1965 Shelby Cobra Backdraft 427

Description

We know that Cobra replica quality can be all over the map, but we invite you to examine this 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 from Backdraft Racing up close and personal, because it's one of the finest we've ever featured. Better still, it's a one-owner, low-mileage wrecking machine with some killer features, including a diabolical Destroyer Gray paint job that really stands out from the crowd, 427 cubic inches under the hood, a quick-shifting 5-speed gearbox, and a gorgeous bespoke interior. Sure, it's a replica (the real ones are locked away in museums these days), but it's one of the best replicas money can buy.

Destroyer Gray, a name so cool we don't mind writing it over and over again. Nevertheless, it's a bit of an unusual shade for a Cobra, albeit a refreshing one in a sea of Guardsman Blue and Bright Red recreations that litter the marketplace. The Special Edition color gives the classic Cobra styling a bit more edge, not to mention a more modern street presence, and when off-set with gloss black stripes and black accents in place of all the usual brightwork, well, 'sinister' is a word that's easily conjured up. In truth, it's always nice to see non-traditional but period-correct colors on the replicas, suggesting that the original owner who had it built knew exactly what he was doing rather than just going with what he thought was pretty. If you know the Backdraft cars, you know that their workmanship is incredibly well-regarded in the Cobra industry and the fit and finish on this particular car is worthy of all the extra scrutiny it's likely to get at shows. Black stripes running from end-to-end are, of course, part of the package, as is cool-looking hood scoop that sucks air into the burly motor. Just look at the overhead shot and tell me you don't love the look! It's set up as an SC, so it has the flared fenders, blacked-out jacking stubs instead of bumpers, a blacked-out roll hoop, and all the other trim and fixtures that define the Cobra today. And with slick black alloys and matte-black side pipes, this sucker looks mean!

The interior is basic Cobra: wrap-around low back buckets, black leather, and minimal frills. However, for the business of driving, there are few better places to work, and unlike most Cobra cabins, this one uses high-end materials and looks far more refined. That includes bucket seats that are actually comfortable thanks to thick, durable leather hides, a carbon-fiber dash filled with an array of sporty Classic Instruments gauges and switches, and a custom center console wrapped in elegant diamond-cut leather that's incredibly stylish. A fat leather-wrapped steering wheel communicates the front wheels' activities directly to you palms and the cue-ball topped shifter for the 5-speed gearbox is a short reach away and practically taunts the driver to bang through the gears. Carpets cover the floors and provide good insulation, and they're protected with matching floor mats, racing harnesses keeps both the driver and passenger in place, and even the door panels were finished with matching leather upholstery and come equipped with map pockets. There's no radio, but an aftermarket A/C system was added and it blows ice cold. Out back, the trunk is reasonably spacious for a travel bag and car show trophies, meaning this Cobra can actually be driven longer distances.

Tilt the hood forward and you'll find a 351-based V8 engine that's been professionally built and punched out to 427 cubic inches of pure power and performance, neatly packaged in a lightweight small block package. Augmented with aluminum heads and fed through a big Holley double pumper atop an aluminum intake, the small block has way more power than you'll ever need, especially in this incredibly lightweight package. The engine bay is a blacked-out thing of beauty, highlighted by Ford Racing valve covers and a matching finned air cleaner atop the block, and a full MSD ignition system cranks it all to life with at an instant. It cackles through the side pipes like a machine that makes a real-world horsepower and as you ease out the clutch in first gear, you'll understand why these cars remain so insanely popular year-after-year; the performance is explosive! The performance suspension includes a giant front sway bar, rack-and-pinion steering, and out back there's an independent setup that's agile yet supple, making this a Cobra you could use every day. Power 4-wheel disc brakes are powerful enough to dislodge the fillings in your teeth and hide behind blacked-out Halibrand-style wheels with center spinners that are absolutely perfect for a Cobra like this. Rubber is from Nitto, measuring 245/40/16s in front and a giant 295/40/18s out back.

Beautifully built, insanely fast, and supremely competent in the corners, this is the Cobra we all wish for when we entertain the thoughts of building our own. And with only 1546 miles on the build, this Backdraft Beauty is just getting started. So why wait, this one's ready to go right now. Call today!