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Shelby Cobra 427 - the American super sports car

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Created on May 20, 2019

Reading time 5min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bonhams

27

Motor Klassik

1

Sports Car Graphic

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Archiv

8

Bonhams

27

Motor Klassik

1

Sports Car Graphic

1

Archiv

8

Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - die Karosserieform orientierte sich an der Competition-Version der 289-er Cobra

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - der schnellste Sportwagen seiner Zeit

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - bereit zum Losfahren

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - die Karosserie besteht aus Leichtmetall

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - deutlich bulliger im Aussehen als der Vorgänger Cobra 289

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - nicht ganz vier Meter lang

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - ein grosse Öffnung sichert die Belüftung des riesigen V8-Motors

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - seitliche Auspuffrohre

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - die beiden runden Heckleuchten pro Seite wurden schon vor vielen Jahren durch frühere rechteckige Versionen ersetzt

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - deutlich mehr Platz im Cockpit als beim Vorgänger 289

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - das dünne Holzlenkrad wollte mit kräftiger Hand geführt werden

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - luftig und ohne Kurbelfenster

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - klassische Farbkombination - Rot-Schwarz

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - das Armaturenbrett ist überzogen

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - umfangreiche Instrumentierung

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - Schalthebel von Hurst

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - die Sitze wurden damals als sehr bequem und ausreichend breit beschrieben

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - Batterie

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - mit dünner Bedienungsanleitung

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - der mächtige V8 füllt den Motorraum gut aus

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - die Strassenversion des sieben Liter grossen V8 mit 425 PS

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - zwei Vierfach-Fallstromvergaser sorgen für die Befüllung des Motors

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - fast schon eine heilige Zahl - Fahrgestellschild

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - die Schlange auf dem Bug

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - einfaches, funktionelles Design

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - Hinweis auf den Siebenliter-Motor

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - die Halibrand-Magnesiumräder sollten nur eine Übergangslösung sein, es blieb aber dabei

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AC Cobra 289 (1963) - fast identisch mit dem AC Ace, allerdings mit breiterer Spur und veränderten Radhäusern

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AC 289 Sports (1967) - die kleinere Cobra war ein wunderschöner Sportwagen

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - die starke Strassen-Variante mit dem Siebenliter-V8 von Ford (ohne seitliche Auspuffrohre)

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AC Cobra 427 (1965) - 7 Liter Hubraum und minimales Gewicht

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - die Rennversion, die es für knapp über USD 9000 zu kaufen gab, profitierte von Leichtbau

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1965) - Competition Version

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1965) - Durchsichtszeichnung

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1966) - rund 425 PS leistete der V8 mit sieben Litern Hubraum und zwei Vergasern an Bord

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Shelby Cobra 427 (1965) - auf dem Titelblatt von Sports Car Graphic

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Shelby Cobra 427 (CSX 3276 auf dem Titelblatt von Motor Klassik im Jahr 1987)

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Summary

425 or even 485 hp on just over 1.1 tons, this resulted in a power-to-weight ratio that even newer sports cars from Ferrari to Lamborghini did not achieve even years after the Shelby Cobra 427 was launched. The performance was simply unrivaled, yet the sports car was not a bestseller. Today, the few genuine vehicles are sought after and correspondingly expensive. This report looks back to the 1960s, when an almost unbeatable super sports car was created in the USA that nobody wanted to buy.

This article contains the following chapters

Step-by-step conversion to the seven-liter Cobra
Ford engineers at work
425 to 485 hp
Perhaps the first hyper sports car
(Almost) suitable for everyday use
Rarity
One of a few - CSX 3276
Further information

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Even with the 4.7-liter engine, the Shelby Cobra from 1963 onwards had not lacked an excellent power-to-weight ratio. When the seven-liter version was presented in 1964, some people wondered how it was possible to handle so much power and torque in such a lightweight car, especially as the original Cobra had not exactly demonstrated driving characteristics suitable for housewives. With the Cobra 289, the Shelby racing team had a vehicle in its hands that enabled experienced drivers to compete for overall victories in racing. Technically, the Cobra 289 was based on the AC Ace, with a Ford V8 engine providing propulsion.

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