In 1962, AC Cars and Carroll Shelby began producing a small roadster with a V8 engine. Today, more than sixty years later, these cars are built in several places around the world according to the same original concept.

 

Based on AC ACE

It was Carroll Shelby - one of the world's most famous car makers - who created the Cobra in collaboration with AC Cars - a small sports car factory by the Thames in the village Thames Ditton, Surrey, England. They had ended production of AC ACE after 9 years in production. The model was very similar in appearance to today's Cobra and had been delivered with sprightly 2-litre inline sixes from AC and Bristol. Some cars had been built for a larger engine – a 2,6 liter inline six from the Ford Zephyr. Subsequently, several ACE cars have also been upgraded with 289 V8 engines from Ford/Shelby. That was Carroll Shelby's plan. He wanted to equip the ACE with Ford's 260 and 289 V8 engines. The cars were to be produced in Thames Ditton as "semi-finished products" and sent to Carrol Shelby's company Shelby American in Enterprise, Nevada, for engine and drive assembly.

 

3 series

The AC Shelby Cobra was produced in 3 series.
The 1-1962 Mk1963 had a 8 or 260 cubic inch V289.
Mk2 1963-1965 got rack and pinion steering - and continued with the 289 engine.
Mk3 1965-1967 got the larger 427 V8 engine from Ford. Among other things, the model received new suspension with coil springs, wider wheels and extended wheel arches.

 

 

 

 
After 1967, regular production of the Cobra ceased at AC, but production continued elsewhere. All cars produced afterwards can either be characterized as "continuation models" or "replicas". Over the years - from the first replicas being built in 1965 to today - people still talk about the same series. A distinction is made between cars with "small block" and "big block". The variants are often referred to as Cobra 289 and Cobra 427, although they have newer engines in the same size class. Several newer Cobras have a 460 engine and are then referred to as "Cobra 460". Other designations used are "Leaf" and "coil" model. The 427 model is often referred to simply as the "Mk3".
 
"Street", "racing" or "semi-competition"? The majority of cars from regular production were street car versions with the exhaust pipes leading out the back. Only a few cars were produced fully rigged for racing. Today, the 427 S/C "Semi-Competition" is popular with wide wheels, side pipes and a 4-point belt, but equipped with a speedometer and other things you need to drive on public roads.

Continuation Models

It is almost impossible to find remaining cars from the original production series. The closest you can get are the cars that Shelby American itself has produced as "continuation" models. The chassis numbers are structured in the same way as the original cars - with CSXmnnnn where "m" is the model and "nnnn" is the serial number.
 
CSX40000 – Shelby Cobra 427 S/C until 2009
CSX60000 – Shelby Cobra 427 S/C from 2009
CSX70000 – Shelby Cobra 289 FIA (racing)
CSX80000 – Shelby Cobra 289 Street
Previous serial numbers are reserved for cars from regular production.
 
Also approved as a "continuation" model Superformance MkIII. It is the only model outside of AC and Shelby that is approved as a "continuation" model. This means that they can build cars that are identical to the original cars. Shelby is also said to have at least once bought cars from other replica manufacturers - among other things Kirkham Motorsports. You have to be an expert to distinguish replicas from the original cars.

 

Replicas

Replicas are sold in various levels of execution – from bodywork on chassis to complete cars. All the cars are amazingly similar to the originals they are based on. You have to get under the skin to find out which manufacturer has delivered the building kit or the car. In terms of construction, all the cars are built on tubular steel frames with bodies in either fiberglass or aluminium. The inner door and sides must be shaped like an aluminum vessel, although the design varies somewhat.

3 important factors

There are three factors that can determine the quality and value of a Cobra Replica: The supplier of the kit, the drivetrain and who built the car. I've made a list of replica manufacturers I've found based on sales ads and the vehicle registry. Note how many manufacturers there are, and the list is probably far from complete. By searching online discussion forums, I have tried to find out which of the manufacturers are the best and which have weaknesses, without finding any answers. Varying quality has been reported from car to car, something to be expected as there is a lot of handwork in production.

Replica manufacturers

B & B Manufacturing
Backdraft Racing
Contemporary Classics
ERA
Everett-Morrison Motorcars
Excalibur Cobra (Pre-built)
Factory Five Racing
Gardner Douglas (UK)
Hurricane Roadsters
JBL Motorsports
JK Sports Cars – DAX (UK)
Kirkham Motorsports (US/PL)
McGill Manufacturing (stemmed from B&B)
Motorsport Center Mohr (DE)
Phoenix-Cobra (DE)
Pilgrim Motorsports (UK)
Saier Automobilbau (DE)
Shell Valley Classic Wheels
Superformance (South Africa/US)
Ultimate Classic Cars
Unique Motorcars

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Not just Ford engines

Although the original series of engines are no longer in production, there seems to be a good supply of Shelby engines. Several use engines from GM in their projects. British Cobra builders often use V8 engines from Rover and Jaguar. German manufacturers can offer engines from AMG/Mercedes-Benz. There are also cars with 4- and 6-cylinder engines. Alternative engines are hardly inferior to Shelby/Ford engines, but some might argue that it detracts from the vehicle's model identity, that it is no longer a Cobra.

