Shelby Cobra (Mid-Late 1960's)

The Shelby Cobra has become one of my favorite classic roadsters. It was created by the late great Carroll Shelby by taking the AC Cobra, which originates from Britain, and upgrading its performance greatly. There is another version of the Cobra known as the Daytona, a faster, more exclusive coupe version created to take down Ferrari in grand prix racing. All but a few of the examples above and below are replicas. Actual Shelby Cobras are very rare, even though I've seen some real Cobras at car shows in the past. Both actual and replica Shelby Cobras are generally powered by Ford V8s ranging from around 300-700 horsepower. One example of a company who produces and sells Cobra replicas is Factory Five. All the Cobras that I know of distibute power to the rear wheels through either a 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-speed manual. Whether it's the real deal or a kit car, the Shelby Cobra looks very cool, sounds great, and can go pretty fast for a classic roadster.