1965 Shelby Cobra Replica

Description

No car guy/gal's bucket list is complete without a Shelby Cobra. You could rattle off 50 other cars and you'd still get have incomplete list without one in the pack. It's the most recognizable sports car ever built, and faithful copies can be found at every price point, from DIY garage kits to high-end professional builds like this stunning 1965 Shelby Cobra Replica. With a thundering Ford Racing/SVO 460 V8, a 6-speed manual gearbox, and sports-tuned suspension all in tow, it's one of the most impressive Cobra replicas we've ever seen.

This fantastic-looking snake comes from Vern Redel and the pros at West Coast Cobras, and it's actually their 25th Anniversary Special Edition model. Replica and Kit Car companies usually don't have that kind of long and storied history (most popped up after federal production laws loosened in 2015), and West Coast Cobras were one of the first to build Cobra replicas to a high standard (even before WCC, the company was Kellison Stallion that goes all the way back to 1976). Not only are you buying a red-hot Cobra, but you're also buying decades of R&D, build experience, and overall expertise that are all funneled into this limited-edition roadster. The classic MK4 Cobra look will never go out of style, and this gorgeous bodywork on this beauty is tougher and more durable that anything AC Cobra had running around in 1965, with thick, modern fiberglass materials reinforced with energy-absorbing crumple zones from front to rear and a custom frame underneath. This roadster was purpose-built to be heavier and more substantial than most Cobra replicas, specifically so it could better handle the big block under the hood. And if you've ever driven a Cobra with a huge motor in it, one of the first things that runs through your mind when the tires cut loose is "Man, I sure wish this thing was a little bit heavier". I'm all for the benefits of a great power-to-weight ratio, but most kits are dangerously light, and the added curb weight of a WCC replica really makes these roadsters feel more controlled out on the road. All the iconic bits and pieces that make the Cobra a perennial favorite are in place, and the low, crouching wide-body design looks like it's going 150MPH just sitting still. Shiny Green paint with loads of metal flake was laid down to a top driver-quality level when the car was built in '04, and without a lot of miles on the build it's still in very good shape. Gold Le Mans stripes were painted on and buried under the clearcoat to match the quality of the rest of the car, and with a subtle hood scoop, raked windshield, fender gills, and side-pipes, the curb appeal is off-the-charts. A full-length chrome roll bar is an added safety feature that looks great, the quick-release racing fuel cap is a must-have, and the chrome 'jack-stand' bumperettes and tinted Talbot-style side mirrors all work to complete the killer look. Take a look at the pictures again and try to convince yourself that you don't want this car...we dare you.

A pair of plush, tan leather bucket seats and a fully upholstered center console add a whole lot of comfort and style to the otherwise race-ready cabin. R.J.S. 4-point racing seatbelts hold you in place while a Shelby-style, wood-rimmed, tilt steering wheel with a satin-black center swiftly takes in all of your commands. A large AutoMeter speedometer and full complement of matching VDO gauges let you know exactly what's going on in the engine compartment, and they've been cleverly installed inside a center-mounted woodgrain bezel that pops out from the padded leather dashboard. And taller drivers don't have to worry, because the foot boxes are lower and longer than most models and the tan leather seats are plush, making this is one of the more comfortable Cobras we've driven. We love the way the gold stripes adorn the top of the dash, there are actually wipers that work (which you almost never see on Cobras), and the cue-ball topped shifter that manages the 6-speed manual gearbox falls easily to hand. Unlike most spartan Cobras, you actually get a heater and an AM/FM/CD stereo in this one, and there's even a special chromed fire extinguisher to remind everyone that this is no child's plaything. Plush carpets line the insulated floors and come topped with floormats, and there's even a surprisingly spacious trunk out back that was finished in green to match the car.

Cobras were all about big power, and nothing delivers a big hit of torque like the SVO/Ford Racing 460 V8 motor installed up front. As one of Ford's premier blocks, it features 4-bolt mains, Super Cobra Jet aluminum heads, a Holley 750CFM 4-barrel carburetor atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake, and an MSD ignition that all work together to put up big power numbers. It's tuned right and runs great, and thanks to polished Ford Racing valve covers, a Cobra air cleaner, and an aluminum radiator with dual electric fans, the looks match the performance. The custom chassis is a work of art, with custom control arms, power rack-and-pinion steering, coilovers all-around, a rear swaybar, and a big Ford 9-inch rear end hanging on a 4-link out back, and it's fairly obvious that this Cobra has been driven very little because everything still looks so fresh. Power 4-wheel disc brakes are always a big help on anything this fast, and what Cobra would be complete without a set of block-hugging headers and howling side pipes, with these sounding especially luscious because they're being fed by such a snarling 460. Gorgeous 15-inch Halibrand-style wheels with knock-off spinners fill the wheel wells perfectly thanks to 215/65/15 front and 235/50/15 rear BFGoodrich T/A white-letter radials.

Titled as a 2004 ASVE, Replica 1965 Ford, this roadster is incredible – it's beautifully built, looks great, and you can drive it home today. Call now!