For all its performance, the Shelby Cobra had an aerodynamic problem. This became apparent when Shelby took the Cobra racing in Europe. Engineer, Pete Brock stepped in and designed the Shelby Daytona – a coupe version of the Cobra with a much more slippery body.
The Shelby Daytona boasted a drag coefficient of 0.28, which was a vast improvement over the Cobra’s estimated drag coefficient of around 0.5. Even with the 289 cubic-inch V-8, the Daytona could reach 186 mph (300 km/h), which was 1.0 mph (1.61 km/h) faster than the Shelby Cobra S/C 427. Eventually, one of the six original Daytonas – Chassis CSX2286 – would receive the Ford 427 Big-block.
Over its lifespan, the Shelby Cobra could be optioned in a few different guises. Aside from the more powerful S/C and Super Snake models, there were the Dragon Snake and Slalom Snake packages. As suggested by the name, the Dragon Snake was a drag package, which won a few NHRA events, with Bruce Larson and Ed Hedrick, driving.
The package was built to dominate the quarter-mile. It offered reduced weight, a modified engine, new Koni shocks, Goodyear Drag Slicks, and 4.54:1 rear gears. Only six Cobras received the Dragon Snake package, and only one of them was a Cobra 427 – chassis 3198.
8 One Of The Most Replicated American Classic Cars
The Shelby Cobra is not only an American automotive icon but also highly-exclusive. Between 1965 and 1966, only 260 Cobra 427 cars were produced by Shelby American. This means that the original Cobras go for anywhere from the high-six-figure range to $13.75 million, depending on the version and rarity. To put it simply, an original Cobra, even a non-427, is not even close to being affordable. That’s where replicas come in.The Shelby Cobra is the most replicated car in automotive history. Since the mid-1980s, it is believed that over 60,000 Cobra clones have been made, with the 427 wide-body models being the most replicated. While quality varies, some companies, like Superformance, Barkdraft Racing, and Factory 5, build high-quality replicas with the manufacturer’s grace, and oftentimes, with their own twist. The first manufacturer to build a faithful Cobra replica is believed to be DAX. The company even hired AC Ace designer, John Tojeiro, as a company director.
9 Shelby Counterfeited His Own 427 Cobra
Following the booming of the replica business, Carroll Shelby decided to utilize 43 left-over chassis serial numbers to release a limited batch of “original” Cobras. There were, indeed, left-over parts from the original assembly line, but later, AC Cars confirmed that the chassis for which the serial numbers were issued, were never produced.That didn’t stop Carroll Shelby to enlist the help of McLusky Ltd. in order to build 43 new chassis and sell them to the public as original, 1960s parts. Each of the 43 continuation cars were sold for $500,000. When the gig was up, no one, actually, cared, since those were still 427 Cobras built by Carroll Shelby, himself. It’s safe to say, the Shelby Cobra 427 was so popular, even its creator went to replicate it.
10 Only One Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake Survives
There are many desired, special-edition Shelby Cobra 427s, but by far, one of the rarest and most enigmatic is the Super Snake. Two original 427 Cobras received the Super Snake package – one S/C 427 (CSX 3015) and a regular 427 (CSX 3303), which was built later. All 427 Cobras were, essentially, deathtraps, but nothing came even remotely close to the 427 Super Snake.The 427 cubic-inch V-8 received two superchargers for 800 horsepower. With under 2,300 pounds (1,050 kg) to lug around, this was one venomous snake. No wonder, one of the cars went for a swim, after jumping off a cliff, leaving chassis number CSX 3015 as the sole-surviving Cobra 427 Super Snake. In 2021, that same car went on an auction where it fetched $5.5 million.
11 The Fastest Road-Going American Car Of Its Day
The Shelby Cobra 427 was not a slow car by any stretch of the imagination. Even the regular 427 was capable of a top speed of 164 mph (264 km/h) while the Semi-competition variant was capable of 185 mph (298 km/h). The Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake was the fastest, with a reported top speed of 201 mph (323 km/h).Certain packages that prioritized quarter-mile drag racing, reduced top speed, but the potential was always there. When it comes to 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) times, the numbers range from 4.5 to 3.6 seconds. The Shelby Cobra S/C 427 was also capable of blasting down the quarter-mile in as little as 12.3 seconds at 122 mph (196 km/h). To put things in perspective, the Lamborghini Miura P400 topped out at 179 mph (288 km/h) while the Ferrari 250 GTO could reach 174 mph (280 km/h).
