1967 Shelby Cobra Replica

Description

We sell a lot of Cobra replicas, and there's a simply explanation why: buying someone else's finished car is faster and cheaper than doing it yourself, and you can get a heck of a lot of performance for pennies on the dollar. This nicely crafted replica has all the right parts, a screaming Ford small block, gorgeous paint, and nasty performance, all for about 2/3 of what it took to build it.

This particular Cobra is from Shell Valley Companies, and it nails the big block 427 look. The luscious paint only emphasizes the rounded quarters and flared fenders that make this car the most enduring 4-wheeled icon of all time, and the combination of that paint with bright white stripes gives it a vivid overall countenance. Authentic details like the hood scoop, chrome roll hoop, and late-style taillight lenses give this one a flavor of authenticity that some other kits lack. Finish quality is quite good overall, with smooth fiberglass and decent gaps, and if there's one thing these Cobras have going for them is that they feel sturdy on the road. Chrome bumperettes, wind wings on the windshield, and a flip-up gas cap also help add some sparkle that looks absolutely right on the Cobra shape.

Low-back buckets with pleated seat covers are the preferred seating of choice in a Cobra; nothing looks stranger than modern seats poking up over the cockpit opening. Nicely finished door panels are a step up from the basic originals and include a functional map pocket that's rather handy. The white stripe continues inside, slashing down through the instrument panel, which uses retro-looking VDO gauges to monitor the warmed-over small block. The wooden steering wheel is matched by a nice-looking glove box lid, which is a useful addition to the Cobra's spec sheet. A stubby aluminum shifter is a lot more effective than the original reversed lever these cars wore in the '60s, and it's linked to a T5 5-speed manual gearbox that shifts beautifully. Carpets add a degree of civility, and even the trunk is nicely finished and usefully shaped. There is no top or weather equipment, but that's really not the point of a Cobra, now is it?

Despite the 427 badges, I continue to believe that a small-block-powered Cobra is the nastiest machine on the track. Less weight over the nose in the form of a 351 cubic inch Windsor V8 means crisp handling without giving up that wallop of torque that you expect from a Cobra. Nicely dressed with a Cobra air cleaner and shiny Ford valve covers, the engine great in the Cobra's engine bay and there's nothing here that doesn't make it go faster, including long-tube headers and those awesome side pipes. Other upgrades include aluminum heads that shave precious weight, an Edelbrock intake and Holley carburetor, a mild cam that makes the idle sound wicked, and an electric fan to keep things cool. The box-section chassis is robust and features A-arms and coil-overs up front, along with rack-and-pinion steering, while the 9-inch rear is filled with 3.73 gears on a Track-Lok limited slip. You'll find disc brakes at all four corners, so stopping power is quite impressive and the Halibrand-style wheels look right fitted with tall-ish 235/60/15 front and 295/50/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials.

Titled as a 2003, this Cobra is going to sell quickly, just like all the others. If you're tired of dreaming, waiting, and planning and just want to get on with the fun, perhaps it'll be you who takes it home. Call today!