Vehicle Description
What could be cooler than the world's best-looking 2-seat roadster,
filled with a fuel injected 5.0-liter V8, a capable suspension, and
paint that makes people stop and stare? If you're a real car guy,
you've probably already contemplated building your own Cobra
replica, but the smart money's on buying someone else's finished
car like this amazing Factory Five roadster.
Cobras always look best when coated in original AC colors and with
the explosion of awesome replicas running around, this take on
British Racing Green (PPG-Subaru Green) stands out in a big way.
Green never looked as good as does on this amazing shape, with
miles-deep luster and professional-grade finishing, the body fits
together extremely well (the Factory Five kits are famous for their
quality fiberglass work). There are no stripes, a nice contrast
from what we typically see, giving this Factory Five snake a bit of
a sophisticated look without changing the recipe too dramatically.
This is likely how most of them looked back when they were still
just regular cars, and it gets pretty easy to imagine the fun you
could be having with this in your garage. Proper jacking stubs,
side pipes, and correct Lucas-style taillights add interest to a
traditional look, and the dual chrome roll hoops are probably the
best-looking safety device ever invented.
The interior sticks to the original recipe of "simple is better",
although the front buckets are sporty Kirkey Racing seats with
Simpson 5-point harness seat belts. There's a removable,
original-style wooden steering wheel which reminds you of the
Cobra's English origins and they went the extra mile by using Auto
Meter gauges that replicate the original Smiths pieces. Unlike most
Cobras, 6-foot drivers can actually be quite comfortable, as the
space in the cabin has been efficiently designed. A full Vintage
A/C unit was added during he build and is a very rare amenity to
find in a Cobra, and they even managed to make the shifter look
like the original Cobra piece, which was a reverse-mounted Mustang
unit. Cobras aren't famous for storage space, but this one has a
carpeted trunk that shows off just how well-built these Factory
Five replicas really are, and even provides enough room for some
car-show goodies. And don't worry, there's actually a soft top,
windows, and a tonneau cover in case you get trapped out in some
bad weather.
The beauty of the Factory Five kit is that all the Mustang 5.0
components bolt right on, although this one has been punched up a
bit further with an .030 overbore that augments the displacement to
306 cubic inches. GT-40 heads are a nice performance touch too, and
the lope of the motor is more than you'd expect thanks to the
addition of an E303 Cam. The big Cobra aluminum intake manifold
looks familiar enough sitting on top of the 5.0, and thanks to
properly tuned fuel injection featuring a 75mm throttle body and
24-lb injectors, it runs like a factory-built Mustang, if not
better. Take it easy on the throttle and it's docile and friendly,
but if you nail it, be prepared for things to get crazy in a big
hurry even in stock spec. The pipes wail, the car lunges forward,
and you've got to remember to shift before you run out of revs in
seconds. Ford Racing long-tube headers and side pipes look (and
sound) awesome (this one even has catalytic convertors!) while the
cooling system is a massive aluminum radiator with electric fans.
The frame is a tubular pro-built unit with A-arms up front, a
3-link and Ford 8.8-inch axle with 3.73 in back, and a disc brake
at the front corners, so it's equipped for the power. The rebuilt
T5 5-speed gearbox spins those reasonable gears, because you just
don't need tall cogs with this much torque available. Halibrand
replica wheels are the perfect finishing touch, carrying big
235/60/15 front and 295/50/15 rear Cooper Cobra white-letter
performance radials.
We've said it before and it applies here: it's always faster and
cheaper to buy a finished Cobra, and with the features on this one,
that should be an easy decision because this one is exactly how
you'd build it yourself. Call today!