1998
7000cc
8
Petrol
4,555 Miles
Guardsman Blue Metallic
Manual
RWD
RHD
Used
2
2
In Free Circulation
During the late 1990s AC Cars revisited the legendary MkIII model with a very limited run of MkIII Continuation cars. All were built on the original 1960s tooling, with hand formed aluminium bodies and 1966 specification Ford side oiler 427 engines fixed to a top loader gearbox. Aluminium bodies were constructed on the original 1965 body jigs to the correct specification, with all sections being welded together. We believe this to be No. 7 in a very limited run of the cars produced before AC Cars.
First registered in 1998, this AC is finished in Guardsman Blue metallic with Old English White Stripes, with black leather interior and matching black carpets. Power is delivered in the form of Ford 427, 7.0 ltr side oiler engine with correct 4 speed top loader manual gearbox. The car has 3 former owners and has done a mere 4,555 miles from new.
History
This particular AC Cobra 427 MkIII has an incredible history. It was delivered to its first owner (legendary AC enthusiast & racer) complete as a rolling chassis, fitted with its hand-made aluminium body, a 1966 specification 427 side oiler engine, who in turn went onto finish the car himself. Going on to own the car for 17 years, this AC was originally bought for racing purposes where the owner raced the car with great success.
Throughout its decorated racing history the car was entered into many races, highlights include the COYS Cloth Cap pre ’66 European Historic Sports Car Challenge where it achieved 2nd in class, the AMOC Anglo American Thoroughbred Challenge Race where it achieved 3rd in class and the Brighton Speed Trials on numerous occasions. Frighteningly powerful, terrifyingly fast and completely intoxicating, this Cobra was also accepted to race in the ‘Thundersports’ HSCC classic and HRDC ‘Dunlop Allstars’ for the upcoming season.
We understand in 2016, it also became AC Cars’ official promotional car and was invited to Buckingham Palace in celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday. It has also featured in well known print publications such as Top Gear Magazine, where it was driven by Richard Hammond, Octane and Classic Cars.
In 2019, Redline Engineering UK was entrusted with the routine service and maintenance work by its second owner who just happens to be a very well known and respected chef. In 2020 Redline Engineering UK also handled the sale to its present owner, who was instantly attracted to its racing pedigree, so Redline Engineering UK was not only given the responsibility of restoring this once raced / road car, but also fabricating the missing hard top as well as refreshing the HTP competition papers. The complete project lasted 18 months.
Completed was a sympathetic ground up restoration – suspension & drive train overhaul, Spax dampers / anti roll bars all newly bushed, complete engine rebuild, gearbox rebuild including linkage, the colour being unique to the first owner’s Shelby racing roots painstakingly matched to perfection, cooling improvements come in the form of ceramic exhaust headers, upgraded cooling radiator & fan, new Halibrand wheels plus 4 point harnesses, PPF to the lower sills as well as the leading edge of the rear arches.
The full information of the restoration comes documented in a leather bound folder including correspondence between the first owner and AC Cars, bill of sale of rolling chassis, old invoices, race results, expectance emails from race series inviting or welcoming the car to race in their series, HTP papers until 2030, old photos of the Cobra on track competing, service invoices from both 2nd and 3rd owner, supporting invoices and correspondence of the restoration.
This is an AC Cobra in the truest sense, and is an incredible opportunity for any AC or Cobra enthusiast to either race this great beast again or to be enjoyed on any open road, full service most recently completed by ourselves Redline Engineering UK, M.O.T until March 2024.
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