I spent a half day with a 427, and I'll never forget it. But...*this* is the ride to live with. Everything about the 427 was a brute and it's massive fun - but it's tiring to drive. Always noisy, more power than you can use (mostly!), and a tricky rig to drive fast. Love the Slab Side!
It was the original idea. Put a peppy engine into a light car. It's always a recipe for fun. Back in the 70's, you could buy a Chevy Vega with a 454 from specialty shops. Of course, finding a clean original one is basically impossible. The people who bought them raced them. Nobody wants to hit a corner hard with a Vega with a big block. That's a drag car, and little else. The 427 was a beast in racing, but not that fun on the street, because it was a beast in racing. The 289 was the daily driver. Not slow by any means, and easier to live with in the real world, where you're not racing, but driving on public roads. There are speed limits and stoplights. You can't even push the limits of that car as a daily, let alone the 427.
Finally a channel on youtube that doesn't do just million dollar supercars but straight on Cars! Yes cars with big C! The new super, hyper gazilion dollar supercars are OK but ordinary people like me and most of folks around will never own those cars but these beauties are accesible to all of us. Damn these Cobras are supercars in their own right and have tons and tons of soul and character. They put you back where the driver was just an enthusiast or a sunday racer not an entrepreneur. Thanks for great content! It would be nice if you could visit Pete Brock and make a longer video with him talking about the cars that he helped to create.
I'd love to own the 289 5 speed manual box. Simplicity at best, that i could do my own maintensnce, and rune ups, oil changes, etc. Thanks! Love you guys too!
I think the term slab side comes from the flat fender lips. Someone needs to mention Ed Hugus, without Mr Hugus it's very possible, if not likely, there would be no Cobra. Hugus is even the one who brought up and then offered to contact AC Cars for Shelby in the very beginning. Ed and Carroll were friends from previous racing days. As Carroll didn't have the money to lift the Cobra to it's future glory Ed bankrolled the first Cobras- starting with CSX2001- ASSEMBLED them in his European Cars / Continental Cars dealership in Pittsburgh, PA, and made the first retail sale to the general public in 1962. It COULD BE that the first 19 cars were done this way. The prototype CSX2000 was built and retained by Shelby until 2016. Early on Ed had cars that weren't selling, they just sat there begging for a buyer- can you imagine? Ford purchased two of them for "evaluation". At some point Ed and Carroll had somewhat of a falling out with Carroll getting paranoid that Ed might have thoughts of stealing away the concept, which Ed NEVER had on his mind. In reality, Mr Hugus had the connections, had the money, helped originate the idea, knew the owners of AC cars, and had no more to do but transplant an American V8 into a good looking British roadster. But his word was his word. Hardly the first time an American V8 went out and crushed the European cars. That was done well before the Cobra. Look up the Lance Reventlow Scarab and Max Balchowsky's Old Yeller. Too bad about the Scarab, one of the most beautiful cars ever built. Not taking away anything from Shelby though, he pulled it off. Not sure he gave enough credit to some others who helped him though. That said, I'd take the 289 HiPo engine Cobra "slabside" any day of the week- if I couldn't have the Scarab. This brings to mind Bruce Meyer, car collector extraordinaire who now owns CSX2001. Does anyone know why it's painted black with Halibrand style wheels? Not very original... This car was red with wire wheels when first built. If you search youtube for CSX2001 you'll find a home movie posted by a Sandra Milo- presumably a family member to Dr Richard Milo, the original buyer of CSX2001. Rather looks like Ed Hugus driving the car at the 4:56 mark? Note the unusual roll "bar", that is the way it was originally built as Ed wanted to delay delivery in order to race the car locally first. But anyway, the car was traded back to Hugus for a Porsche and CSX2001 then went racing in Europe shortly thereafter.
Almost bought one of these, an original 289, white with red upholstery, wire wheels. 1969, I was driving in my Lotus Cortina through Ripon, Yorkshire, England at dusk when saw this thing in a showroom, Glovers of Ripon. I knew of the Cobra since I was in school in 1962, reading the first road tests in England. I wanted one! The car had 30000 miles on it and was immaculate. The salesman was prepared to take my Lotus in trade at a fair price. But still the repayments were a bit heavy for me at a stunning 14 pounds per month! - and the insurance premium killed the deal stone dead! Lost opportunities, my middle name! Much, much later I built a Cobra replica here in South Africa but the other version - the 427 SC shape. Ran that for 10 years 1992 -2002, as my daily driver! Fun and games. Superformance BTW was established by a South African who I knew from air rallying, the late Bobby Olthoff, ex-race driver in N.Carolina originally. They seem to have a classy product. When I hit the lottery I'll jump on a jet and come over to order one to my specs!
