1965 Shelby Cobra Backdraft Racing

Description

There are several different types of Cobra replicas out there: those that merely look like a Cobra and are cheap to build, those that virtually exact reproductions, and those like this Backdraft Racing Cobra, a take-no-prisoners tribute to the original that looks pretty authentic but has the moves of a modern sports car.

It's hard to build a more attractive 2-seat sports car than the venerable Cobra, and the guys at Backdraft Racing have done a great job replicating the timeless shape. Sinuous curves, bulging fenders, and that big air intake up front still look awesome. The body is fiberglass, of course, but that only means that it's durable and easy to maintain, unlike those fragile aluminum skins that dent if you just look at them too hard. Coated in traditional Guardsman Blue paint with familiar white racing stripes and a gumball on the nose, it has a predatory vibe that the modern colors seem to miss, and only the very foolish would tangle with this snake on the street. And thanks to quality workmanship, you can see how well the doors fit, how neatly the trunk lines up with the rear fenders, and the shiny paint that was rubbed and buffed to a brilliant finish. All the famous Cobra design cues are there, from the jacking stubs in place of bumpers to the twin chrome roll bars to the flip-up gas cap on the rear fender, all designed for the track. This sucker is the real deal.

Curvy bucket seats look right and grab you and hold you in place during aggressive driving, one notable upgrade over the original. Actually, they did a lot of work inside this Backdraft Racing replica to give it that authentic feel, ranging from the wood-rimmed Shelby steering wheel to the forward-canted shifter for the 6-speed manual transmission underneath. Racing-style shoulder harnesses are available for both driver and passenger, but this is also a civilized car, so it has carpets, Backdraft-logo floor mats, and correct Plexiglas sun visors and wind wings. Big Auto Meter analog gauges fill the instrument panel with information, and they do a good impersonation of the reverse-rotation Smiths units in the originals while being more reliable and accurate. The trunk is neatly finished in plain black carpets, which is all you really need anyway.

For power, it's hard to beat technology, so a modern-tech 5.0 liter Coyote V8 keeps this Cobra Ford Blue throughout. It's a neat fit in the Cobra's engine bay, and the silky-smooth DOHC V8 thumps out more than 400 horsepower on pump gas while weighing a fraction of its 427 cubic inch ancestors. Factory fuel injection means it starts and runs beautifully and there's no tuning required, just turn the key, hit the button, and go! A few polished pieces dress it up and everything works like it should to make this Cobra easy to drive. The chassis is fabricated rectangular tubing for durability, with custom suspensions fore and aft to make this Cobra as agile as it is fast. 4-wheel discs, rack-and-pinion steering, and professional assembly make this a supercar that you can drive every day if you choose. Retro Halibrand-style wheels look right and wear 245/40/18 front and 295/40/18 rear Nitto rubber.

Performance is king with this Backdraft Cobra, but the looks ain't too shabby either. With only 609 miles on the build, this is one that is so fresh you can still smell the paint. Call today!