• Stunning attention to detail

• 4.0 litre V8 

• Cheetah Cobra kit

• Fully documented build

Built by AC Cars, the Cobra took off when Carroll Shelby asked AC to modify a car to accept a V8 engine. After the first choice of a Corvette engine was dismissed by Cornette, the second choice was Ford, who wanted to compete against Corvette.

This is what led to the success of the AC Shelby Cobra. The Cobra 427, on which this replica is based, was a newly designed chassis developed for the MK III. Unfortunately, the Shelby team missed the homologation for the 1965 season, which left just 56 out of 100 cars produced, making it one of the most valuable Cobra variants.

As they couldn't race them, 31 of the cars were fitted with windscreens, detuned and sold, which is the style that this AC Cobra replica we have here has taken on.  

This beauty is a 1994 AC Cobra replica, which has been built using a Cheetah kit. The Cobra is based on an uprated and strengthened Jaguar chassis, and uses a Jaguar rear axle for the drive and a V8 up front for the powerplant. Meticulously built by the original owner, who clearly had an eye for all the details, has seen the build carried out with absolute precision. 

Built as pretty much a racecar for the road, the seller has given the car some use throughout the summer months, but has decided its not getting the use it deserves, and so has decided to part ownership with this wonderful looking road racer.

It should be noted that this car was subject to a Cat-N Insurance Claim in July 2018. The vendor tells us, " The previous owner had a prang and the near side rear panel was damaged. His insurer decided to CAT N the car and paid out for him to get the bodywork repair done. It’s was literally a section of fibreglass about 30cm x 20cm" The repair was done and bodywork repainted.

The V5 is present and shows 4 previous keepers since the build in 1994. It is also listed on the V5 as an AC Cobra Replica which is a good thing and very rare to happen.

There is an extensive history file with the car, which covers the whole build from the bodywork, suspension, gearbox and engine. It is all there, adding more confidence about just how meticulous the build was. 

Also present is every MOT certificate, with the last MOT carried out on 16th November 2021. Only minor defect at the time was a steering gator which was replaced instantly. 

Making up the extensive history file are a nice amount of invoices for parts and work carried out over the years right up to current day.

Inside, the Cobra has been finished off nicely. The small leather bucket style seats on runners are in very good condition with no wear to the edges of the seats. (normally the seats are fixed in Cobra kits) Holding you in place and giving that race car feel are the Willans harnesses. 

The dashboard fascia has been covered in faux black leather, with the individual instruments centrally mounted showing the all important gauges sunken into the dash, which are all working and can be easily glanced at whilst driving. The odometer has a reading of 15,561 miles.

There is a Kenwood CD player mounted to the right hand side of the centre console, and the speakers have been placed just behind the seats. The wood rimmed Mountney steering wheel does have some slight wear to the lacquered finish. Placed next to this is a modern electronic fan and heat sensor monitor. Which gives accurate engine temp readings and shows fan in operation.

  

Finished in bright red with a white stripe, it is a refreshing change from the usual blue you see most Cobra's finished in, (not that there's anything wrong with blue). 

The body of the Cobra is made by Cheetah and is reported to be a very solid kit. The doors, bonnet and boot look to align as well as they should. There is an AC badge sitting pride of place on the bonnet. The lights are free from any chips or splits. There are age related scuffs, some stone chips dotted around the body in places, some blistering of the fibre glass and some cracks but only as you would expect, since it was finished in 1994. (see close up pics in the gallery)

If someone wanted to get this bodywork back to showroom level it would need a respray in places. 

Looking at the car from the side profile doesn’t disappoint! The 427 Ford badges mounted just above the vents are a nice touch, and the side exit exhausts just scream that this car has power. This is followed by the 60’s race style tyres filling the wheel arches and the polished roll over bar. The smooth rear end holds another AC badge to the boot lid, and the small chrome bumpers are in good order.    

The wheels have been finished in Satin black with a cobra centre cap. General XP2000 tyres help put the power down at the rear, and Pirelli P4000 steer you in the right direction, all of which have a good amount of tread remaining. 

Powered by a 4.0 litre V8 made by Rovertec, the Cobra is reported to start up just as it should, and, as you can imagine, sounds amazing idling through the side exit exhausts and even better thundering down the road. 

The gear change is reported to be smooth and precise, and the car pulls well through them all. Recently, the Cobra has had a sports clutch fitted and a flywheel skim, at a cost of £1,773. There has also been some work done to the electric water pump and wiring, which came in at £831. 

Sitting just as it should, the car is reported to handle amazingly but definitely one that needs to be treated with care because, built like a race car, it won’t be as forgiving as a modern day car in the way of handling. There has also been a wheel alignment carried out in September 2021, to prevent any uneven tyre wear. 

What's not to love about the look of an AC Cobra, and then you have the sound. The whole thing just comes together to create one of the most stunning looking cars to come out of the 1960’s. 

Yes, this is a continuation / evocation but at a fraction of the cost of an original.

 It really is as close to looking like an AC Cobra, for the money, as you can get. Making it stand out even further is the stunning red/white colour scheme. 

A well built, well maintained and stunner of a car, waiting for its new owner. It goes breathtakingly well, sounds amazing and makes jaws drop. GO!


****** Interested parties should note, this vehicle was subject to a CAT N insurance claim in 07/2018 ******