Vehicle Description
We know that Cobra replica quality can be all over the map, but we
invite you to examine this 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 from Backdraft
Racing up close and personal, because it's one of the finest we've
ever featured. Better still, it's a one-owner, low-mileage wrecking
machine with some killer features, including a diabolical Destroyer
Gray paint job that really stands out from the crowd, 427 cubic
inches under the hood, a quick-shifting 5-speed gearbox, and a
gorgeous bespoke interior. Sure, it's a replica (the real ones are
locked away in museums these days), but it's one of the best
replicas money can buy.
Destroyer Gray, a name so cool we don't mind writing it over and
over again. Nevertheless, it's a bit of an unusual shade for a
Cobra, albeit a refreshing one in a sea of Guardsman Blue and
Bright Red recreations that litter the marketplace. The Special
Edition color gives the classic Cobra styling a bit more edge, not
to mention a more modern street presence, and when off-set with
gloss black stripes and black accents in place of all the usual
brightwork, well, 'sinister' is a word that's easily conjured up.
In truth, it's always nice to see non-traditional but
period-correct colors on the replicas, suggesting that the original
owner who had it built knew exactly what he was doing rather than
just going with what he thought was pretty. If you know the
Backdraft cars, you know that their workmanship is incredibly
well-regarded in the Cobra industry and the fit and finish on this
particular car is worthy of all the extra scrutiny it's likely to
get at shows. Black stripes running from end-to-end are, of course,
part of the package, as is cool-looking hood scoop that sucks air
into the burly motor. Just look at the overhead shot and tell me
you don't love the look! It's set up as an SC, so it has the flared
fenders, blacked-out jacking stubs instead of bumpers, a
blacked-out roll hoop, and all the other trim and fixtures that
define the Cobra today. And with slick black alloys and matte-black
side pipes, this sucker looks mean!
The interior is basic Cobra: wrap-around low back buckets, black
leather, and minimal frills. However, for the business of driving,
there are few better places to work, and unlike most Cobra cabins,
this one uses high-end materials and looks far more refined. That
includes bucket seats that are actually comfortable thanks to
thick, durable leather hides, a carbon-fiber dash filled with an
array of sporty Classic Instruments gauges and switches, and a
custom center console wrapped in elegant diamond-cut leather that's
incredibly stylish. A fat leather-wrapped steering wheel
communicates the front wheels' activities directly to you palms and
the cue-ball topped shifter for the 5-speed gearbox is a short
reach away and practically taunts the driver to bang through the
gears. Carpets cover the floors and provide good insulation, and
they're protected with matching floor mats, racing harnesses keeps
both the driver and passenger in place, and even the door panels
were finished with matching leather upholstery and come equipped
with map pockets. There's no radio, but an aftermarket A/C system
was added and it blows ice cold. Out back, the trunk is reasonably
spacious for a travel bag and car show trophies, meaning this Cobra
can actually be driven longer distances.
Tilt the hood forward and you'll find a 351-based V8 engine that's
been professionally built and punched out to 427 cubic inches of
pure power and performance, neatly packaged in a lightweight small
block package. Augmented with aluminum heads and fed through a big
Holley double pumper atop an aluminum intake, the small block has
way more power than you'll ever need, especially in this incredibly
lightweight package. The engine bay is a blacked-out thing of
beauty, highlighted by Ford Racing valve covers and a matching
finned air cleaner atop the block, and a full MSD ignition system
cranks it all to life with at an instant. It cackles through the
side pipes like a machine that makes a real-world horsepower and as
you ease out the clutch in first gear, you'll understand why these
cars remain so insanely popular year-after-year; the performance is
explosive! The performance suspension includes a giant front sway
bar, rack-and-pinion steering, and out back there's an independent
setup that's agile yet supple, making this a Cobra you could use
every day. Power 4-wheel disc brakes are powerful enough to
dislodge the fillings in your teeth and hide behind blacked-out
Halibrand-style wheels with center spinners that are absolutely
perfect for a Cobra like this. Rubber is from Nitto, measuring
245/40/16s in front and a giant 295/40/18s out back.
Beautifully built, insanely fast, and supremely competent in the
corners, this is the Cobra we all wish for when we entertain the
thoughts of building our own. And with only 1546 miles on the
build, this Backdraft Beauty is just getting started. So why wait,
this one's ready to go right now. Call today!
