Roadsters

The original AC Ace was made by AC Cars in England but it was actually the Ace sports car of 1953 that really made a reputation among racecar enthusiasts. It used a light ladder type tubular frame with leaf spring suspension and a gorgeous open two-seater alloy body.  This was inspired by the Ferrari Barchetta of the day and it has been satisfying race car enthusiasts ever since. What many people don’t realize is the rarity of both the original and the replicas. 

Let's be honest. Most of the racing roadster replicas on the market today give but a nod and a wink to the original car they are based on, and are more about cosmetic appeal than anything else. It's a rare replica manufacturer whose mission is to actually continue the generations of a venerated vehicle's pedigree by honoring the soul of the original, but the soul as evolved into technologically updated flesh. MuscleMotorSports, Inc.of North Carolina, using resources in the geographical heart of NASCAR technology, has adopted such a mission with the historic Lister race roadster, and run with it.

If you are thinking of heading out to the Nevada Desert, keep your gambling money in your pocket and make your first stop at Shelby Auto in Vegas.  You can’t lose when you put your money on the Shelby Cobra CSX7000 because the 289 FIA is the authentic recreation of the Shelby Cobra 289 model that started it all. It began with this car in 1962 and today's CSX 7000 component vehicle incorporates some amazing safety and performance improvements. The CSX 7000 bodies come in fiberglass or aluminum and its a sure thing you'll be placing your hard earned dollars on a gamble that is 100% guaranteed.

Corvettes are so much a visceral part of the American auto dream, and one would argue that it's the early Corvettes - the C1 generation-that embody the true essence of freedom, beauty, and the power of technology emerging in the retrospectively more innocent times of the fifties and early sixties. The look of a 1959 Corvette Roadster, say, evokes warm, fuzzy feelings and images from the memories of us older folks, and by the Corvette's archetypical status, creates the same golden aura for people of all ages.

The Cobra. No other image makes a car lover’s pulse race quite the same as Carroll Shelby’s 1962 classic, the Cobra Roadster.

Conception

Like so many things in America, the Cobra Roadster actually has its roots on the other side of the Atlantic, specifically, in England. In 1954, AC Cars of Thames Ditton, Surrey, England, began production of an open top, lightweight sports car. The car was called the AC Ace, and it was elegantly styled for speed. It was one of those cars that looked fast when it was standing still, and looked faster when it wasn’t. The Ace was not out to break any speed records, but it performed well on the British Racing circuit. In the 1957 Le Mans the Ace took tenth overall; a six-cylinder sports car could certainly do worse!

 This is Dave Whiteley's Locost 7 just after passing the SVA

Leisurely cruising the web recently on a sunny afternoon when I road across an address that grabbed my attention and prompted me to hit the brakes, coming to a full stop on M1stang.com.

The site, which not only shows you how to transform an everyday Mazda Miata into a custom-built all-steel roadster that will rev up the engines of any onlooker, but also provides information on two US locations where you can take your Miata and have it maxed out, creating a M1 Stang Convertible.

For just under $13,000 (and your Mazda Miata, of course), you can have the car of your dreams, but you will have to put down some extra cash for a smokin' paint job because that is not included in the $13,000 price tag. 

The Sebring Owners Club was created for those who have an interest in anystyle of classic motor car. Whether you're considering a build, involved in one, or just want to cruise, you will find help, advice, and plenty of friends. Anyone is welcome to join, just an interest in socializing with like-minded people is enough.