Let's talk about speed. What Rolls is to "luxurious," CobraB. was to "fast." In fact, the Cobra was beyond fast. It was frighteningly, devastatingly, almighty fast: zero to 60 mph in about four-and-a-half seconds, and from zero to 100 mph and back to zero in less than 15 -- with street tires. On test tracks, this was not referred to as "acceleration"; it was termed launch. And that was in 1965. That kind of speed was enabled by some engineering wizardry, a lightweight aluminum body and a highly efficient V8 engine that was custom-made to put fear in the heart of Enzo Ferrari, among others. But that's another story. When you set out to build a Cobra replica, your initial -- and perhaps your biggest -- decision will be what size engine to put in it. Consider the history of the Cobra engine.
The 260 and 289 Engines
The vintage Cobra shown in our demonstration is a 1963 model equipped with its original 289-cubic-inch engine (figure A). The very first Cobras, released in 1962, actually had 260-cubic-inch engines simply because that size was more readily available at the time. Only a few dozen cars were made using the 260 engine, however. Soon new Cobras began being fitted with the larger 289, which was actually a production engine -- used extensively in Ford's Falcon and Fairlane series. The 289 was an innovative engine for its time: small, lightweight and built with a thin-wall casting of high nickel content. It was designed for durability and for use in production cars, but the lightweight, rigid construction also made it suitable for racing applications. As it was tested and modified for racing, the engine continued to be improved and further developed. This was the engine that later evolved into the popular Mustang engine and ultimately into Ford's 3.02-liter and 5.0-liter engines of the 1970s and '80s.
About 650 Cobras were built using the 289 engine. Although most auto enthusiasts associate the Cobra with the famous 427 engine that would be used later, it was really the 289 that first established the car's reputation -- allowing it to be a strong contender in racing championships in 1964 and ultimately to become a runaway winner in 1965. Cobras equipped with the 289 would eventually beat seasoned European racing teams like Ferrari on their own ground, in Le Mans and at Nurburg Ring.
The 427 and 428 Engines
The 427-cubic-inch engine was developed for propelling big-bodied Fords around the oval tracks in NASCAR competition. Eventually the engine showed up in Ford's GT40 program, allowing the automaker to meet with more successes on European racetracks. In 1965 Shelby's racing team decided that the Cobra needed more power on the long straightaways at Le Mans, and thus they began installing the big-block engine in the Cobra's lightweight frame. It was that combination that helped solidify the Cobra legend.
To confuse matters just a bit, there was also the 428 engine. The 427 block (figure B) was designed as a race-only engine, and by the time Shelby began incorporating it, most of those built had already been dedicated to the racing program. To facilitate the building of a production version, Shelby began using a 428 engine, a production engine that was much cheaper and easier to obtain than the 427. The two engines were practically the same, and most parts were interchangeable, so Shelby began building street-version Cobras with the 428 -- the one found in most of the latter-day Cobras. The main difference between the racing 427 and the 428 was that the 427 was originally designed as a "top oiler" or "center oiler" -- a term that relates to how the oil flows through the crank.
RESOURCES :
cobracountry.com
Premiere online resource for all things related to CobraB. reproductions. Established by enthusiast Curt Scott, and maintained by Crown Communications of Santa Clarita, CA, the site contains news, articles archives, a directory of Cobra-replica specialists and manufacturers, aftermarket sources, announcements of upcoming shows and rallies, listings of Cobra clubs, links to other Cobra sites, and more.
Cobra Country
Website: www.cobracountry.com
The Cobra Story: A Man, His Dream and His Automobile
Author: Carroll Shelby and John Bentley
1965, Trident Press
Carroll Shelby website
The Carroll Shelby Web Site
The official web site of the man who created the legend.
Includes biographical information, a historical timeline, information about new Shelby cars and products, news, links and more.
Web site: www.carrollshelby.com
Shelby Cobra: The Shelby American Original Color Archives 1962-1965
Model: 0879387572
Author: Dave Friedman
(1994)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Motorbooks International (MBI Publishing)
Essential AC Cobra : The Cars and Their Story 1962-67
Model: 1870979850
Author: Rinsley Mills
(1997)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Motorbooks International (MBI Publishing)
Shelby Cobra Gold Portfolio, 1962-69
Model: 1855200236
Author: R.M. Clarke
(1990)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Motorbooks International (MBI Publishing)
Carroll Shelby's Racing Cobra
Model: 0850454573
Author: Dave Friedman and John Christy
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Motorbooks International (MBI Publishing)
Shelby's Wildlife: The Cobras and Mustangs
Model: 0879380454
Author: Wallace A. Wyss
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Motorbooks International (MBI Publishing)
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