Cobra Engines
We can install a variety of engine and engine/tranny combinations. Cobras love power and the chassis can suit any Ford V8, small blocks and big blocks alike.
Under Construction
- Original 400 hp (in a similar light weight Ford V8)*
- Original transmission and rearend gear ratios
- Original "Knock-off" pin drive wheels
- Original style interior elements
- Original style gauges including original reverse direction speedo
- Original 4" round tube steel and aluminum chassis
- Original 4 wheel independent suspension w/ coil-over shocks
- Original 4 into 4 headers/sidepipes
- Original driver-side roll bar
- Original chrome-over-nickel hardware
- Original 46%/54% front/rear weight distribution ratio
- Original size and dimensions of the one-piece body
- Original 90" wheel base and track
*A 400hp aluminum head 351 Windsor is similar in horse power and weight of the original 400hp all aluminum 390FE. The iron block 427FE was one of many motors bolted to the Cobra chassis but was too heavy. Due to it's shear numbers, however, Carroll Shelby's S/C Cobra is known today as the "427 Cobra".
The first question most people ask about our Cobra is, "Is it an original?" As excited as most people are about seeing or riding in a real Cobra, unfortunately original Cobras are worth around $1 million or more. In fact, Bill Cosby recently sold his "original" at the Barrett Jackson auction for $5 million. This is all due to supply and demand. The 427 Cobra is the most replicated car in history. Couple that with the fact that there were only 1,100 made, there will always be a high price tag for an original Cobra. So to answer this question... No, our Cobra is not an original.
Most Cobras you see on the road today are a replica. Also, most Cobra replicas you see are not built to original specifications. This is not entirely bad, it just "is what it is". Most people who build their own Cobra don't follow original specs due to either economics or personal preference. It also needs to be said that to build a Cobra to original specs is a bit complicated.
First, not every '65 Cobra in 1965 were built the same. Keep in mind that the Cobra was an experimental race car, therefore it changed often. So to build an original replica, which original are you basing your replica? Also, many of the components used on the Cobra are no longer available today. Even the Cobra in 1965 borrowed many of it's components. So we must borrow components from other available cars too.
The second most popular question asked is, "Does it have a 427?" No. First of all, as mentioned earlier, the 427FE was not the only motor used in the 1965 Cobra. Again we need to ask, "Which Cobra are we replicating?" It is true that every motor they did use in the Cobra was a big block motor. The trouble with using the exact same motor is two-fold. One, an original 427FE (or any one of the motors originally used) are very expensive. Secondly, the original 427 of yesteryears only produced 425 horse power. Yes, 425hp is nothing to shack a stick at, but you need to know that today's 427's are producing 550-600 horse power (an ungodly amount or horse power for a 2,000 lb car). So, in order to build a Cobra with a 427FE and stick to strick original specs, you'd have to de-tune your 427 to only allow a maximun of 425 horse power. Who wants to do that?! Plus, the very first motor was a light weight (same weight as the 289) all-aluminum 390FE with 400hp.
Solution to this delema? Don't know that there is one, however, we decided on the light weight version of 400 ponies to at least replicate the performance characteristics. Because theoretically it is near impossible to build an exact replica, then the motive becomes to produce a 1965 Cobra replica that looks and feels like an original Cobra... else why would you build a Cobra in the first place. We would just assume to build a variety of Cobras, but 6031 (The Other Woman) is being built for the Cobra enthusiest. We hope you like it.
