|
Car of the Day : May 21, 2013; Shelby Collectables '65 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
|
|
Topic Started: May 20 2013, 10:16 PM (377 Views)
|
|
craftymore
|
May 20 2013, 10:16 PM
Post #1
|
Support your local demo derby.
- Posts:
- 24,243
- Group:
- Moderators
- Member
- #50
- Joined:
- August 7, 2006
- Gender
- Male
- Location
- Charleston, IL
- Favorite Car
- Panther Fords
|

The car for today is Shelby Collectable's Shelby Cobra 427 S/C

- Wikipedia.com
-
The AC Cobra, sold as the Ford/Shelby AC Cobra in the USA and often known colloquially as the Shelby Cobra in that country, is an American-engined British sports car produced intermittently since 1962.


- Quote:
-
Since late 1962 when the new GM Stingray was shown up briefly by the Mk1 Cobra (until hub failure intervened) the development of the Grand Sport Corvette program had continued at a pace and was thought to be going for a build series of 125 cars. This would allow GM to compete directly in the FIA GT class of racing. Just to compound this Enzo Ferrari was trying to pull another "fast one" on the FIA with the request for the homologation of the 250LM. The FIA had not forgotten the serious lack of production of the 250GTO, which it had granted homologation in advance of Enzo's assured 100 minimum per year. Just thirty six were produced over three years with two very different chassis. Neither of which were too similar to the 250 GT which was supposed to form the basis of the vehicle. In an effort to prepare for the task ahead alternative engines were considered. The 289 cu in (4.7 L) leaf-spring Cobra dominated the US domestic race series (USRRC), with only one race lost in three years. The results in the FIA GT class were different. This was mainly due to the number of circuits that had much higher sustained speeds. Aerodynamics were more important and put the roadster at a disadvantage. As a result, coupe versions were built. A stroker 289 (325),and the larger 390/427 up to the "cammer" 427 was considered. Shelby was told at the eleventh hour to use the iron 427 cu in (7.0 L). There was little time to fully develop a competition vehicle. The coil spring Cobra production was slow and an insufficient number made to meet FIA's GT homologation. Therefore the S/C (street / competition) was produced by making available to the general production the full race options for the street. By now Enzo was having races recatergorised in Italy to prevent the almost inevitable defeat on home soil as the 250LM was not homologated as a GT and would have to run as a prototype. GM had pulled the plug on the Grand Sport and so the five chassis that were built had to run as prototypes and so were placed in a difficult position to say the least. Shelby had earlier in 1964 fit a larger Ford FE engine of 390 cubic inches (6.4 L) in to CSX2196. Unfortunately the car was not able to receive the development it needed as resources were aimed at taking the crown from Ferrari in the GT class. Ken Miles drove and raced the FE-powered Mark II at Sebring and pronounced the car virtually undrivable, naming it "The Turd". It failed to finish with the engine expiring due to damper failure. A new chassis was required developed and designated Mark III. CSX2196 was revised for the show down at Nassau which allowed a more relaxed class division of racing. This allowed the GT cobras to run with prototype Ford GT, GM Grand Sport Corvettes and Lola Mk6. The first meeting that the GS Corvettes turned up to in 1963. It was for this event in 1964 that the Fliptop cobra was used. An aluminium 390 cubic inches (6.4 L) engine was used. However, the car failed to finish. The new car was designed in cooperation with Ford in Detroit. A new chassis was built using 4 in (102 mm) main chassis tubes (up from 3 in (76 mm)) and coil spring suspension all around. The new car also had wide fenders and a larger radiator opening. It was powered by the "side oiler" Ford 427 engine (7.0 L) rated at 425 bhp (317 kW), which provided a top speed of 164 mph (262 km/h) in the standard model and 485 bhp (362 kW) with a top speed of 185 mph (298 km/h) in the competition model. Cobra Mark III production began on 1 January 1965; two prototypes had been sent to the United States in October 1964. Cars were sent to the US as unpainted rolling chassis, and they were finished in Shelby's workshop. Although an impressive automobile, the car was a financial failure and did not sell well. In fact to save cost, most AC Cobra 427s were actually fitted with Ford's 428 cubic inches (7.01 L) engine, a long stroke, smaller bore, lower cost engine, intended for road use rather than racing. It seems that a total of 300 Mark III cars were sent to Shelby in the USA during the years 1965 and 1966, including the competition version. 27 small block narrow fender versions, which were referred to as the AC 289, were sold in Europe. Unfortunately, The MK III missed homologation for the 1965 racing season and was not raced by the Shelby team. However, it was raced successfully by many privateers and went on to win races all the way into the 1970s. The remaining 31 unsold examples were detuned and fitted with wind screens for street use. Called S/C for semi-competition, an original example can currently sell for 1.5 million USD, making it one of the most valuable Cobra variants