Hey Shawn, thanks for doing all these videos. I love all the Superformance cars but this one absolutely speaks to me. I've already got my wife on-board for getting one. The classic aspect of the Slabside really does it for me. My dad has a complete collection of Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and Road and Track magazines dating from 1954 to present and I grew up reading them in the 70's and remember the 60's issues of the magazines and the Cobra piquing my interest back then. My dad had a '64 Jag e-type and loved that car but said the Cobras were almost impossible to get back in the day. I can't afford an e-type in perfect condition but Superformance allows me to get the 289 Cobra. Pretty amazing. Thanks again for putting the video out. It's the most comprehensive one available on the internet. Aden
Glad you enjoyed it and I hope you get one soon! These are wonderful cars. I like the flared 427 better personally but this is a wonderful driving experience and is pure understated class
Another great video. I used to live not too far from Thames Ditton (Surrey, England) where the AC factory was. The 289 is such a pretty, delicate looking car, and to look at, it's my favourite drop top Cobra. But the Daytona Coupe is just one of my all time favourite cars. Keep up the great work :)
I have been a Ford fanatic for well over 50 years. During that time it was not only building engines but thinking of modifications. Case in .302 small block with a set of 351 Windsor along with a little machine work Will have that puppy breathing real nicely.
I admit I'm 64 so my priorities are...more refined...than they once were so that 289 is the one for me. After that my very first car-love a dark green 67 Mustang (I saw that review you did and subscribed). Oh and the 67s were dark moss green, they didn't use highland green until 68. I first saw one when they first came out before I was even into cars and I fell in car-love. After that, I'd replace my 66 Chevelle SS that I had in the early 70s. I really liked this review. You get cars both the way I used to and the way I do now so I can relate. Thanks for the memories.
I have a Shelby Cobra story I heard my late father tell several times at cocktail parties/backyard BBQ get togethers when I was a kid. My Dad was an Engineer out at Cape Canaveral in the 50's/60's/70's but for a few years in the mid 60's he took a job as I understand it as the Shelby Sales/Service Manager for the Orlando Ford dealership, who sold both Cobras and the Shelby Mustangs. Anyway to the story: One day a dentist walks into the showroom and inquires about the Cobra and was directed to my Dad. The dentist states he wants to buy a 427 Cobra. After talking to the dentist for several minutes and judging both his driving experience and financial wherewithal my Dad suggests the 289 might be a better choice. The Dentist is adamant that he wants the 427 so my Dad so okay I'll pull one around and we can go for a test drive. After my Dad took him on a very spirited test drive, upon returning to the dealer lot, the dentist, who is white as a ghost offers up that; Yes perhaps he should consider a 289 after all. To which my Dad responds...That was the 289!
From 1968 to 1972, I had every issue of Road and Track. The classified adds had original 289s going for $3500 (cool million today), and 427s at a paltry $5000, which this then teenager could not afford … I shed a tear whenever I think of that! But they were just used cars back then.
The slabside AC is pretty slick. I've always loved the look of the British sports cars. It probably wouldn't take much to increase the horsepower on one of those. And some changes to the exhaust to make it sound meaner would be a plus. But my favorite is the Grand Sport. Then the AC. Then the 427 Cobra. After that the Daytona and the gt40. Lets face it... All the Superformance cars are crazy cool. Great video man. I'm starting to think that I'll start a go fund me page myself. lol
427 all the way - the headers alone are like something from the Saturn V rocket! As for the hair, you're not alone, Shawn - at least you get the sun shining on it, unlike here in Scotland where I have to coat my scalp in Rain X!! Tell Doug Campbell that his ancestors made the right move getting the hell outta here! Off to take my '67 Mustang out for it's last blast before winter hibernation - you can't beat the good old Ford V8 for that addictive GRRRRRROWL!!! Great show as always :@)
I'm enjoying your reviews of the Superformance cars. My choice would be the Corvette Grand Sport because of my love for Corvettes. Your review of the slab side Cobra reminds me of the first Cobra I saw. In 1965 I was shopping for a car at the McClure Ford dealership in Troy, Pennsylvania and they had a white 289 Cobra on their sales floor. I found that to be one fabulous car and would have loved to buy it. Sadly the $7,500 price far exceeded the $1,000 used car I was looking at. I think that Superformance is doing a fantastic job of building cars that are true to the original designs and that they continue heritage. I only wish I could afford to pay for one of them.
289 Cobra is really all a weekend wanderer needs. Even Mr Shelby said that the 427 was too much engine for the AC platform unless you are going to track it. A glide through the winding roads is all I ever wanted and the 289 fits the bill. But yes I may go hypo with the 289 just for kicks. 😁 🏁
I know this is an older video, but it just came up for me. I have a bit of Shelby and Cobra backgroynd from the 1960s. I owned and drove several GT500s and GT350s on the street back then and raced a 427 Cobra in SCCA A Production for a year or two, then moving to an L88 Corvette in 1969. I also got to drive an original Grand Sport Corvette (although only briefly, and not on a track) in 69 or early 70. The Grand Sport was one of the rwo roadsters, and still had the original 377 ci engine with four 58DCOE side draft Weber carburetors - definitely a lightweight beast! The 427 Cobra was an ecciting car to drive, and demanded both a very high skill level and total cpncentration to drive well. The 289 Cobra, while also capable of strong performance, was much more tractable, and probably a bit more pleasurable as a "normal" street car, especially for drivers who are not at the skill level of a high ranked race driver. I had a good friend, Don Roberts, who won the SCCA B Production national championship 3 years in a row in a 289 Cobra, and that car could really move! I alsi got to drive one of the LeMans backup GT40s, could have bought it for $8,500, but it was just not suitable at all for even occasional street usr and I wasn't willing to commit the money necessary to race at that level. Oversll, although my preference would be a 427 Cobra, I would likely go for a 289 as a better all around street car - light, decent handling, still a great power to weight ratio, and lots of flun to fling around twisty roads when the moid grabs you (which it still does, even in my 70s).
