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ACShelbyCobra-S

SPECIFICATION
Engine:
90 Degree V8; 107.5 x 96mm;
6997 cc Pushrod ohv;
Max power, 390 bhp At 4600rpm;

Transmission:
Four speed manual gearbox.

Suspension:
Independent front and rear, by wishbones, coil springs and dampers;

Brakes:
Disc brakes

Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 84 in (229 cm);
Track: Front, 55 in (140 cm);
Rear: 54 in (137 cm)

Max speed:
Approx 165 mph (265 kmh)
AC Shelby Cobra 1965/68



The balanced elegance of the AC Ace gave way to masculinity in the Cobra derivative, and then effective brute power as all the Shelby cars had a 7 litre Ford V8's. American racing driver Carrol Shelby had been instrumental in the creation of the Cobra hybrid as he saw the potential in a marrage of the Ace chassis and American V8's in 1962

Power above all

The early 4.2 and 4.7 litre Cobras had followed the Ace in most specification aspects. But for the bigger engine major design changes included beefier main chassis tubes (also further apart) and a coil spring and double wishbone suspension in place of the transverse leaf spring arrangement. Wheel arches were exstended to accommodate wider wheels while the exhaust low on the left reinforced the image. In open form on circuits it's unsophisticated bellow seemed most appropriate to the car! It was really over-engined, even with the "mild" 390 bhp customer version (good for 0-60 mph/96 kmh in 4.2 sec), let alone tuned units giving over 450 bhp.

Three names

AC, and Europeans, always knew the cars as AC's while in the USA it carried a Shelby badge and some late cars were even marked as Ford Corbras. In some forms of racing it was the "Ferrari Killer" Shelby had originally sought.

In it's extreme form, as the Shelby Cobra 427, this car really looked the part, rather old fashioned and un-compromisingly "Hairy"

Photo Autopresse
MCMXCI, Edito-Service S.A. D1 078 02-15

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