History of the AC Cobra

The AC Cobra is a distinctive two door roadsteras the new car would compete with the
produced in England during the nineteen sixties.Chevrolet Corvette. AC then turned to Ford for
The initial cars were fitted with a straight 6the engine, who supplied AC with a new small
engine, a common feature for limited producedblock V8; suiting both parties as Ford wanted a
cars of the era; although by the time the Cobracar in direct competition with Chevrolet. The car
was produced it was considerably mature in itsand new engine was sent to Carroll Shelby in L.A.
life. Shortly afterwards the engine was changedProduction of the car proved straight forward as
to a Chrysler V8. The body of the car wasthe changes needed were already made due to
composed of aluminium body panels and steelthe previous Zephyr engine used in the Cobra.
tubing.The AC Cobra was produced for six years,
In the early sixties Carroll Shelby contacted ACbetween nineteen sixty one and nineteen sixty
hoping they would build a car which was fittedseven. Although the car remains iconic and
with a V8 engine. After AC agreed, they stated itdistinctive, the car was not successful financially
was conditional on a suitable engine being found towhich lead to the cease of exporting to Ford and
fit in the car, and therefore contacted Chevrolet.Shelby.
Chevrolet did not feel it a worthwhile endeavour