General Description
The AC Cobra is a truly iconic vehicle, combining British motor racing prowess and 1960s styling with V8-powered American muscle. Still hand-built on a ladder chassis by one of the UK’s oldest car makers, the sports car has been delighting racing drivers, motoring enthusiasts and classics collectors for some 60 years.
In 1953, AC launched the Ace: an open-top two-seater powered from 1956 by a Bristol 2.0-litre straight-6 engine. The roadster won its 2000cc GT class at the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, and US racing driver and designer Carroll Shelby loved the vehicle – but not Bristol’s outdated power plant. So when the engine went out of production in 1961, Shelby brought AC together with Ford – who, keen compete with Chevrolet’s Corvette, agreed to supply their new V8. In 1962, the AC Cobra was born.
The Cobra’s manufacturing process initially involved shipping chassis and bodies to California, where Shelby’s team fitted a 4.3-litre V8 – soon upgraded to 4.7-litre capacity. Shelby’s instincts were quickly proved correct on the racetrack: the Cobra secured a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1963, and a coupe version won the Sports Car World Championship in 1965. The 427 AC Cobra – which boasted a 7.0-litre V8 – became the world’s fastest production car in 1965, holding the record with a top speed of 165mph until edged out by the Lamborghini Miura P400 in 1967.
Despite its success in competition, the Cobra went out of production in 1967. Its reputation and name survived, however, and new models were produced by AC’s subsequent owners: Autokraft in 1982, Pride Automotive in 1996, and Acedes Holdings in 2012.
Hand-built on a ladder chassis, and retaining its crouching, wave-like lines, the AC Cobra is one of a handful of cars worldwide to have retained its engineering, design and manufacturing fundamentals through the decades. This car hasn’t just passed the test of time; it’s set a new record.
Model Information
In 1997, new owner Pride Automotive launched the AC Superblower – installing a Ford 5.0-litre V8 fitted with a belt-driven supercharger in an upgraded Cobra Mark IV. The results were remarkable, boosting power by 225bhp to 355bhp and torque by 85lb ft to 385lb ft. Reaching 60mph in 4.1 seconds, the 1350kg car has a top speed of 165mph – outpacing the Mark IV by 32mph. But just 24 vehicles were manufactured, including this right-hand drive model – a rare piece of automotive history, presented in remarkable condition.
Hand-built at Brooklands, the Superblower’s all-aluminium body – formed on the original 1960s jigs – conceals a ladder chassis and superlative engineering. A Borg-Warner five-speed manual carries power to the rear wheels via a Salisbury limited-slip differential, and the steering is rack and pinion. The axles sit on wishbone suspension and coil springs, the servo-assisted disc brakes are ventilated at the front, and the gorgeous tubular stainless steel bumpers sit on hydraulic rams to absorb minor impacts.
“The ride, for what amounts to a neo-vintage sports car, is remarkably resilient, the wet grip of the whopping Cooper Cobra tyres terrific,” said Car magazine’s January 1998 review. And given some throttle, the vehicle needs all that traction: “There’s no lag before the lunge but a seamless eruption of raw power that gets stronger and stronger as the revs soar,” the reviewer reported.
About this specific vehicle
Registered in March 1998, this vehicle’s impeccable paintwork is Metallic Silver with twin burgundy stripes. The burgundy interior is clad in hand-stitched Connolly leather, the carpeting is wool, and a central aluminium panel houses the retro Smith instruments. Extras include stainless steel air vents, car alarm and a stereo, the latter fitted in 2000 by AC specialists Autokraft – who also supplied the hard-top; the car also comes with its original soft-top and frame.
Completing just 8072 miles over its 25-year life, this excellent example comes with all handbooks, original tools and keys. The AC Cobra is a truly remarkable car, combining style, legacy and performance; and of all the Cobras built over the vehicle’s 60-year history, this rare supercharged 5.0-litre model surely stands as one of the greatest.
Wonderful ownership provenance, fabulous condition, this factory built Cobra has been beautifully maintained throughout its life and looks forward to providing its new owner with 427 rivalling performance...
The AC Cobra is a truly iconic vehicle, combining British motor racing prowess and 1960s styling with V8-powered American muscle. Still hand-built on a ladder chassis by one of the UK’s oldest car makers, the sports car has been delighting racing drivers, motoring enthusiasts and classics collectors for some 60 years.
In 1953, AC launched the Ace: an open-top two-seater powered from 1956 by a Bristol 2.0-litre straight-6 engine. The roadster won its 2000cc GT class at the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, and US racing driver and designer Carroll Shelby loved the vehicle – but not Bristol’s outdated power plant. So when the engine went out of production in 1961, Shelby brought AC together with Ford – who, keen compete with Chevrolet’s Corvette, agreed to supply their new V8. In 1962, the AC Cobra was born.
The Cobra’s manufacturing process initially involved shipping chassis and bodies to California, where Shelby’s team fitted a 4.3-litre V8 – soon upgraded to 4.7-litre capacity. Shelby’s instincts were quickly proved correct on the racetrack: the Cobra secured a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1963, and a coupe version won the Sports Car World Championship in 1965. The 427 AC Cobra – which boasted a 7.0-litre V8 – became the world’s fastest production car in 1965, holding the record with a top speed of 165mph until edged out by the Lamborghini Miura P400 in 1967.
Despite its success in competition, the Cobra went out of production in 1967. Its reputation and name survived, however, and new models were produced by AC’s subsequent owners: Autokraft in 1982, Pride Automotive in 1996, and Acedes Holdings in 2012.
Hand-built on a ladder chassis, and retaining its crouching, wave-like lines, the AC Cobra is one of a handful of cars worldwide to have retained its engineering, design and manufacturing fundamentals through the decades. This car hasn’t just passed the test of time; it’s set a new record.
Model Information
In 1997, new owner Pride Automotive launched the AC Superblower – installing a Ford 5.0-litre V8 fitted with a belt-driven supercharger in an upgraded Cobra Mark IV. The results were remarkable, boosting power by 225bhp to 355bhp and torque by 85lb ft to 385lb ft. Reaching 60mph in 4.1 seconds, the 1350kg car has a top speed of 165mph – outpacing the Mark IV by 32mph. But just 24 vehicles were manufactured, including this right-hand drive model – a rare piece of automotive history, presented in remarkable condition.
Hand-built at Brooklands, the Superblower’s all-aluminium body – formed on the original 1960s jigs – conceals a ladder chassis and superlative engineering. A Borg-Warner five-speed manual carries power to the rear wheels via a Salisbury limited-slip differential, and the steering is rack and pinion. The axles sit on wishbone suspension and coil springs, the servo-assisted disc brakes are ventilated at the front, and the gorgeous tubular stainless steel bumpers sit on hydraulic rams to absorb minor impacts.
“The ride, for what amounts to a neo-vintage sports car, is remarkably resilient, the wet grip of the whopping Cooper Cobra tyres terrific,” said Car magazine’s January 1998 review. And given some throttle, the vehicle needs all that traction: “There’s no lag before the lunge but a seamless eruption of raw power that gets stronger and stronger as the revs soar,” the reviewer reported.