|
|
|
| |
|
juantoo3
|
May 20 2013, 10:24 PM
Post #2
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Posts:
- 35,259
- Group:
- Moderators
- Member
- #1,649
- Joined:
- January 16, 2010
- DLM or Cardboard Collector
- Both
- Preferred Brand
- Muscle Machines
- Location
- up to my arse in alligators
- Favorite Car
- 1934 Duesenberg SJ Towncar
|
I don't have many of the Shelby Collectibles, but I do have an example of the Cobra and of the Aston...both of which are very impressive.
|
|
|
| |
|
ivantt
|
May 20 2013, 11:11 PM
Post #3
|
New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
- Posts:
- 7,334
- Group:
- Members
- Member
- #575
- Joined:
- January 6, 2008
- DLM or Cardboard Collector
- Both
- Preferred Brand
- Hongwell
- Location
- Rural Nevada. Yes, we have strange lights and sounds at night.
- Favorite Car
- Saleen S7, Mustang, Crown Vic PI
|
85th birthday car!! I met him on his 80th celebration and got one of his Hot Wheels versions and a coffee mug. RIP, Mr Shelby, a racing giant.
This is a VERY nice casting.
Edited by ivantt, May 20 2013, 11:12 PM.
|
|
|
| |
|
pjedsel
|
May 20 2013, 11:45 PM
Post #4
|
Muscle Car
- Posts:
- 21,948
- Group:
- Members
- Member
- #1,681
- Joined:
- August 26, 2010
- DLM or Cardboard Collector
- DLM
- Preferred Brand
- Matchbox
- Gender
- Male
- Location
- North Dakota
- Favorite Car
- Edsel, Studebaker, Jaguar. Emergency Vehicles
|
The Shelby Collectibles are very nice models - well detailed and look very nice on display! It was nice when you could find the models in K-Mart.
|
|
|
| |
|
mbx64
|
May 25 2013, 09:09 PM
Post #5
|
Matchbox Collector
- Posts:
- 2,070
- Group:
- Members
- Member
- #2,025
- Joined:
- July 23, 2012
- Preferred Brand
- Matchbox
- Location
- USA
- Favorite Car
- Fisker Karma
|
As always with Car of the Day models, this looks amazing. The attention to detail is superb, and the signature color and vinyl scheme for this Shelby Cobra 427 S/C makes for a great collectible.
Look at those wheels!
|
|
|
| |
|
Stampede
|
May 25 2013, 09:11 PM
Post #6
|
Team Canada
- Posts:
- 8,173
- Group:
- Members
- Member
- #2,038
- Joined:
- August 6, 2012
- Preferred Brand
- Matchbox
- DLM or Cardboard Collector
- DLM
- Location
- Canada
- Favorite Car
- Scion FR-S (Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ), Lexus RC F.
|
Another very impressive car by Shelby Collectables.
|
|
|
| |
|
JustDavid
|
May 26 2013, 05:03 PM
Post #7
|
SUV
- Posts:
- 7,734
- Group:
- Members
- Member
- #1,471
- Joined:
- July 21, 2008
- DLM or Cardboard Collector
- DLM
- Gender
- Male
- Location
- Cardboard box next to a cactus
- Favorite Car
- 1990 Mercedes Benz 420SEL
|
Love your new avatar Ivan!
|
|
|
| |
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
|