Just few cult cars throughout the twentieth century are accompanied by fama what follows the original Cobra. We were still beardless boys, when we dreamed about this strong little roadster with seductive look. The recipe for a great sports car has remained simple: a powerful engine, long bonnet, short and “fast” tail, arrange four large and “fat” wheels at the four corners add a low windshield, insert the steering wheel, gear box and two low set racing seats and -that’s it! At least one of the recipes would sound like this.
Cobra was one of the most original, most beautiful and most recognizable examples of that. Ever!
Original manufacturer of Cobra was a British AC Cars, but it is likely only the late Mr. Carol Shelby made a myth of it.
Today, there are a multitude of companies producing Cobra replicas, but actually purchasing a genuine original isn’t quite as easy nor as affordable. As a matter of fact, one particularly impressive example from 1964 will headline RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale auction, where it is expected to sell for between $2.5 million and $3.3 million.
It is a rare model 427, one of only 23 copies ever made, it is chassis CSX 3010 and powered by V8 engine delivering still impressive 620 hp (and we’re talking about the car over half a century old!).
This particular vehicle, of course, has its own story. As a new, it was delivered in South Carolina, and immediately afterwards was concluded that this Cobra “too wild” for use on the road. Then, the car was sold in Massachusetts to a man who raced it in a number of events throughout 1967 and 1968. This Cobra went on to compete in the Canadian Endurance Championship and ultimately claimed the title in the Eastern Canadian Endurance Championship.
35 years ago, Cobra has been generally restored, and is now waiting for its new owner.