This homage to a 427 was built by a superb 'old school' engineer over many years, commencing in the late 1980s. The mandate was to build the ultimate 427 to look externally indistinguishable from a genuine 427 but a car that was also great and safe to be driven hard in both dry and wet conditions. The resulting unique car benefits from superb handling, light steering and modern brakes.
Aluminium body fabricator guru, Les Monk, created the hand built rolled body - he was actually one of the original sub contractors who built these body shells for AC in the 60s as they didn't have the capacity to make them in house. The body was thus built on the original AC wooden bucks. The resulting body was so pleasing to the eye that it seemed a shame to paint it! Thus the decision was made to leave it in bare aluminium and so the car today has 30 years of gentle patination.
The 427 was built on a full space frame/ backbone chassis designed by chassis specialist, Mike Broad, with custom designed uprights, certainly fully rose jointed racing suspension, pin sharp, beautifully weighted rack and pinion steering, huge ventilated discs with massive calipers. The engine sits lower and further back than in a standard 427, resulting in much better weight distribution and it handles beautifully and much less of a 'widow-maker' than a period genuine 427. Repro Halibrand peg drive wheels and genuine Halibrand spinners.
The engine, a period correct Ford 460 (7. 5 litre) was also fitted to the very last of the Cobras. It has been fully rebuilt including all new parts, pistons, rods, etc, to race spec and on the dyno, it produces close to 500bhp and 450lbs of torque. Top loader genuine Cobra gearbox, McLeod semi race clutch with hydraulic thrust bearing. Full weather equipment inc tonneau.
A lot of continuation Cobras and replicas just don't look right when you see them in the flesh. However this car is truly stunning. Moreover it drives superbly . With the space frame chassis and light ali body, the car weighs in at 1. 1 tonnes and with 500 bhp is thus probably quicker than a factory car that will also stop a lot faster too.
In the realms of Cobra builds, this car is unique - it is a bespoke one-off that bears no resemblance to any other similar vehicles today including the latest generation of Mk V or VI iterations of Cobras or machine built ali-bodied Kirkham cars, etc. Moreover, as the car has been kept in a collection for many years and has recently been recommissioned its practically as new and has done just a few hundred miles. UK registration
It would be a pleasure to answer any further questions you might have.... this fabulous Cobra can be inspected in Holland - please call the details below Part exchange LHD Porsche possible