Authentic or just an all right car?

A Cobra in good condition with low km costs just under NOK 1 million or more. It's actually not the worst thing you can spend money on. With good care and good treatment, the car can retain its value until the day it is sold. How important is it that the car is as similar to an original Cobra as possible? Without history, papers, receipts and characteristics, it can be difficult to establish authenticity. The chassis number can give the name of the manufacturer. Where the engine comes from is also important. Not only producer, but also whose who may have overhauled it. One can compare it with the stamp on antique porcelain, or the signature on a painting. In resale it can mean a lot.

The chassis number

Some manufacturers follow a system for their chassis numbers throughout the ages, although you can not Be sure the number is genuine. On the original Shelby models, they must have been punched in several places, including in the frame. I would think it also applies to Shelby's own continuation models. All Cobras built at Shelby must have a chassis number beginning with "CSX" - "Carroll Shelby Export" from the time when the Cobra was produced in England.

 

 

 
Here are some other examples of chassis numbers I have found:
CCX.... - Could be Contemporary Classics
FFR.... - Could be Factory Five Racing
KC.... - Could be Kirkham Motorsports
SP...., SW..., or a 17-digit VIN beginning with “AC9C” – May be Superformance
 
The problem with chassis numbers is not only that they can vary from year to year from the same manufacturer, but they can also be misrepresented, either in an attempt to match the number to a 17-digit VIN or someone has mistakenly entered it engine serial number. In the case of second-hand imports to Norway, the owner can note the car make and model himself. You can apparently write anything here.

Seller's obligation to provide information

On the replica manufacturers' own websites, the models are referred to with names such as "Kirkham 427" and "Superformance MkIII" - not "AC Shelby Cobra 427" which the model is based on. If the seller does not know - or chooses not to give the name of the replica manufacturer - the headline of the ad should at least show the word "Replica", even if "the whole world" knows that cars after 1967 are not original. It's about acting seriously as a seller.
 
Reputable car shops and auction houses that sell exclusive, classic cars state the name of the replica manufacturer in the headlines. Many replica manufacturers have been producing cars for decades. Their cars are as good as the cars Shelby produces. There is therefore no reason to hide the replica manufacturers' identities.
 
Several cars on the market have been built/converted in a way that allows them to be considered "one-of-a-kind" projects. In particular, this seems to be the case for cars built on Corvette chassis. Here, the seller should be able to provide full documentation - preferably with photos. Not to establish that the car is good, but to document origin and authenticity. It can be good to have when the car is to be sold on.
 
Today I find 4 advertised Cobras in the million range for sale on Finn.no. Of the 4, only one reveals the name of the manufacturer. It's a great one Contemporary Classics 427 which is for sale at Svelvik Car Sales. In another ad I can reveal that it is about one JK Sports Cars – DAX in 427 look, without it being mentioned anywhere. The other two cars advertised for sale appear to be self-built cars on Corvette chassis.

 

Conclusion

Based on a 10-year-old design, the AC Shelby Cobra was already a classic when the first car was built. We are talking about an old roadster concept devoid of today's requirements for comfort, space and safety. The dashboard is a veneer sheet without airbags. Electronics are absent. The V8 is located far back, almost into the driver's seat. It has carburettors - no injection - no turbo. Heat, smell and sound are conveyed to the driver and passenger. Driving the Cobra gives a feeling of mastery and you are in command.

About the pictures

The main photo was taken at an amcar meeting at Nøstetangen in Drammen in 2018 before the construction of the new homes. The Cobra in the picture is probably a Superformance Mk3 427 - and if so a "continuation" model. The car photographed at Hadeland Glassverk is a Factory Five Racing 427. Note the pictures of the black and white Cobra 427 facing each other. Who is a replica - and who is real? The black (tv) is a 1965 ERA Cobra 427 while the white (th) is a 1966 AC Shelby with CSX chassis number (original or contiuation). The pictures of the black car come from Shelby's website. It's a newer Shelby 289 – a car faithful to the original 1962 Cobra – based on the AC ACE. I do not know the origin of the car in the last picture.

See

Shelby.com
Superformance.com
Kirkham Motorsports
Cobras at asphaltrebellen.de