Contractually the originals were Shelby AC Cobras, not "Shelby Cobras". These Superformance versions, unlike the bloated and not-so-visually accurate 427 Superformance Cobras, are indeed very accurate-looking! What would make them PERFECT visually would be correct wire wheel knock-offs with the AC logo, and Lucas PL 700 tri-pod head lamps. Very nice cars indeed and if I come across a little more money I would like to get one!
My wife would have liked this one better than my Superformance MKIII, it would remind her of when we first met in my 70 wire wheeled MG B in 1975 , still have her ( my Wife ) she is a keeper ! 😁
I remember seeing one of these back in the early sixties. I remember it had AC written on both the clutch and brake pedal and also on the steering wheel. I had no idea what it was. I was about 11 years old.
There is a loophole that allows several hundred kit cars a year to obtain street registration in California, believe it or not. Someone may or may not chime in with the exact details, and I would hate to tell you wrong information, but I believe the engine has to be essentially the same engine as what would have been installed for that year. So, the Boss 302 engine as sold through Ford Performance essentially counts as the original 289 engine. I don't know if it is first come, first served when you apply for a kit car exemption, but I do know that California has an official exemption for kit cars.
Great series. I'd have a hard time choosing between this beauty and the 302/427 beast. I think side by side, I'd go for class over crass... only the old suspension would give me pause.
@@AutotopiaLA so many people burn their calves on those side pipes and sitting in traffic you get bathed in exhaust fumes. Great cars for 5 minute videos but rather stupid for the real world, where it is known to rain.
Being British I love this and of course the Gt 40 which we designed, for me Gt 40 first, Corvette, Cobra 🐍 427, but the 289 is cool as not show off!! All amazing, you got to get a wig that would be very funny!!! 👍👍 Great as always man!
I'll never afford any of these gems but either the 427 cobra or the Mkii would be great. Not sure but it looks like you're cruising around Simi valley. Nice ride.
Nice AC for sure love them all but I’m with you I’m the proud owner of an AC cobra with an 428 CJ and I gotta say ever time I go for an ride I fall in love with it all over🤗🤗🤗 thanks for sharing
I don't prefer the slab side but I love this car I drove one when I was thirteen once awesome. catches rubber in all four gears and can do drift turns super easy.
After owning a High Performance business for 5 years, I got to drive several Cobra repilicas. And I love the big blocks. But, honestly, it wears you out! A big HP car is not for an everyday driver. If you are NOT planning on driving it much? Go for the 427. If you want to drive it frequently, an OG is the way to go! Carroll's daily favorite was a C4 automatic OG! His reason? "I want to have fun!"
I rode in an original ac aluminum body with a 289. That was in 1967 when I started in a clinical psychology graduate school. The ac cobra had wire wheels and no top and belonged to a fellow graduate student. We got together because I had just rebuilt the engine in a ‘58 MGA with no top that was similar body size and style. That cobra was fast and lots of acceleration snap. A year later he and his wife were driving back from her parents home in another nearby town in fog when they rear ended a car stalled car with no lights on the country two lane highway. They were OK but as front end was smashed up into firewall. Wrecker towed it to junkyard. No insurance! I picked them up that night Can’t remember when or if he got it back but I never saw the car again.
I'm English, what do you think! It appears,from your description, that this is a very well built car and very affordable when compared to the genuine vehicle. Thanks to all
Man, I'm 30 and I'm completely in love with these things. I don't want any modern supercar, I really can't stand those electronic steering wheels, ESC's, TC's, ABC's or BBC's. I want a black Cobra with white stripes and the GT40. Dream cars.
The Daytona Coupe, because of what it really did on a world scale for Shelby, and the story behind Peter Brock building the car that "would not work." That is the underdog story that really put Shelby on the World Map beating Ferrari.
It's truly hard to decide which car to love the most. All of them is an "individual child" in my eyes. Where they are all perfect in and of themselves. So it's like choosing your favourite child, which is near impossible. I'd probably choose the most expensive one, then sell it, buy the next most expensive thing, and have a bit of money left over to fix it 😀
I think I'd have to go with the British Racing Green "O.G." Cobra. It's just a neat little roadster with get up and go! And it's part of the Shelby legacy. As for the 427, it's a great car but I'd probably wrap it around a tree in a heartbeat!
