1966 Shelby Cobra "427SC" ERA Roadster (ERA Replica Automobiles) -
4-Speed / Dual-Quad 428 Power
If you know Cobras, you know ERA is one of the names enthusiasts
actually respect. This roadster has the right look, the right
stance, and the right hardware-finished in a deep metallic
navy/blue with bold white Le Mans stripes, side-exit pipes,
quick-jack bumpers, and the classic roll bar. It's the kind of car
that makes people stop mid-sentence at Cars & Coffee.
Per the ERA ID plate, this is an ERA Replica Automobiles (New
Britain, Connecticut, USA) build with model designation 427SC,
showing a date of manufacture 6/98. From there, the spec list reads
like exactly what you want: dual-quads, a Toploader 4-speed, and
the visual/driver details that make these cars so addictive.
Highlights
ERA Replica Automobiles 427SC Roadster (ERA plate present)
ERA built in New Britain, Connecticut
Date of manufacture shown on plate: 6/98
Deep blue paint with white Le Mans stripes
Roll bar, wind wings, and side curtains
Side-exit exhaust (side pipes)
Dual 4-barrel ("2x4") intake / dual air cleaners
Toploader 4-speed manual transmission
428 motor (noted) with 427 "LR" heads (noted)
Engine build note: 4/8/01 - Don Boley (Comp Engines) (noted)
Rear end note: JDC rear w/ 3.31 gears (noted)
Smith gauges + new tach (noted)
Leather seats + seat tracks (noted) with harnesses installed
Stainless knockoffs (noted)
Recent service notes include: new rear main seal, new tires, new
water pump, new plugs, carbs adjusted (noted)
Oil cooler / remote filter (noted)
Heater (noted)
Large front brake kit (noted)
Trunk-mounted battery and kill switch (noted)
Tire sizes shown in photos:
P295/50R15 (rear)
P235/60R15 (front)
Exterior
This Cobra wears a timeless, high-end spec: blue over white
stripes, with the body sitting low and wide the way a 427-style car
should. The details are right:
Classic Cobra nose with open-mouth grille
Quick-jack bumper setup front and rear
Chrome roll bar
Side pipes tucked tight along the rocker line
Le Mans fuel cap mounted on the rear deck
Traditional round tail lamps and a clean rear presentation with
stripes continuing through the bumper line
Wheels & Stance
The car sits on the proper era-style wheel setup and fills the
arches correctly-no "replica skinny tire" look here.
Stainless knockoffs (per notes)
Tire sizes shown:
Front: P235/60R15
Rear: P295/50R15
That stagger gives it the right rake and the right traction
footprint-especially important with a big-inch engine and a
4-speed.
Interior
The cockpit is exactly what you want in a Cobra: simple,
purposeful, and mechanical.
Wood-rim steering wheel with AC-style center
Smith instrumentation across the dash (noted), plus a new tach
(noted)
4-speed shifter right where it should be
Leather bucket seats with seat tracks (noted)
Harnesses installed for that period-correct competition vibe
Wind wings and side curtains pictured-nice driver-friendly touches
for real road use
Engine & Drivetrain
Pop the hood and it's all business-dual quads with twin air
cleaners and a clean, classic presentation.
From the provided notes:
428 motor
427 "LR" heads
Factory 2x4 intake (dual-quad setup)
Toploader 4-speed
JDC rear with 3.31 gears
Supporting service/upgrades noted:
New rear main seal
New water pump
New plugs
Carbs adjusted
Oil cooler / remote filter
Heater
This is the recipe for an ERA that starts, runs, and drives the way
you want-strong, responsive, and dramatic without being
fragile.
Steering & Brakes
The underside photo shows a proper performance-oriented chassis
layout with a clean, purposeful installation. Notes also call
out:
Large front brake kit
And the stance/tire combo suggests it's set up to feel planted and
confident-more "point-and-shoot" than "white-knuckle."
The Drive
This is the experience people chase: big-inch torque, side-pipe
sound, and a Toploader 4-speed that makes every shift feel like an
event. With the staggered tires, 3.31-geared rear, and the classic
Cobra weight-to-power ratio, it's the kind of car that turns a
quick cruise into an adrenaline hit-every time.
ClassicCars.com has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States, successfully making the Inc. 5000 list in both 2015,
2016, 2017 and 2018. This prestigious accolade represents the continued growth of the company, and ClassicCars.com's dominance as the world's largest online marketplace for
buying and selling classic and collector vehicles.
The Stevie Awards, the world's premier business awards recognized
ClassicCars.com's first-class Customer Support team with a Stevie Bronze Award in 2019, celebrating the team's skills as exemplary customer support specialists.
In 2016 The Journal, brought to you by ClassicCars.com, was celebrated as the SECOND MOST INFLUENTIAL automotive blog in the world by NFC Performance.