2005 1965 SHELBY COBRA S/C replica Factory 5

Few cars are as iconic as the Shelby Cobra.  Built during a time when cars were lucky to lumber from 0-60 in about 15-seconds, the Cobra would run from 0-100-0 in about 12.  It redefined what a sportscar was.  Exceedingly expensive, very few were built before production ceased at the end of 1967, and their values didn’t exactly drop, they remained expensive and only increased in value.  Therefore, the replica industry began reproducing Cobras on various chassis and with various drivetrains to various degrees of success.  In later years, it became a big business and those replicas ended up often as better cars than the originals – quirks and kinks Shelby couldn’t work out, were sorted; and, there’s the beauty of being able to drive a replica without the fear of harming an original.  This is one of those wonderful specimens.

Finished in Galaxy Silver with BMW Titangrau stripes, this Shelby Cobra S/C replica was built in 2005 by Factory Five Racing and features their 1408K Mark I fiberglass body and various components.  Everything on the car is aftermarket, making it very simple to service.

Powered by a 420 CI Mopar engine and a Tremec TKO-600 5-speed manual transmission, the consignor says it’ll show 525 HP at the wheels, very respectable for a car weighing just over 2,000 pounds.  It’s potent enough to propel the Cobra down the ¼-mile in 10.8-seconds at 127 MPH.  The engine began life as a 360 CI Mopar engine, but famed Mopar drag racer, Dan Hackenberg, bored, stroked, balanced, blueprinted, and rebuilt it with a multitude of components such as a forged crank, pistons, and H-beam connecting rods; the entire rotating assembly was balanced together, including the clutch pressure plate; Edelbrock Performer RPM heads top the block, along with a 4-barel Holley 750 carburetor.  The 8-quart oil pan was custom built as was the turkey pan.  The chassis features an 8.8-inch Ford rear end, Strange competition axles with C-clip eliminators, Koni coilover shocks all around, and drum brakes.  The black interior features leather seats, a Simpson 3-point harness, a tonneau cover, wind wings and sun visors, a heater, and full instrumentation.

Showing just over 10,500 miles, this Factory Five Cobra is registered as a street legal, ASVE assembled vehicle, and comes with a build book with receipts, a car cover, and more.  The seller says it’s never been in an accident, has no rust, and has had no paint or bodywork performed.