I knew a guy in my old home town who had a 427 (428) street Cobra, and I asked him if he had a lot of Corvettes challenge him at stop lights, etc. His response was nope, they mostly gave me the thumbs up as they respected the car and pretty much knew it would embarrass them!
I can imagine that having a much lighter weight engine, with lower torque, would make for a much sportier drive than the beastly big-block would. But nowadays, in these modern times, there are a myriad of crate engines to choose from which blurs small-block and big-block. Ford has 3 different 302-based engines to choose from: a 302 cu in with 340 HP based on the design of the Boss 302 engine as shown in this video, a bored and stroked 347 cu in engine with 360 HP (but more torque) and the king of how far one can stretch the Boss 302, a 363 cu in engine with 507 HP (there is a video with this car with the 363 engine installed, but just idling, not driving). Ford does sell one big block nowadays out of its catalog, a 572 cu in with 655 HP, which would surely be overkill even for a 427 body due to its weight. Probably a good drag car. Oh, and Ford has two engines that are based on its 351 Windsor engine but bored and stroked. One is made for 427 Cobra kit cars--a 427 cu in small block with 535 HP and just a bit bigger and pretty much as stretched as a 351 small-block Ford can go, a 460 cu in small block with 575 HP. Even before Ford manufactured their own small blocks based on the 351 engine, several engine companies like Roush and Dart were offering the 427 cu in small block engines. Seems to be the best compromise for horsepower without the weight of a big block.
ATLAmerch.com/
I’d love to hear about the experience of owning/operating a dealer of superformance cars.
For me, the slab side is the ultimate Gentleman’s Sports Car.
Hands down 289 AC cobra, been my favorite since it's beginning.
I spent a half day with a 427, and I'll never forget it. But...*this* is the ride to live with. Everything about the 427 was a brute and it's massive fun - but it's tiring to drive. Always noisy, more power than you can use (mostly!), and a tricky rig to drive fast. Love the Slab Side!
I’m all about the 427 but both of these are true driver cars all the way
It was the original idea. Put a peppy engine into a light car. It's always a recipe for fun.
Back in the 70's, you could buy a Chevy Vega with a 454 from specialty shops. Of course, finding a clean original one is basically impossible. The people who bought them raced them.
Nobody wants to hit a corner hard with a Vega with a big block. That's a drag car, and little else.
The 427 was a beast in racing, but not that fun on the street, because it was a beast in racing.
The 289 was the daily driver. Not slow by any means, and easier to live with in the real world, where you're not racing, but driving on public roads. There are speed limits and stoplights.
You can't even push the limits of that car as a daily, let alone the 427.
Finally a channel on youtube that doesn't do just million dollar supercars but straight on Cars! Yes cars with big C! The new super, hyper gazilion dollar supercars are OK but ordinary people like me and most of folks around will never own those cars but these beauties are accesible to all of us. Damn these Cobras are supercars in their own right and have tons and tons of soul and character. They put you back where the driver was just an enthusiast or a sunday racer not an entrepreneur. Thanks for great content! It would be nice if you could visit Pete Brock and make a longer video with him talking about the cars that he helped to create.
I would love to visit and shoot with Pete! He’s had such a massive impact on the automotive world
We might be able to set that up sometine!
I just love it when RUclips recommends this video, I watch it every time they do
Don't know why, but I regularly come back to this video.
What a sculpture!
They sure are beautiful and incredible to drive
I still don't understand why you only have 55k subscribers. These videos are worthy of 1 million plus! Keep up the great work and episodes.....please!
I agree! Shawn, Paul and Kyle do an amazing job!!! I am sure they will grow as word gets out!!!
Gotta start somewhere. 200k+ now wooo
For me it would be the Mkll 289, such a classic and beautiful car compared to the ,in my opinion, the gaudy 427
The 427 is a tiny penis car.
Ditto, ditto...
I agree however my favorite is the fia 289. It’s a happy medium between this and the 427.
289, yes, but Mk3 with coil springs.
The 289/302 slab side is the Perfect snake. What a cool car!!
I'd love to own the 289 5 speed manual box. Simplicity at best, that i could do my own maintensnce, and rune ups, oil changes, etc. Thanks! Love you guys too!
I think the term slab side comes from the flat fender lips. Someone needs to mention Ed Hugus, without Mr Hugus it's very possible, if not likely, there would be no Cobra. Hugus is even the one who brought up and then offered to contact AC Cars for Shelby in the very beginning. Ed and Carroll were friends from previous racing days. As Carroll didn't have the money to lift the Cobra to it's future glory Ed bankrolled the first Cobras- starting with CSX2001- ASSEMBLED them in his European Cars / Continental Cars dealership in Pittsburgh, PA, and made the first retail sale to the general public in 1962. It COULD BE that the first 19 cars were done this way. The prototype CSX2000 was built and retained by Shelby until 2016. Early on Ed had cars that weren't selling, they just sat there begging for a buyer- can you imagine? Ford purchased two of them for "evaluation". At some point Ed and Carroll had somewhat of a falling out with Carroll getting paranoid that Ed might have thoughts of stealing away the concept, which Ed NEVER had on his mind. In reality, Mr Hugus had the connections, had the money, helped originate the idea, knew the owners of AC cars, and had no more to do but transplant an American V8 into a good looking British roadster. But his word was his word.
