Few cars are imbued with as much history as the Shelby Cobra. Only a few hundred were built, and the car was a financial failure for Carroll Shelby, Ford and AC. But it was a great success on the racetrack, and it captured the hearts and imagination of a generation.
Sure, it's an ergonomics nightmare. Power delivery is raw and cantankerous. The open cockpit is terrifying on the track. But the iconic design is low slung and sexy. The chassis is lightweight, agile and fast. The Shelby Cobra is a legend on wheels -- a rolling tribute to Carroll Shelby's audacity in packing a V8 into a small, light British roadster -- merging American power with European style.
Original examples are incredibly rare...and over the years have become outrageously expensive. An entire industry devoted to manufacturing replicas, tributes and continuation cars had sprung up by the early 1980s to keep up with demand for these very special roadsters.
This example is a 1966 427 factory-built replica by Unique Motorcars in Gadsden, Alabama. Unique was founded in 1976 and is one of the oldest and best-regarded manufacturers of kits and factory-built Cobra replicas. This was an early Unique factory build, with serial number 3018 completed in 1983 -- and all part numbers are still available for this car directly from Unique.
This Cobra was originally ordered by a gentleman who owned a major beer distributorship in Atlanta, hence the red and gold stripes on white. The color looks great on this car and is a nice departure from the usual white and blue. It's a true-to-scale replica, with the classic Cobra front-end styling (many builders will take liberties with the front end, making it a bit wider -- which may provide more room in the cockpit, but loses some of the sex appeal). All fiberglass is in near-perfect condition; paint is original and does show some patina appropriate for a 30-year-old car. It's very presentable and definitely turns heads wherever we drive it. The interior is in good original condition, with new upholstery on the driver's seat bottom. The tonneau cover is in great shape. In keeping with the classic, correct look, the wheels are knock-off Halibrand replicas.
Under the hood sits a Ford FE block 390 cubic inch V8 mated to a four-speed toploader transmission. Unlike some of the lesser replicas which have solid rear axles, this one has the desirable Jaguar rear end with independent rear suspension. The car has a new alternator, new battery and a recent tune-up with new plugs, wires and distributor cap. This is a two-owner example with only 3,000 original miles; the car has been in Georgia its entire life.
This Cobra represents an incredible value, given its low mileage, especially when compared to newer kits or factory-built replicas at double or triple this price -- leaving you plenty of room for customization. For example, side pipes, a roll bar or bumperettes could easily be added to this roadster.
Give us a call at 404-692-5250 for more information about this well-sorted Shelby Cobra replica.
DISCLAIMER: The information in this ad is provided by the seller and not OldRide.com. The prices, terms, and reliability of the item remains subject to the direct negotiation between the buyer and seller. OldRide.com is not responsible for any damages that may occur during a transaction. For more resources about purchasing a vehicle online visit our help section "Buying a
Vehicle".
