Vehicle Description
There are as many reasons for building a Shelby Cobra replica as
there are companies offering them these days, but the pros who put
this slick roadster together did it to end up with an insanely fun
car with a strong V8 motor and 5-speed manual transmission. Fast
and stylish, this 1965 Shelby Cobra replica is a whole lot of fun
for a fraction of the cost of the real thing.
Sure, the body's fiberglass like nearly all the modern Cobra
builds, but the proportions are familiar and instantly
recognizable, and the guys at Unique Motorsports did a great job
with the overall shape. A lot of Cobra kits take liberties with the
original shape, either in the interest of interior space or
aesthetics, but not this one. The finish quality is very good, and
you can't really blame the guy for wanting it to be pretty, so the
glossy red paint got a lot of extra prep. Red Cobras are less seen
than the usual blue and silver units, but nobody will argue that
the shape doesn't look like a million bucks here, and because it's
been enjoyed for 4,650 miles since it was built, it's warmed up and
any idiosyncrasies or growing pains it may have had have already
been ironed out. No surprises here, this is just a very solid build
that's begging to be driven. The doors fit snugly, the hood gaps
are clean, and even the trunk closes tightly without a wiggle. Gray
vinyl stripes, chrome jacking stubs and round bumpers fore and aft,
blacked-out side pipes, and a roll bar behind the driver add to the
race-ready vibe.
That same aggressive attitude was carried inside, where low-back
vinyl buckets were fitted, along with the right style carpets and
the simple door panels that characterized the basic early Cobras.
Bright red Ralli Art seatbelt harnesses are a welcomed safety
addition, and that steering wheel is a handsome three-spoke piece
with a warm wood rim that looks right at home in the Cobra's
cockpit. Vintage-style, black-faced Stewart Warner gauges have been
fitted in the center of the dash with a tach and speedometer just
ahead of the driver and just below them is a set of auxiliary
switches for some of the accessories. No radio, no tacked-on A/C,
no modern gauges, just a simple, clean interior that was what a
Cobra buyer would have received in 1965. Even the trunk is finished
in matching carpets and provides just enough room to carry all your
car show goodies.
Horsepower is a non-issue thanks to a powerful 351 Cleveland V8
that belts out plenty of horsepower and torque. In a lightweight
Cobra, performance is impressive and the sound pumping out of those
side pipes is even better. Dressed in full Cobra regalia with
finned Ford Racing valve covers and an oval Cobra air cleaner, the
engine bay is purposeful and functional, with good service access.
It looks quite fresh overall and there's plenty of evidence of
having been driven, but also lovingly maintained. The engine
springs to life easily thanks to a 4-barrel carburetor on a
performance intake manifold, a Mallory ignition, and block-hugging
headers that feed the thumping side-pipe exhaust. A Mustang II
style front suspension with purpose-built A-arms and
rack-and-pinion steering make it corner like it's on rails, while a
robust Jaguar independent rear hangs out back. There are also
substantial 4-wheel discs brakes installed on this Cobra, which is
exactly the stopping power you want in a lightweight car with all
this horsepower. 10-spoke Western wheels are a modern look that
seems appropriate for this Cobra and the tires are right-sized at
235/60/15 white-letter radials at all four corners.
Cobra replicas remain just about the biggest bang for the buck in
motoring, and with a lot of performance parts, a clean, classic
look, and that 351 Cleveland away up front, this Cobra delivers 95%
of the original experience for 5% of the price. Call today!