History of the AC Cobra

The AC Cobra is a distinctive two door roadstera worthwhile endeavour as the new car would
produced in England during the nineteen sixties. Thecompete with the Chevrolet Corvette. AC then turned
initial cars were fitted with a straight 6 engine, ato Ford for the engine, who supplied AC with a new
common feature for limited produced cars of the era;small block V8; suiting both parties as Ford wanted a
although by the time the Cobra was produced it wascar in direct competition with Chevrolet. The car and
considerably mature in its life. Shortly afterwards thenew engine was sent to Carroll Shelby in L.A.
engine was changed to a Chrysler V8. The body ofProduction of the car proved straight forward as the
the car was composed of aluminium body panels andchanges needed were already made due to the
steel tubing.previous Zephyr engine used in the Cobra.
In the early sixties Carroll Shelby contacted AC hopingThe AC Cobra was produced for six years, between
they would build a car which was fitted with a V8nineteen sixty one and nineteen sixty seven. Although
engine. After AC agreed, they stated it was conditionalthe car remains iconic and distinctive, the car was not
on a suitable engine being found to fit in the car, andsuccessful financially which lead to the cease of
therefore contacted Chevrolet. Chevrolet did not feel itexporting to Ford and Shelby.