For Sale: 1992 Custom Cobra in Ft Worth, Texas

Carroll Shelby's AC Cobra is arguably the most revered sports car in the world, loved by millions of adoring fans. But with only 528 official Cobras ever built on the original English AC chassis, it's almost impossible to own a real one. The free market response to scarcity is usually duplication of the next-best-thing, and with that axiom in mind the Cobra replica industry was born. Many companies have reached great heights of success with their Cobra replica kits, whether it be Superformance, Backdraft, or Factory Five to just name a few. But none of those organizations did anything quite like Dan Goben, the man behind the G Cobra Cars - handcrafted production Cobras manufactured in a real, purpose-built Goben factory that sought to improve on the original Shelby design. Cars like this 1992 Goben Cobra are insanely rare, making this dialed-in roadster one of the most exclusive vehicles we've ever featured.


Unlike the replicas made by the competition, these were not kit cars, but rather genuine factory-made vehicles that met federal production requirements and were therefore issued real government VINs. These cars were built using the same practices and guidelines utilized by the major car manufacturers of the world, and the construction process was so legitimate that they came with warranty plans that were honored at all Ford and Chevrolet dealerships. After lawsuits launched by Shelby resulted in heavy injunctions, Goben's production ceased before it ever really had a chance to ramp up, and most of the Cobras that were produced were retrieved and destroyed. As a result, only four of these cars are reported to exist today, with this red beauty counting as one of them. Now that figure may be unofficial, but the fact remains that this is an extremely rare car that is practically never seen on the open market. The appeal of the car is quite obvious, as it shares lots of styling cues from the AC Cobra, but with a redesigned profile and rear section, it's very unique indeed. Goben built the tubular, stress-tested frames and manufactured its own fiberglass bodies at their Wisconsin plant, with the addition of a center section from a Cadillac Cimarron, full suspension and drivetrain from a Mustang, and the cowl, windshield, dash, and doors from a GM J-body platform. The resulting amalgamation makes for an elongated, yet sporty, roadster that still features everything that's great about the Cobra. It's obvious this car hasn't seen a ton of use since it was built almost 30 years ago, with the fiberglass body and bright red paint still looking pretty darn good. And if you wanted to take it up a notch, a full buff-and-wax should easily restore some old glory on this driver quality roadster. White racing stripes down the center are a Cobra staple that add flash, as is the cowl hood and set of jack-stand bumperettes up front, while the shiny side pipes look plenty aggressive. Sure, it's no longer perfect, but you can all but guarantee that this G Cobra will turn heads everywhere it goes.



The tan vinyl interior offers comfortable buckets seats and plenty of room to stretch out, something other Cobras desperately lack, as well as well as a full wrap-around dash swapped in from a Chevrolet from the same era. Black carpets are nicely fitted and show very little wear thanks to protective Cobra-embossed floor mats, and the tan door panels at the flanks show minor wear and endcap the cabin nicely. The bespoke wooden steering wheel is a throwback to the AC Cobras of old, and the big, round VDO gauges really pop out from the wood dash bezel. Options include R134a A/C, an AM/FM/Cassette stereo, seatbelts, and a tall shifter for the TH350 3-speed automatic transmission below. For inclement weather, there's a folding black convertible top and unlike its contemporaries, you get roll-up windows!


Goben offered three engines for the G Cobra, and this one got the 350/250HP V8 small block. Topped with an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and GM Bowtie intake, the motor cranks with ease, and with the reliability of an HEI ignition and serpentine belt set-up, any Chevrolet dealership can work on this motor. Mated to a high-performance TH350 3-speed automatic transmission every drive is a pleasure, and with power steering and power front disc brakes anyone can get behind the wheel. Mustang donated the front and rear suspension, so this Cobra handles like a dream, and even with the catalytic convertors still in place the side pipes sound amazing. American Racing Torque Thrust 'Old Styles' look great on just about anything, and when wrapped with 225/60/15 front and 255/60/15 rear Cooper Cobra white-letter radials the look is perfect.


Extremely rare and extremely fun, this G Cobra Car is one of the coolest roadsters we've ever had the pleasure to feature here at Streetside Classics. Call today before one of us takes it home!