Hardly the first time an American V8 went out and crushed the European cars. That was done well before the Cobra. Look up the Lance Reventlow Scarab and Max Balchowsky's Old Yeller. Too bad about the Scarab, one of the most beautiful cars ever built. Not taking away anything from Shelby though, he pulled it off. Not sure he gave enough credit to some others who helped him though. That said, I'd take the 289 HiPo engine Cobra "slabside" any day of the week- if I couldn't have the Scarab.
This brings to mind Bruce Meyer, car collector extraordinaire who now owns CSX2001. Does anyone know why it's painted black with Halibrand style wheels? Not very original... This car was red with wire wheels when first built. If you search youtube for CSX2001 you'll find a home movie posted by a Sandra Milo- presumably a family member to Dr Richard Milo, the original buyer of CSX2001. Rather looks like Ed Hugus driving the car at the 4:56 mark? Note the unusual roll "bar", that is the way it was originally built as Ed wanted to delay delivery in order to race the car locally first. But anyway, the car was traded back to Hugus for a Porsche and CSX2001 then went racing in Europe shortly thereafter.
Almost bought one of these, an original 289, white with red upholstery, wire wheels.
1969, I was driving in my Lotus Cortina through Ripon, Yorkshire, England at dusk when saw this thing in a showroom, Glovers of Ripon. I knew of the Cobra since I was in school in 1962, reading the first road tests in England. I wanted one!
The car had 30000 miles on it and was immaculate. The salesman was prepared to take my Lotus in trade at a fair price. But still the repayments were a bit heavy for me at a stunning 14 pounds per month! - and the insurance premium killed the deal stone dead!
Lost opportunities, my middle name!
Much, much later I built a Cobra replica here in South Africa but the other version - the 427 SC shape. Ran that for 10 years 1992 -2002, as my daily driver! Fun and games.
Superformance BTW was established by a South African who I knew from air rallying, the late Bobby Olthoff, ex-race driver in N.Carolina originally. They seem to have a classy product.
When I hit the lottery I'll jump on a jet and come over to order one to my specs!
Great comment and yes, come over and get yourself one!
Hey Shawn, thanks for doing all these videos. I love all the Superformance cars but this one absolutely speaks to me. I've already got my wife on-board for getting one. The classic aspect of the Slabside really does it for me. My dad has a complete collection of Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and Road and Track magazines dating from 1954 to present and I grew up reading them in the 70's and remember the 60's issues of the magazines and the Cobra piquing my interest back then. My dad had a '64 Jag e-type and loved that car but said the Cobras were almost impossible to get back in the day. I can't afford an e-type in perfect condition but Superformance allows me to get the 289 Cobra. Pretty amazing. Thanks again for putting the video out. It's the most comprehensive one available on the internet.
Aden
Glad you enjoyed it and I hope you get one soon! These are wonderful cars. I like the flared 427 better personally but this is a wonderful driving experience and is pure understated class
Another great video. I used to live not too far from Thames Ditton (Surrey, England) where the AC factory was. The 289 is such a pretty, delicate looking car, and to look at, it's my favourite drop top Cobra. But the Daytona Coupe is just one of my all time favourite cars. Keep up the great work :)
I have been a Ford fanatic for well over 50 years. During that time it was not only building engines but thinking of modifications. Case in .302 small block with a set of 351 Windsor along with a little machine work Will have that puppy breathing real nicely.
This one calls to me. Love the purity and simplicity of the original.
I admit I'm 64 so my priorities are...more refined...than they once were so that 289 is the one for me. After that my very first car-love a dark green 67 Mustang (I saw that review you did and subscribed). Oh and the 67s were dark moss green, they didn't use highland green until 68. I first saw one when they first came out before I was even into cars and I fell in car-love. After that, I'd replace my 66 Chevelle SS that I had in the early 70s.
I really liked this review. You get cars both the way I used to and the way I do now so I can relate. Thanks for the memories.
Thank you for this comment! I’m glad you enjoy what we do here. And thanks for sharing some memories with us 😎
I have a Shelby Cobra story I heard my late father tell several times at cocktail parties/backyard BBQ get togethers when I was a kid. My Dad was an Engineer out at Cape Canaveral in the 50's/60's/70's but for a few years in the mid 60's he took a job as I understand it as the Shelby Sales/Service Manager for the Orlando Ford dealership, who sold both Cobras and the Shelby Mustangs. Anyway to the story: One day a dentist walks into the showroom and inquires about the Cobra and was directed to my Dad. The dentist states he wants to buy a 427 Cobra. After talking to the dentist for several minutes and judging both his driving experience and financial wherewithal my Dad suggests the 289 might be a better choice. The Dentist is adamant that he wants the 427 so my Dad so okay I'll pull one around and we can go for a test drive. After my Dad took him on a very spirited test drive, upon returning to the dealer lot, the dentist, who is white as a ghost offers up that; Yes perhaps he should consider a 289 after all. To which my Dad responds...That was the 289!
