
The formula for the success of the Cobra came through a man named Carroll Shelby, a Chicken farmer from Iowa, who put a powerful Ford engine into a nimble, British sports car. AC Cars of England had been producing the tubular frame body taking styling cues from Ferrari. In 1961 when its production ceased, Carroll Shelby put a 221 cubic-in. In 1962, a 260 hp engine was fitted in and orders came faster than Shelby could build. Two Cobras were entered into the grueling 24-Hours of Le Mans endurance race. One of the Cobras captured a 7th place finish, a major accomplishment. In 1964, it finished fourth overall and first in the GT class. At the end of 1964, the new Cobra 427 was unveiled featuring a new tubular aluminum body, coil spring chassis, a 427 cubic-inch 425 hp engine. The Cobra could go from 0-100 mph and back to 0 in less than 14 seconds.

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