Vehicle Description
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!
