AC Cobra
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Wikipedia: AC Cobra
Subtopics King Cobra Page Sections History Cultural References Multimedia Photographs Merchandise Article Index |
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's AC Cobra page on 20 April 2018, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The AC Cobra, sold as the Shelby Cobra in the United States, is an Anglo-American sports car with a Ford V8 engine, produced intermittently in both the UK and the US since 1962.
Like many British manufacturers, AC Cars had been using the Bristol straight-6 engine in its small-volume production, including its AC Ace two-seater roadster. This had a hand-built body with a steel tube frame, and aluminium body panels that were made using English wheeling machines. The engine was a pre-World War II design by BMW which by the 1960s was considered dated. Bristol decided in 1961 to cease production of its engine and instead to use Chrysler 313 cu in (5.1 L) V8 engines. AC started using the 2.6 litre Ford Zephyr engine in its cars.
In September 1961, American automotive designer Carroll Shelby wrote to AC asking if they would build him a car modified to accept a V8 engine. AC agreed, provided a suitable engine could be found. Shelby went to Chevrolet to see if they would provide him with engines, but not wanting to add competition to the Corvette they said no. However, Ford wanted a car that could compete with the Corvette and they happened to have a brand new engine which could be used in this endeavor: the Windsor 221 in³ (3.6 L) engine – a new lightweight, thin-wall cast small-block V8. Ford provided Shelby with two engines.
In January 1962 mechanics at AC Cars in Thames Ditton, Surrey designed the "AC Ace 3.6" prototype with chassis number CSX2000.
AC had already made most of the modifications needed for the small-block V8 when they installed the 2.6 litre inline 6 Ford Zephyr engine, including the extensive rework of the AC Ace's front end bodywork. The only modification of the front end of the first Cobra from that of the "AC Ace 2.6" was the steering box, which had to be moved outward to clear the wider V8 engine.
The most important modification was the fitting of a stronger rear differential to handle the increased engine power. A Salisbury 4HU unit with inboard disc brakes to reduce unsprung weight was chosen instead of the old E.N.V. unit. It was the same unit used on the Jaguar E-Type. After testing and modification, the engine and transmission were removed and the chassis was air-freighted to Shelby in Los Angeles on 2 February 1962, By this time the small-block's displacement was increased to 260 in3 (4.3 L).
Shelby's team paired this engine along with a transmission into CSX2000, in less than eight hours at Dean Moon's shop in Santa Fe Springs, California, and began road-testing.
In late 1962 Alan Turner, AC's chief engineer completed a major design change of the car's front end to accommodate rack and pinion steering while still using transverse leaf spring suspension. The new car entered production in early 1963 and was designated Mark II. The steering rack was borrowed from the MGB while the new steering column came from the VW Beetle. About 528 Mark II Cobras were produced in the summer of 1965 (the last US-bound Mark II was produced in November 1964).
Cobra 427
A new chassis was required, developed, and designated Mark III. 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.
Cultural References: Film, Television, and Music
Internet Movie Cars Database: Shelby Cobra
From September 1993-May 1994 a television series called Cobra aired where the main character works for an undercover crimefighting agency called Cobra and drove a Shelby Cobra. “Cobra was originally titled Viper. However, Chrysler Corp. sued Stephen J. Cannell for trademark infringement, and also because Chrysler was already working with CBS on a series called Viper that was to feature a brand new Dodge Viper concept car. (That show ultimately aired on NBC.) Since that other Viper series centered on a quasi modern-day Knight Rider, and Cannell's series centered on crime fighters named "Viper", Cannell believed the name could be changed without sacrificing the creative concept of the series, and so the title was changed to Cobra.[3] Three episodes had already been filmed when the title change took place, so it appears Scandal would have still been driving the Cobra even with the show called Viper.” (Wikipedia)
| Hey Little Cobra Performer: The Rip Chords Songwriters: Carol Connors • Marshall Connors Released: 1963 Featured Car: Shelby Cobra External Link: Wikipedia | I took my Cobra down to the track; Hitched to the back of my Cadillac.Everyone was there just a waiting for me; There were plenty of Stingrays and XKEs. |
| 2012 Mecum Fall Premier Auction: 1965 Shelby Cobra MkIII Superformance Replica October 26, 2012 Duration: 1:52 Video ©2012 Bill Crittenden Sold for $46,000 at the Mecum 2012 Fall Premier Auction Download 2012 Mecum Fall Premier Auction: 1965 Shelby Cobra MkIII Superformance Replica at The Internet Archive |
| Date | Media or Collection Name & Details | Files |
|---|---|---|
| 27 May 2015 | 3-D Printer Makes Replica of Iconic Sports Car George Putic for VOA News |  Article Page - 8.2MB - 3:15 |
| Type & Item # | Name | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Model Kit - AMT 6587 | 289 Cobra | 1:25 scale |
| Die Cast - Hot Wheels G6687-0715 G1 (C4982) | Ford Shelby Cobra Concept | 2005 First Editions/Realistix, small scale, metallic dark grey w/silver stripes |
| Date | Article | Author/Source |
|---|---|---|
| 19 December 1994 | Autokraft Ltd; Receipt of Application for Renewal of Temporary Exemption From Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 Autokraft Limited of Weybridge, Surrey, England, has applied for a renewal of NHTSA Exemption No. 92-6, exempting its AC MkIV until January 1, 1995, from compliance with paragraph S4.1.4 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection. | Federal Register Notice  (text)Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Byline: Barry Felrice Topics: Autokraft • Cobra |
| 28 December 1994 | Excalibur Automobile Corporation; Receipt of Application for Temporary Exemption From Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 | Federal Register: NHTSA (Barry Felrice) |
| 5 January 1995 | Excalibur Automobile Corp.; Receipt of Application for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance Excalibur Automobile Corporation has determined that some of its vehicles fail to comply with the automatic restraint system requirements of 49 CFR 571.208, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.” | Federal Register Notice (text) Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Byline: Barry Felrice Topics: Excalibur • Cobra |
| 6 March 1995 | Excalibur Automobile Corporation; Grant of Application for Temporary Exemption From Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 Excalibur Automobile Corporation of West Allis, Wisconsin, applied for a temporary exemption of its JAC 427 Cobra passenger car for three years from compliance with paragraph S4.1.4 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection. | Federal Register Notice (text) Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Byline: Ricardo Martinez Topics: Excalibur • Cobra |
| 8 March 1995 | Autokraft Ltd.; Grant of Application for Renewal of Temporary Exemption From Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 Autokraft Limited of Weybridge, Surrey, England, applied for a renewal of NHTSA Exemption No. 92-6, exempting its AC MkIV until January 1, 1995, from compliance with paragraph S4.1.4 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection. | Federal Register Notice (text) Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Byline: Ricardo Martinez Topic: Autokraft • Cobra |
| 27 November 2002 | CARROLL SHELBY ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF CONTINUATION CARS | Sanderson Sales & Marketing |
| 21 March 2004 | Johnex3 Motorsports of Niagara Falls takes over Johnex Motorsports Cobra replica building program | Johnex3 Motorsports |
| 17 May 2004 | Johnex3 Motorsports Live Build Of A Johnex3 2004 427 COBRA | Johnex3 Motorsports |
| 14 January 2011 | Legenadary '66 Shelby Cobra, The | William Jason |
| 18 January 2014 | 50th Anniversary Shelby Cobra  | Geoff Maxted, DriveWrite Automotive |
| 27 May 2015 | 3-D Printer Makes Replica of Iconic Sports Car  | George Putic |