Awesome story!! The 289 is definitely no slouch. Great story 👊
It was ur dad's story?! Ive heard tgat story before
Carroll Shelby said his favorite Cobra was the 289 Slap-side!
Because it was the pure original
He also preferred the GT350 to the GT500 which I think is cool.
Love this video series you’re doing with Doug and superformance!
If I was going to have a Cobra this is the one I’d have (being English of course) fantastic machine 😎
Every Cobra is English!
Much more elegant than the 427
It is and I love em both
Best looking Cobra IMO
It is a true beauty for sure
Even if you are being paid by superformance we don't care still great content that we love watching.
The only time we have to pay Shawn is to get him to leave!!! LOL!!!
😂😂
They’re awesome and Doug is just the coolest
Love them all.....and owned a new '64 289.....Lord I wish I had been able to keep it all these years
Balance, balance, balance. All the component's complement one another. My dream car.
Peter Brock's redesign of the Daytona Coupe sold by Superformance is the ultimate. Peter's red daily driver makes my heart sing. Oh-yeah!!!
Agreed! He’s one of the best designers ever
From 1968 to 1972, I had every issue of Road and Track. The classified adds had original 289s going for $3500 (cool million today), and 427s at a paltry $5000, which this then teenager could not afford … I shed a tear whenever I think of that! But they were just used cars back then.
The slabside AC is pretty slick. I've always loved the look of the British sports cars. It probably wouldn't take much to increase the horsepower on one of those. And some changes to the exhaust to make it sound meaner would be a plus. But my favorite is the Grand Sport. Then the AC. Then the 427 Cobra. After that the Daytona and the gt40. Lets face it... All the Superformance cars are crazy cool. Great video man. I'm starting to think that I'll start a go fund me page myself. lol
Once again a great video.
Just a fun car, in this form Superformance just knocks it outta the park
Cheers Shawn !
Being from the UK this was so interesting. Very cool recreating this classic of the modified AC Ace by Carroll Shelby.
Glad you liked it. Really a wonderful car to drive
427 all the way - the headers alone are like something from the Saturn V rocket! As for the hair, you're not alone, Shawn - at least you get the sun shining on it, unlike here in Scotland where I have to coat my scalp in Rain X!! Tell Doug Campbell that his ancestors made the right move getting the hell outta here! Off to take my '67 Mustang out for it's last blast before winter hibernation - you can't beat the good old Ford V8 for that addictive GRRRRRROWL!!! Great show as always :@)
LOL! Still want to get back to Scotland for a visit though!!! THanks for watching!!!
Hilarious comment and yes on the 427 car!
Legend then, now and long into the future
Agreed
Superformance give this man a Cobra he's earned it! Awesome videos.
Yes!! I need one badly. And thanks 👊
I'm enjoying your reviews of the Superformance cars. My choice would be the Corvette Grand Sport because of my love for Corvettes. Your review of the slab side Cobra reminds me of the first Cobra I saw. In 1965 I was shopping for a car at the McClure Ford dealership in Troy, Pennsylvania and they had a white 289 Cobra on their sales floor. I found that to be one fabulous car and would have loved to buy it. Sadly the $7,500 price far exceeded the $1,000 used car I was looking at. I think that Superformance is doing a fantastic job of building cars that are true to the original designs and that they continue heritage. I only wish I could afford to pay for one of them.
289 Cobra is really all a weekend wanderer needs. Even Mr Shelby said that the 427 was too much engine for the AC platform unless you are going to track it.
A glide through the winding roads is all I ever wanted and the 289 fits the bill. But yes I may go hypo with the 289 just for kicks. 😁 🏁
One of my all time favorite cars.
Great video and what a great little car. I don’t know if I can choose just one of the superformance cars. They are all amazing and a dream.
This 289 MKII "slab side" is far and away my favorite. A fun little driving machine with plenty of power.
Still a beautiful car...such a classic.
Yes it is
Greetings from Hong Kong. My favourite Shelby, great post. need to get one.
For me it's this one right here. Usable fun power, great balance.
I still prefer the 427 car with those big hips but nothing but love and respect for this original style Cobra
GT40 , DAYTONA Coupe , CORVETTE , 427, last 289....
Good Video.....good Shelby insight...!
Love the way you drive: Left hand on the wheel at 11:30, right hand resting on the gear shift.
