For Sale: 1966 Shelby Cobra Replica in Ft Worth, Texas

Cobra replicas are just about the most fun you can have on four wheels, and those with big power like this very nicely built red 1966 Shelby Cobra provide an experience that's pretty close to the original. That's a built 302 under the hood, and it's backed by a Tremec 5-speed and a performance suspension that's more than up to the job of putting the power down.

The kit is by Classic Roadsters, LTD, and if you're familiar with new Cobras, they've been at it longer than almost anybody. The design captures the curves and scoops of the original and civilizes it a bit with a nip here and a tuck there to make it more user-friendly than an original. Finish quality is extremely good and you know that the guys tasked with getting the fiberglass shell into shape were paying attention in class, because it's nicer than most. The doors line up right, the hood fits flush, and you don't see any of the usual waves or thin spots in the 'glass that you'd find on poorly-prepped roadsters. The vivid red paint gives the brutal cobra a high-impact look that doesn't need stripes to look amazing. The hood scoop is a slightly unusual piece that actually looks great and it feeds air directly into the stout 5.0 underneath. The usual Cobra styling cues like a chrome roll bar for the driver, stubby bumpers, and Lucas-style taillights all help with authenticity, although I'm guessing nobody will mistake this roadster for anything but Shelby's finest.

Beautiful tan leather bucket seats give the interior a custom look, but upon closer inspection you'll see that it pretty much sticks to the original recipe. A beautiful wood-rimmed steering wheel is a correct reproduction and the retro gauges are from Classic Instruments and look fairly similar to AC's original Smiths dials. The shifter is linked to a Tremec 5-speed manual transmission, which really gives this car a wide performance envelope. Toggle switches for the ancillary functions also add an authentic touch, and while it's got a stereo and heater, this is still a back-to-basics roadster that's built for combat. The trunk is also nicely finished with brown carpets and a nice flat floor, so it'll carry a surprising amount of gear on your next road trip.

Despite the fact that it's named "Classic 427," the engine is a strong-running 302 that was prepped by Performance Associates and dyno tested to be sure it's delivering Cobra-spec horsepower. It's full of high-quality components, including a set of Edelbrock aluminum heads, an oversized cam, and roller rockers under the Ford Motorsport valve covers. With a Holley 4160 carburetor and an aluminum intake, it grunted out a dyno-verified 308 horsepower and 340 pounds of torque. In the lightweight Cobra, that's enough horsepower to make things very entertaining without the hassles of a mega-horsepower powerplant. It certainly looks the part of a Cobra powerplant and with chrome side pipes, it has an awe-inspiring sound. The aforementioned Tremec 5-speed offers a towering overdrive gear, so even on the highway, this Cobra is pretty civilized. Disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering, tubular A-arms, and coil-over shocks make this Cobra feel plenty lively when the road starts to twist. Handsome Halibrand-style alloys are fitted with 245/60/15 front and 295/50/15 rear BFGoodrich rubber, giving it the ideal Cobra stance.

Cobras are all about performance and horsepower, and this one definitely delivers. The fact that it's also civilized and great-looking is purely a bonus. Call today!