1966 Shelby Cobra Replica

Description

There are plenty of genuine Shelby Cobras running around, despite their rarity and value. So when you build a Cobra replica, why not color outside the lines a bit and build something remarkable like this Lone Star roadster? From the cackling 5.0 under the hood to the surprisingly sophisticated interior, it twists the standard recipe a bit to deliver something that's far more unique than "just another stock Cobra."

The shape is familiar, but the dark blue paint is a bit more sinister than what Shelby and company were using while running around Lemans. It's also beautifully applied over some very well-prepped fiberglass that captures the timeless look of the Cobra down to the smallest details. The hood scoop, the tiny doors, the chrome roll bar, and even the twin round taillights on each side very clearly say "Cobra" without anyone needing to look at any name badges. The paint is gorgeous two-stage urethane with a deep shine and lots of pearl and metallic in the finish, so it practically glows when the light hits it just right, and the twin stripes running down the center are almost iridescent. The Lone Star body takes a few liberties, such as the extra-wide flared fenders and a bit more room in the cockpit, but as I said, if you want a purely stock-looking and acting Cobra, they're out there. Other details you'll appreciate include the front and rear bumperettes, the plexiglass wind wings, and the flip-up gas cap just sticking out of the passenger's rear fender.

Low-back buckets certainly look vintage enough, but wrapped in light gray leather, they have an updated look that's probably quite a bit more comfortable in the sun than the original black would have been. Add in some beautifully fitted gray carpets and you have a sophisticated-looking Cobra that's more user-friendly than ever. The black leather dash is full of white-faced VDO instruments, including a tachometer in the center with a very conservative 5200 RPM redline. A stubby billet shifter manages a Tremec TKO 5-speed manual gearbox, and there was no pretext of making this a daily driver, so the radio and heater/defroster were left off the spec sheet when it was going together. However, it is a potent weapon on the streets, so harnesses were fitted for both driver and passenger, and the battery was moved to the trunk to improve weight distribution.

Any Mustang guy will instantly recognize the Cobra intake atop the 5.0-liter V8 under the hood. Few engines are as modification-friendly as the fuel injected Ford 302, and this one carries a bunch of goodies like GT40 aluminum heads, an R303 camshaft, and oversized 30 lb-hr. injectors to feed the dyno-proven 370-horsepower beast. Obviously MSD supplied the ignition and Griffin delivered a heavy-duty aluminum radiator to keep it cool under all conditions. Finned valve covers continue the vintage look and what's a Cobra without side pipes, which sound downright fantastic. Underneath, the suspension consists of A-arms up front and a live 8.8-inch axle out back and a disc brake at each corner. Authentic Ford 17x9 Cobra R alloys have been fitted and wear 245/45/17 performance radials up front and 275/40/17 drag radials in the back.

With just under 1700 shake-down miles, this Cobra is fully sorted and ready to rock. It includes a full build book and other documentation, so you can easily see what went into the build. Call today!