1965 Shelby Cobra Factory Five

Description

The state-of-the-art in Cobra replicas has evolved to the point where the cars are things unto themselves. No longer saddled with trying to re-create a 1965 driving experience, cars like this Factory 5 Cobra roadster can now be modern-day supercars, street-legal weapons that have a vintage Cobra look but all the performance that modern technology can deliver.

You already know that Factory 5 is putting out some of the best Cobras in the business and building one from scratch isn't a bad idea. But if you're the impatient type or a guy who doesn't feel like investing a small fortune in a custom build, then this car is right up your alley. It's beautifully finished and carries all the hardware that you'd use yourself, all wrapped in a professionally finished body that stops traffic wherever it goes. They spent a ton of time (AKA a big pile of cash) to get the fiberglass straight and then laid down a few coats of gunmetal gray paint that really makes this Cobra look nasty. On top of that, it got a set of yellow side stripes that incorporate the venerable 5.0 badges from a '90s Mustang. Details like the Lucas-style taillights, a single roll hoop, and jacking stubs out back suggest that it was built for combat, and the hardware underneath backs up this assumption. But from the look of the car as it sits today, we'd be shocked if it ever turned a wheel in anger. It's ready for combat!

The interior definitely gets the Shelby thing right, with wrap-around buckets that look suitably vintage and a stubby shifter that's canted forward just right. So you'll get the Cobra experience from behind the wheel. But the gauges are cleverly repackaged Mustang units (yeah, you didn't recognize them, did you?) that watch all the vitals, including oil pressure and coolant temperature, which are critical if you're using your Cobra on the track. Toggle switches, a fat leather-wrapped wheel, and leather check straps on the doors further blend the old and new. There's no radio, no heater, no A/C, but why would you want those in your Cobra anyway? Is it for your wife or something? No, this car is all about going fast and doing it with style, and in that regard it's a massive success. There are carpets to help control noise and heat and the trunk is finished with beautiful bare aluminum, the way it should be.

Big blocks get all the attention, but in a Cobra actually built to drive, a sweet-running 5.0 is really what you want. Less weight up front means razor-sharp handling and the 5.0's penchant for making torque is undiminished in this Cobra replica. There's a familiar EFI intake up top, now painted Ford Blue for a bit of tradition, and the valve covers were painted to match. A big aluminum radiator keeps it cool, there's a reliable serpentine belt drive setup for the accessories, and satin black side pipes provide the same awesome soundtrack Cobra fans have enjoyed for 50 years (chrome side pipes are included with the car, but do you really need them?). Best of all, if you want more power, it's only a phone call away. A 5-speed manual gearbox provides an overdrive gear for somewhat relaxed high-speed cruising and there's a Mustang-spec 8.8-inch rear end out back. 4-wheel disc brakes provide fantastic stopping power and adjustable shocks let you fine tune it for track conditions. Weld-style wheels are the perfect touch and they're wrapped in 235/60/15 front and 255/60/15 rear Mickey Thompson radials.

So forget building your own, this one is available right now. Get in, turn the key, and start having some fun. That's what this Cobra does best. Call now!