Vehicle Description
What could be cooler than the world's best-looking 2-seat roadster,
filled with a powerful 302 V8, a quick-shifting 5-speed gearbox, an
incredibly sporty suspension, and wicked paint job that makes
people stop and stare? If you're a real car guy or gal, you've
probably already contemplated building your own Cobra replica at
some point in your life, but the smart money's on buying someone
else's finished car like this amazing Factory Five roadster.
Cobras always look best with bold colors and stripes and with the
explosion of awesome replicas running around, this one stands out
in a big way. Rather than the usual blue or red kit cars at every
cars show, this particular Cobra goes about its business in a much
more sinister, cloak-and-dagger kind of way. Pepper Gray never
looked so good, with a hint of metallic and professional-grade
finishing, the body fits together extremely well (the Factory Five
kits are famous for their quality fiberglass work), and this
crouching roadster really looks substantial in person. It isn't
perfect, but the paint lays down over some expertly massaged panels
and you can't deny the awesomeness of that shape, especially the
flared fenders and bulging muscles of the '65 models. There are
black stripes, a nice contrast to the usual white, giving this
Factory Five snake a bit of an updated look without changing the
recipe too dramatically, although the Grand Sport-style stripes on
the fenders are a great addition. Proper jacking stubs, bright side
pipes, and correct Lucas-style taillights add interest to a
traditional look, and that blacked-out roll hoop is probably the
best-looking safety device ever invented.
The interior sticks to the original recipe, too, which means no
modern buckets, no fat steering wheel and plenty of black
upholstery. There's an 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, right down to the reverse-rotation speedometer. You can
forget a radio or heater (this is a Cobra, not your mom's car) 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 an unfinished aluminum
trunk that shows off just how well-built these Factory Five
replicas really are. And don't worry, there is no top (who
cares?).
The beauty of the Factory Five kit is that all the Ford small
blocks bolt right on, and the powerful 302 V8 powering this
lightweight beauty is the perfect choice. Topped with a big Holley
4-barrel carburetor mounted atop a Weiand aluminum intake, the
motor has insane pop, firing to life with ease thanks to an HEI
ignition and staying cool at all times with the help of the big
aluminum radiator and electric fan up front. 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 side pipes absolutely wail, the car lunges forward, and you've
got to remember to shift before you run out of revs in about 1.2
seconds. Everything looks the part under the hood as well, with
Ford Blue paint on the block, finned Cobra valve covers at the
flanks, and a chrome open-element air cleaner up top. Underneath
everything is super-clean as well, where the tubular frame is a
fair facsimile of the original, the suspension features coilovers,
tubular A-arms, and rack-and-pinion steering up front, a Ford
8.8-inch axle and more coilovers out back, and a disc brake at each
corner, so it's equipped for the power. The 5-speed gearbox spins a
set of reasonable gears, because you just don't need tall cogs with
this much torque available, and the stance is perfected atop those
black-and-chrome, Halibrand-style alloys with center spinners that
come wrapped in sticky 255/40/17 front and 315/35/17 rear Sumitomo
staggered 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. Call today!
