Doing the Impossible: Giving the Shelby Cobra Its New "Bite"

When one talks about dream cars, AC’s Shelby Cobra almost always finds a spot in every car enthusiast’s list.  Since it was first manufactured in the early sixties, the cobra has become an icon amongst performance cars. Its unique design and the power and speed it posses has easily made it a symbol of power and class.  It is not surprising then that this car along with its signature dual stripes has long been a favorite of collectors everywhere.  Even Hollywood has shown an affinity to the Cobra, featuring it in movies like Bad Boys, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Austin Powers and the recent box office Iron Man.  Movie directors have used the classic to somehow subliminally exude aggressiveness, masculinity and strength in the characters they create in the big screen.

The Shelby Cobra was pretty much a dream car even on its inception.  American ex-racing driver Carroll Shelby said that the Cobra came to him in a dream.  From that he went to car manufacturers requesting a vehicle modified to accept a v8 engine.  Fearing that his design will be a direct competitor of the then just released Corvette, Chevrolet declined the request, which was then accepted by car manufacturer AC.  The concept from Shelby was easily made possible by Ford’s new 221Ci V8 engine which became the early engine found in the prototype.  In less than 8 hours after receiving the model in Los Angeles, Shelby had the Cobra fitted with a transmission and tested.

One of the things that made the Cobra such a hit was its exclusivity since the beginning.  The first release was just limited to 75 cars and every new modification brought out more models in less than that number.  The Cobra then swiftly rose in popularity in racing circles proving to be a success amongst those with a thirst for speed.  Even if it is a good 500 lbs lighter, it did not take long before it was dubbed the Corvette-Beater.  In the UK, the Cobra has become so popular that it actually contributed to the implementation of national speed limits.

The popularity of the Cobra, however, was not enough to make it a financial success and soon the import of the car from England was ceased by Carroll in 1967.  This lack of supply only made the car a sought out treasure amongst hobbyist and enthusiast in the years that followed.  The car model became a rare treasure to be sought out, a symbol of power to dream of having and an expensive classic to purchase.  In 2004, the original Cobra owned by Carroll was auctioned to a whopping £2.8 million.

Today, one does not have to have such a hefty amount to feel the thrill of owning a Cobra.  Kirkham Motorsports, a company that manufactures car kit replicas, has produced a Shelby Cobra Replica that stays true to the design of the original, but with more features to boot. Their offer goes beyond the dream for they not only promise to have your hands on a Cobra, but to actually get it customized to your heart’s content.  Starting at 39,995 dollars, their 427 KMS/SC boasts of an aluminum body finish, hood scoops, side pipes and oil cooler which embodies performance through and through.  Other options include an aluminum body finish, a LeMans style hard top, a 42 gallon tank, and original style suspension.

Kirkham Motors has taken the Shelby Cobra a notch higher with their replica by giving the car hobbyist the power to design every aspect of this car to suit their dream.  I don’t think there exists any more powerful symbol of prestige, class and power than the amped replica of the breakthrough which up to now remains on top of every man’s must have list.

About the Author

Chris Arines is a car enthusiast and blogger for Auto Parts for Brains, the official blog for online auto parts store, Auto Parts Place as well as a contributor for countless blogs online.  When not writing about four wheeled vehicles or about the latest gadgets, he is usually trekking on his mountain bike or trying to figure out how to bend spoons with his mind.