Shelby 427 Cobra, 1965 Original Competition Cars - cool cars, hot cars, fast cars

The Cobra 427 had only a brief racing history but it was the fastest production car in the world at the time.

Here are two of the original full competition 427's.

When the Chevrolet Grand Sport Corvettes hit the track at Nassau, The Cobra needed a deeper power plant to compete. Carroll Shelby would have been happy to get an engine set up from GM, but they turned him down.
He scored the Ford four barrel NASCAR 427. A more rigid and intricate chassis was built to cradle the colossus power and heftiness of the 427.

In 1962 , the 260 got a 289 Windsor transplant. By 1963 modern updates for the front suspension of the 289 version were complete. Although the rear suspension was still transverse leaf springs, the Cobra was earning it's reputation as a solid racer.

Shelby knew Cobra's overall racing technology was growing long in the tooth, and the Corvette Grand Sport was coming to kill the snake - not to mention bloodthirsty competition from Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar and Porsche.

The 289 reached it's peak at about 390 horsepower and that just wasn't going to cut it anymore. In 1964 It was time to build a Cobra that would retain sovereignty on the race track.

Ken Miles, Ted Sutton and Shelby replaced the 289 4.7 liter with the infamous 427 7.0 big block.
But big block power doesn't do much good if the machine can't transfer it's might into speed. The rear leaf spring suspension just couldn't hold the Cobra to the pavement. The Original 427 Cobra prototype needed to tolerate immense energy.
The team overhauled the racer, giving special consideration to structural integrity issues - and let her rip!

And rip she did - right into a tree during practice runs at Sebring.
CSX 2196 was repaired overnight and raced the next morning.

The cast iron 427 transplant proved intolerable for the drivers.
The Cobra would "get all outta' shape" and was unreliable. In fact, the CSX 2196 rolled to the side of the track instead of over the finish line; plagued with mechanical defects. Despite this, the Shelby team knew that this Frankenstein had a significant racing future. The competition knew it too.

The Cobra 427 was a prototype entered in an official race without much testing. The team likely didn't expect to win or even finish but needed to know what to expect from a contender of this magnitude. It was just a day at the races, so to speak.

The CSX body was completely rebuilt for easier access to it's mechanical components.
The team nicknamed it The Flip Top.
It was menacing, with a more hunkered down look than the Cobra we're familiar with today.
The 427 was swapped for the lighter aluminum block 390 V8, but this didn't change the team's luck and Carroll still hadn't given up on the 427 concept.


Shelby 427 Cobra, 1965 Original Competition Cars - cool cars, hot cars, fast cars


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[jerryherrador323]

I respect the 427 cobra.. Good shit man .. Keep those cobras forever!!

[Ronbo710]

Only 5 comments on the BEST Cobra video on Youtube? This guy knows he stuff.

[jackazz911]

give me one

[philriley427]

I really like the production of this video clip. It's nicely shot, straight forward and the narrative is interesting and precise. But, those two Cobras are the real stars!!!

They are undoubtedly something to aspire to. I own a tribute to these beautiful cars - a 1970, Ram 427 (Shelby approved). It's not an original 60s Cobra, but a progression, featuring a Reynard spaceframe chassis. And, It's the nearest I'll ever get to the real thing.

I'll keep revisiting this clip. Excellent - well done!

[SoCaliKT]

427 - Oh what a b-e-a-yootiful sound!

[andrewgsb]

tha exhaust on tha side is tht dirrect frm tha engine like strate pypes