Old habits die hard and it’s such a comfy driving position
I know this is an older video, but it just came up for me. I have a bit of Shelby and Cobra backgroynd from the 1960s. I owned and drove several GT500s and GT350s on the street back then and raced a 427 Cobra in SCCA A Production for a year or two, then moving to an L88 Corvette in 1969. I also got to drive an original Grand Sport Corvette (although only briefly, and not on a track) in 69 or early 70. The Grand Sport was one of the rwo roadsters, and still had the original 377 ci engine with four 58DCOE side draft Weber carburetors - definitely a lightweight beast! The 427 Cobra was an ecciting car to drive, and demanded both a very high skill level and total cpncentration to drive well. The 289 Cobra, while also capable of strong performance, was much more tractable, and probably a bit more pleasurable as a "normal" street car, especially for drivers who are not at the skill level of a high ranked race driver. I had a good friend, Don Roberts, who won the SCCA B Production national championship 3 years in a row in a 289 Cobra, and that car could really move! I alsi got to drive one of the LeMans backup GT40s, could have bought it for $8,500, but it was just not suitable at all for even occasional street usr and I wasn't willing to commit the money necessary to race at that level. Oversll, although my preference would be a 427 Cobra, I would likely go for a 289 as a better all around street car - light, decent handling, still a great power to weight ratio, and lots of flun to fling around twisty roads when the moid grabs you (which it still does, even in my 70s).
Contractually the originals were Shelby AC Cobras, not "Shelby Cobras". These Superformance versions, unlike the bloated and not-so-visually accurate 427 Superformance Cobras, are indeed very accurate-looking! What would make them PERFECT visually would be correct wire wheel knock-offs with the AC logo, and Lucas PL 700 tri-pod head lamps. Very nice cars indeed and if I come across a little more money I would like to get one!
You know a lot more than I do about these and I agree they make an incredible vehicle that is wonderful to drive
My wife would have liked this one better than my Superformance MKIII, it would remind her of when we first met in my 70 wire wheeled MG B in 1975 , still have her ( my Wife ) she is a keeper ! 😁
Doug is spot on, that would be my everyday car. Sweet !!!
I remember seeing one of these back in the early sixties. I remember it had AC written on both the clutch and brake pedal and also on the steering wheel.
I had no idea what it was. I was about 11 years old.
Beautiful car! I have the 427 Cobra myself.
Love em both and prefer the 427 car personally
Exquisitely beautiful. How do they get plates on it in Calafornia?
There is a loophole that allows several hundred kit cars a year to obtain street registration in California, believe it or not. Someone may or may not chime in with the exact details, and I would hate to tell you wrong information, but I believe the engine has to be essentially the same engine as what would have been installed for that year. So, the Boss 302 engine as sold through Ford Performance essentially counts as the original 289 engine. I don't know if it is first come, first served when you apply for a kit car exemption, but I do know that California has an official exemption for kit cars.
Great sports car, laid back vibe 💯💯
Great car. Love the British Racing Green. Now days the gaudy 427 kit car is at every car show and it makes this one stand out as clean and elegant.
I love em both. Still love the over the top 427 cars but this one sold me hard. Class. Elegant. Beauty and still a powerhouse on wheels
i love the classic look, a 427 looks to fancy. This little sucker is all i need for motoring
Every time you visit superformance i go nuts all over again
As a 13 yr o!d who sent off for and received the promo package from Ford, that 289 is my dream car.
Great series. I'd have a hard time choosing between this beauty and the 302/427 beast. I think side by side, I'd go for class over crass... only the old suspension would give me pause.
I’m going with the 427 all day. I love the class of this one but the hips, the sidepipes and the torque sell me everytime
@@AutotopiaLA so many people burn their calves on those side pipes and sitting in traffic you get bathed in exhaust fumes. Great cars for 5 minute videos but rather stupid for the real world, where it is known to rain.
Great video! Thanks Shawn...
One day when I grow up, I'll get one in guardsman blue or silver. Cobra badges and a 302. These cars are soo cool.
I would have to pick the 289 MKII as my favorite. The thing just does it for me from the performance to the style.
The Slab Side Cobra wins hands down in my book, it has the grace and elegance of a thoroughbred.
Being British I love this and of course the Gt 40 which we designed, for me Gt 40 first, Corvette, Cobra 🐍 427, but the 289 is cool as not show off!!
All amazing, you got to get a wig that would be very funny!!! 👍👍 Great as always man!
Great video. I have a 427. I want a 289 slab side.Make mine white with a red interior. Doug is a great guy! He knows his Shelbys.
Thank you Mark!
I’m with you on all points here. And yes, Doug is the best!
I'll never afford any of these gems but either the 427 cobra or the Mkii would be great.
Not sure but it looks like you're cruising around Simi valley. Nice ride.
I believe this is Orange County considering that Hillbank is down there. Unless they drove it up to Simi?
Nice green color!👍
Great stuff Shawn!
Thanks! Such a cool car
Great vid for great Cobra !
Great vid for this awesome Cobra.
Loving this
Pure beauty and class in this one
Nice AC for sure love them all but I’m with you I’m the proud owner of an AC cobra with an 428 CJ and I gotta say ever time I go for an ride I fall in love with it all over🤗🤗🤗 thanks for sharing
I don't prefer the slab side but I love this car I drove one when I was thirteen once awesome. catches rubber in all four gears and can do drift turns super easy.
I like the 427 better but these are killer little cars too
I always wanted a Cobra based on the AC Aceca. I’m not much of an open top kinda guy so the Aceca was always the “Cobra” I wanted
427 cobra body but with the original 289 engine & cam with AFR heads / 600 Holly duel inlet double pumper & 5-speed overdrive with 3.08 gear !
