The Shelby Cobra 427 is one of the most muscular looking sports cars ever built. Originally manufactured by AC in the United Kingdom, it wasn't long before Carroll Shelby took notice and worked his magic. The result was a car for the ages – the Shelby Cobra 427. It's like a bare-chested, mean-looking, tough guy who chews on a toothpick and packs a punch. That punch comes from the 427 cubic inch motor that barely fits into the engine bay and shoots the Cobra down the street like a bullet out of a gun.
Carroll Shelby inquired about the possibility of AC building a sports car that would take a V8 engine. The Bristol engines they had been using were pretty outdated, so they duly obliged, and the Cobra was born. Ford supplied Shelby with a small-block V8 for the project after getting rejection from Chevrolet.
The Shelby Cobra 427 Is A Pure American Sports Car
On the Mark I and Mark II Cobras, the British heritage and styling is clear to see. Early Cobras aren't too dissimilar to the Triumph TR6, with its round headlights and simple lines. However, the Mark III is where it really got interesting. The car was completely redesigned in collaboration with Ford and went from looking like a neat British roadster to a macho American sports car. With the Cobra in the expert hands of Carroll Shelby and the Ford Motor Company, excellent engineering and beautiful American design were a guarantee.
Ford ditched the small-block for their 427 cubic inch V8, matching the aggressive new look of the Cobra with a downright terrifying beast of an engine. The Cobra 427 also came with upgraded suspension. Coil springs on all four corners replaced the archaic leaf spring setup, meaning that, in theory at least, the Cobra would stick to the road. It wasn't that easy, though. You needed to be an amateur strongman to wrestle the Cobra through corners, and then to keep it in a straight line.
The Shelby Cobra 427 Is An Aggressive-Looking Sports Car
The Shelby Cobra 427 is arguably the toughest-looking car ever built. From every angle, it's threatening, hinting that novices need not take a step closer. What is interesting is how it manages to achieve this aura with such a simple design. It doesn't need a collection of wings, diffusers, and vents to look mean. The huge front opening for the radiator (redesigned from the Mark II) sitting in between the big rounded front fenders sets the tone. It almost looks like a Caterham started hitting the gym and grew big shoulders, and the scoop in the hood hints at what lies beneath.
We get another clue from the side that the Cobra must get taken seriously. Even if you keep the Cobra on the road, it may take a bite at you and burn your leg as you step out from the cockpit. Side exit exhausts burst from the sills just behind the front wheels and run almost to the rear wheels. The side profile of the Cobra is clearly dominated by the wheel arches and fat, high-profile tires. Massive haunches, front and rear, mean that the interior of the Cobra 427 seems to be tightly squeezed in between the engine bay and rear axle, only adding to the fear factor.
Moving around the back, the simple, smooth tail of the Cobra 427 maintains the masculine image. Those rear fenders frame an otherwise delicate trunk, and the overall diminutive size of the Cobra 427 in no way softens how violent this car looks. Sitting still, with its engine off, it has an incredibly intimidating presence. Once that V8 starts up, it'll send shivers down your spine.
The 427 Engine Made The Cobra Lightning Fast
It's one thing looking fast, but there are plenty of seemingly scary cars that are as tame as puppies. The Cobra 427 has the 'go' to match the 'show'. Not many engines could align with the image of the Cobra, but the 427 cubic inch unit certainly does. The 7.0-liter Ford FE V8 is a beast. Coupled with a 780 CFM Holley four–barrel carburetor, it produces 425 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque in standard form. The Semi-Competition Cobras put out 485 hp, and the twin-supercharged Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake unleashed a brain-melting 800 hp.
The base model 427 cubic inch engine is more than enough to make most journeys a white-knuckle ride. With a tiny curb weight of 2,355 lbs, the Cobra goes like a bat out of hell. While the later Street Cobras were marginally less aggressively styled (with traditional rear-exit tailpipes and license plate holders), it was like dressing a boxer up in a nice suit – it's still a boxer. The motor was the star of the show and could knock your lights out if you weren't cautious with that right pedal.
The Shelby Cobra 427 Is An American Icon
The Shelby Cobra 427 is a beautiful brute, and extremely sought after. So much so, in fact, that a Cobra 427 will set you back well over $1 million and perhaps closer to $5 million. If you can even find one, that is. There were less than 1,000 original Cobras built. Shelby has authorized some companies to build continuation Cobras with designated chassis numbers. They seem to be just as good as the real thing, and slightly more affordable (if you can call $500,000 affordable). Whichever you choose, original or continuation, the Shelby Cobra 427 is one of the most macho classic cars the world has ever seen.
Sources: Shelby, Hagerty, Cobra Authority