The Shelby 427 Cobra is a curious car. There are few vehicles that more worthily deserve the description iconic. The originals are so historically significant and rare that each is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars (and in the case of the six Daytona Coupes, millions), yet stylistically identical replicas are ubiquitous. Chances are, if you see a Cobra, it’s probably not real baby seal. Over the decades thousands of replica Cobras have been produced to varying degrees of fidelity by a variety of kit car and turnkey manufacturers. When Carroll Shelby realized that he couldn’t sue the replicar makers into submission, he decided to make his own “continuation series” Cobra replicas (in your choice of carbon fiber, fiberglass or original aluminum bodies). He’s also come to a licensing agreement with Superformance, who make superb Cobra and Daytona Coupe reproductions. I’m a big supporter of the idea of intellectual property, and Ol’ Shel is entitled to make a living off his name and accomplishments, but Carroll Shelby’s proprietary attitude towards the Cobra borders on the absurd.
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Tagged as cobra, Enthusiasm, Ford, History, Muscle, Shelby
Recent Comments
Summicron - Hell, yes! Bring back small fuselage bodies! The ’65-’69 Corvairs were another example of this clean aesthetic.
thelaine - Would you rather hide a dead body in a trunk or a hatchback Leek? Think!
mike978 - I understand your point and agree with some of it. But one thing – “VW products are infinitely better than GM products”. Really? That is an example...
Summicron - America doesn’t bother with roundabouts until Boomers reach the age where maybe we shouldn’t be driving. Then there’s a mad, messianic frenzy...
thelaine - I think you must have really hit on it for me ttacgreg. I am usually attracted to clean, minimalist lines. That is a pretty car.
LeeK - I’ve always wondered why are Americans so enamored with a car with a trunk, rather than a hatchback. I know that hatchbacks don’t sell...
ttacgreg - The Manta has such beautiful understated sublime styling. One of the few cars whose styling is timeless. Most certainly today’s...
thelaine - bfb, I never even heard of the Manta until today, but after looking at the photo in the story and then more online, I very much agree. Bad...
Compaq Deskpro - Why do gay people drive such shit cars?
Xeranar - It sounds like it was an issue of two people who weren’t interested in building electric cars as much as building a company that builds electric cars....