After owning a High Performance business for 5 years, I got to drive several Cobra repilicas. And I love the big blocks. But, honestly, it wears you out! A big HP car is not for an everyday driver. If you are NOT planning on driving it much? Go for the 427. If you want to drive it frequently, an OG is the way to go! Carroll's daily favorite was a C4 automatic OG! His reason? "I want to have fun!"
I think I like the OG, aside from the fact that all the cars they make are incredible. OG is like a sleeper savage.
I rode in an original ac aluminum body with a 289. That was in 1967 when I started in a clinical psychology graduate school. The ac cobra had wire wheels and no top and belonged to a fellow graduate student. We got together because I had just rebuilt the engine in a ‘58 MGA with no top that was similar body size and style. That cobra was fast and lots of acceleration snap. A year later he and his wife were driving back from her parents home in another nearby town in fog when they rear ended a car stalled car with no lights on the country two lane highway. They were OK but as front end was smashed up into firewall. Wrecker towed it to junkyard. No insurance! I picked them up that night Can’t remember when or if he got it back but I never saw the car again.
There is something to be said for flying under the radar in a slab side 289! 👍🏽👍🏽
Reminds me of a 1967 Austin Healey 3000 I had back when it was almost new.
I'm English, what do you think! It appears,from your description, that this is a very well built car and very affordable when compared to the genuine vehicle. Thanks to all
289 because it way more fun to drive a slower car fast than a fast car slow. Soon or later the Holy Chit factor will bite you and keep you broke.
Very true
Man, I'm 30 and I'm completely in love with these things. I don't want any modern supercar, I really can't stand those electronic steering wheels, ESC's, TC's, ABC's or BBC's. I want a black Cobra with white stripes and the GT40. Dream cars.
Simply beautifull, love it!
1 of each please!! I'm with you, I'd start with a 427.
Great review, down to earth and honest.
The Daytona Coupe, because of what it really did on a world scale for Shelby, and the story behind Peter Brock building the car that "would not work." That is the underdog story that really put Shelby on the World Map beating Ferrari.
The Shelby may be gone now (original), but AC Cobra is not. They are a body builder.
My favorite would be the 289 cars both the slab side and the FIA.
Stay tuned Keith! I will be taking an FIA up to Shawn for filming in the next few weeks!!!
9:40 That burn
It's truly hard to decide which car to love the most. All of them is an "individual child" in my eyes. Where they are all perfect in and of themselves. So it's like choosing your favourite child, which is near impossible. I'd probably choose the most expensive one, then sell it, buy the next most expensive thing, and have a bit of money left over to fix it 😀
I think I'd have to go with the British Racing Green "O.G." Cobra. It's just a neat little roadster with get up and go! And it's part of the Shelby legacy. As for the 427, it's a great car but I'd probably wrap it around a tree in a heartbeat!
thanks for sharing.
god its soooo beautiful
When cobras ruled the streets!
That’s the truth
I knew a guy in my old home town who had a 427 (428) street Cobra, and I asked him if he had a lot of Corvettes challenge him at stop lights, etc. His response was nope, they mostly gave me the thumbs up as they respected the car and pretty much knew it would embarrass them!
Carroll Shelby said himself that his favourite Cobra was the MK2 because it felt like a true sports car and it was more fun to drive than the MK3 427
I can imagine that having a much lighter weight engine, with lower torque, would make for a much sportier drive than the beastly big-block would. But nowadays, in these modern times, there are a myriad of crate engines to choose from which blurs small-block and big-block. Ford has 3 different 302-based engines to choose from: a 302 cu in with 340 HP based on the design of the Boss 302 engine as shown in this video, a bored and stroked 347 cu in engine with 360 HP (but more torque) and the king of how far one can stretch the Boss 302, a 363 cu in engine with 507 HP (there is a video with this car with the 363 engine installed, but just idling, not driving). Ford does sell one big block nowadays out of its catalog, a 572 cu in with 655 HP, which would surely be overkill even for a 427 body due to its weight. Probably a good drag car. Oh, and Ford has two engines that are based on its 351 Windsor engine but bored and stroked. One is made for 427 Cobra kit cars--a 427 cu in small block with 535 HP and just a bit bigger and pretty much as stretched as a 351 small-block Ford can go, a 460 cu in small block with 575 HP. Even before Ford manufactured their own small blocks based on the 351 engine, several engine companies like Roush and Dart were offering the 427 cu in small block engines. Seems to be the best compromise for horsepower without the weight of a big block.
Mk2-put my order in for the one you drove, just as is !
Happy to get you going Frank! Thanks for watching the video!!!
You should do it
This would be my car hands down.
427 Street Cobra (underbody exhaust) - 511 Aluminum Shelby American FE Block w/8-Stack EFI - 6-Speed Tremec Magnum XL Transmission - BRG/Black Interior
Nice!!!
Perfect
delish combination
I've been very impressed with suerformance