1965 Shelby Cobra Replica

Description

When you set out to build your ultimate Cobra, you can do what most of the other guys do and drop a small block in there. Or, as is the case with this nicely-finished Factory 5 Cobra, you can go the traditional route with an old-school V8 displacing 427 cubes. A masterful combination of old and new, this Cobra has the soul of the '60s original.

You already know that Factory 5 makes some of the best Cobra bodies on the planet, through fiberglass skins that replicate the original look without taking a lot of liberties with the shape. Finished in brilliant Flame Red (borrowed from the GM color pallet), this is the car you use to get attention when your fire truck is in the shop. There's a lot of time and money wrapped up in that bright red paint, with glossy, smooth bodywork that took hours to properly prep, correct white Lemans stripes down the center, and a precision fit that belies its "kit car" origins. The little stuff is right, too, ranging from the riveted-on hood scoop to the stubby bumperettes at both ends to the Lucas-style taillights out back, and no Cobra would be complete without the chrome hoop behind the driver's head. From any angle, this snake just looks right.

Unlike many of its contemporaries, this Cobra gets the interior correct. Comfortable black bucket seats wrap around you without being constricting and stay below the belt line for a clean look. Simpson 5-point harnesses are a race-ready addition that probably makes a lot of sense, even though the car is really built for the street. You'll note that there's a lovely wood-rimmed Cobra steering wheel, a forward-canted shifter for the T5 5-speed gearbox, and Cobra-logo floor mats to protect the carpets. Pretty white-on-black gauges were clearly inspired by the original dials, including the reverse-rotation tach and speedometer, with secondary instruments in the center of the dash. Like the original, this one doesn't offer many creature comforts aside from a heater, but quite honestly, you won't miss them one bit. There's not even a top, although you do get a nicely-finished trunk that's reasonably sized for a weekend getaway for two.

For some old-school butt kicking, this slick Cobra sports a built 410 cubic inch Mercury V8, now punched out to a very familiar 427 cubic inches. Topped by three deuces under a finned air cleaner, it has that vintage performance look that the modern 5.0 seems to lack. Matching finned valve covers and a shiny expansion tank are additional old-school touches that lend this Cobra some authenticity. Custom headers dump into those glorious polished stainless side pipes, and until you've heard this one cackle, you probably don't want to make a purchase decision on any other Cobra you've been looking at. Backed by a T5 5-speed manual transmission and a tough 8.8-inch rear end with 3.55 gears inside, it's even a reasonably comfortable long-distance cruiser. The front suspension is familiar A-arms and coil-overs, while out back there's a sophisticated trailing arm setup with a Panhard rod. Halibrand wheels are the only right choice on a Cobra of any kind, although these are modern 17-inch models that wear 245/45/17 front and 315/35/17 rear performance radials.

Ferociously fast with an old-school angle, this slick Cobra gets the important stuff right (the going fast parts) while looking like it belongs on a show field. Call today!