The 1965 Shelby Cobra was an American sports car. It quickly became one of the most popular and desirable collector cars in history. Only 954 models were produced during its three-year run, including just 74 coupes in 1965.
Featuring an impressively sleek design and plenty of speed, this vehicle has come to be an icon of sorts in the auto world, and many people are interested in learning more about it. Trying to pick a favorite feature of such an icon can prove to be daunting. We are going to try our best to pick one as we highlight other intriguing features.
Here is our choice for the best feature of the 1965 Shelby Cobra.
History And Background Of The 1965 Shelby Cobra
Before we look at our choice for the best feature, let us have a look down memory lane. The Shelby Cobra was the car that started it all for Carroll Shelby. A man who had already cemented his name in history as a top-flight racecar driver and now wanted to turn to building cars.
He took stock of Ford’s new small-block V8, which was being used by several different companies in their own performance applications, and decided he would be better off using one in a new sports car he would design himself.
There are plenty of iconic cars throughout the history of the automobile, and one of the most iconic is the 1965 Shelby Cobra. With its supercharged Ford V8 engine and styling that's pure 1960s, it has performance and style that will never go out of style.
Some sources say there were only 75 Cobras produced in 1965, while others claim there were as many as 100. Regardless of which number you believe, it’s clear that only a small number of these cars were made. Of those that were produced, even fewer still exist today, giving this car its legendary status as an American classic collector’s item.
The 1965 Shelby Cobra, broke ground as one of the earliest high-performance sports cars in history. The 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra provided up to 510-hp at 6,000 rpm as well as 480 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm.
Best Feature Of The 1965 Shelby Cobra Is The Powertrain
The heart of a powerful car is its engine, and just as with man, power is important in that it draws attention to what it’s doing. The 1965 Shelby Cobra was a special vehicle both on and off of the track, with an iconic design that kept people talking long after they'd seen it drive by.
Under the hood of the 1965 Shelby Cobra sat a 7.0-liter V8 engine that was paired with a four-speed manual transmission. This engine had a maximum power output capacity rating of 450 to 510-hp at 6,00 RPM, and it delivered 480 lb-ft of torque at 3,700 rpm.
On a 0 to 60 MPH sprint, the 1965 Shelby Cobra cleared a 4.1 seconds time. In doing this, it hit a top speed of 155 MPH. This might not seem as much compared to what cars in its category are recording today. It was, however, quicker than most cars back in the day.
1965 Shelby Cobra Design
When it comes to iconic classic cars, the 1965 Shelby Cobra stands out. This can be attributed to its performance, but its physical design speaks for itself.
Built on the AC Cobra platform, this car was five inches wider than the FIA-spec Cobras. It had no bumper, the exhaust pipe was exposed and positioned to the side, and a wide gape was put on the front to cool the engine.
To add to its aesthetics, the 1965 Shelby Cobra was fitted with a full-size windshield that was mounted on a chrome frame, and no side windows were added to this ride.
These features were all innovations at the time, giving it an edge over its competitors during races like Le Mans and Sebring. In short, it’s hard to find a better all-around sports car than one built by the legendary Carroll Shelby.