a center button. The dash
is filled with Autometer gauges to keep track of critical engine
functions with the tachometer mounted prominently within easy view
of the driver and a speedometer that sweeps in the reverse
direction, just like in the originals. The shifter for the manual
transmission sweeps forward which is also true to the original
design. There are provisions for racing harnesses built into the
roll bar and a fire extinguisher too because they were mandated in
the original race cars.
Open the hood and you will find a healthy Ford 302 cubic inch motor
nestled down in a neat and clean engine bay. A black Edelbrock air
topper feeds an Edelbrock 4-barrel carb and polished intake
manifold. Black and brushed aluminum valve covers help some with
oil cooling and feature Cobra in big bold letters. Headers wind
their way out the side of the engine bay to the side pipes which
sound awesome and help keep the car nice and low to the ground.
Accessory mounts and pulleys are machined out of billet aluminum
and the reservoirs for the brakes as well as the clutch are mounted
off to the side away from the heat of the headers. Power flows back
through a 5-speed manual transmission and 4-wheel disc brakes
insure that you can haul this car back down from speed if you
decide to let the horses run. Cobra center spin knock off wheels
complete the picture and the rubber meets the road through
295/50R15 Cooper Cobra radials in the back and 235/60R15s in the
front.
Come on down and check out this tribute to an American racing
legend. Both the man and the machine. These cars are fun to drive
because of the reaction they get from people who see them driving
down the street, and also from the feeling you get when you drive
one.