1966 Shelby 427 AC Cobra
427 AC Cobra
Specifications
Drivetrain: Front-engine, rear wheel drive
Engine: 427 cu in Ford "side-oiler" V8
Horsepower: 495.2 HP, 495.9 TQ
Transmission: 4-speed manual
A Little History
Rightly regarded as one of the all-time great classic sports cars, the muscular, fire-breathing Cobra succeeded in capturing the hearts of enthusiasts like few of its contemporaries.Convinced that a market existed for an inexpensive sports car combining European chassis engineering and American V8 power, Le Mans-winning Texan racing driver Carroll Shelby concocted an unlikely alliance between England’s AC Cars and the Ford Motor Company.The former’s Ace provided the simple twin-tube chassis frame into which was persuaded one of Ford’s lightweight, small-block V8s.
Did You Know?Movie star Steve McQueen was not allowed to own a Shelby Cobra because studio contracts prohibited the highest-paid movie star from owning one of the high-performance roadsters.McQueen was a fan of performance cars and when given the opportunity to drive in a movie, he performed many of his own stunts.In 1963, Shelby himself lent the actor a Shelby Cobra to test-drive – to his great enjoyment, undoubtedly!
