All About the Rare Shelby Cobra 427
An automotive legend and rare classic car, the Shelby Cobra 427 is a sought-after little roadster. Would you cough up a million dollars to own your dream car?
Written by Elaine Duvet
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Considered one of the most
iconic sports cars
in automotive history, the Shelby Cobra 427 delivers exceptional performance in a lightweight body. It’s also extremely hard to find and priced accordingly.Why are car collectors obsessed with the Cobra’s cute little shape and willing to shell out millions to have one of their own?
Faster than a Lamborghini?
The Shelby Cobra 427 is a delightful little roadster perfect for
driving up and down the coast
. Just ask Jay Leno. The auto sports a 7-liter powerful V8 engine and takes four seconds to ramp up from zero to 60 seconds. And in the 1960s, the 427 FE engine gained popularity in the Big Block Cobra.
Originally developed for the 427 NASCAR regulations, “these were strictly race engines with solid lifters and became known for their side oil passage that sent oil to crank first before the valvetrain,” according to
Super Cars
. And who doesn’t love a fun gas cap that pops up!Like many legendary vehicles, the Shelby Cobra 427 was inspired by its competition. “When GM began to work on a new big block Corvette and Ferrari increased the power of the V12 powered GTO's, Shelby and Ford Motor Company decided to shoehorn the mighty 427 FE motor into the Cobra,” according to
Shelby.com
. Fitting the hefty engine into the Cobra was not an easy feat for Carroll Shelby. The automaker had to totally redesign the body, frame, and chassis. “Shelby developed a new independent suspension, fortified the frame to handle the increase in torque, and modified the body to fit bigger wheels and tires,” Shelby.com noted.
We need to talk about the Shelby Cobra’s groundbreaking suspension. According to Shelby.com, “this cobra also used cutting-edge computer-designed chassis with Dual A-arm, four-wheel coil-over independent suspension.” And it looked good while doing it.
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1965 marked the year of the Competition and S/C Cobras. All were originally equipped with a four-speed manual transmission.
According to
Hagerty
, “All Competition and S/C Cobras were powered by the ‘side oiler’ Ford FE 427-cu-in V-8 with a 780 cfm Holley four-barrel carburetor, making 425 horsepower and 480 lb-ft (485 horsepower in S/C models).” About 100 models received a 428-cu-in FE V8 engine.In 1966, the Cobra made it to the street. The automaker added hidden side curtains, revised gauges, license plate mounts, bumperettes, and positive crankcase systems to the new trim.
By 1991, the value of the Shelby Cobra 427b has significantly increased. We’re talking a jump from $75,000 to over half a million dollars in less than 24 months!
Carroll Shelby paired with Mike McCluskey (a noted Cobra restorer) to create 427 Cobra S/C “Completion Cars.” They used series numbers from 1965 and stuck a price tag of $500,000 on the models.
The first Completion Car was produced in 1991, but according to Hagerty, “word got out regarding the provenance and legitimacy of these chassis. And then Paul Dean of the Los Angeles Times wrote an article that blew the lid off Carroll Shelby’s plan.”
The cars were mandated as not street legal by the
California
DMV. Needless to say, only nine got made.Loving the Shelby Cobra 427 is a multi-million dollar hobby
Superfans are passionate about this crown jewel of a car. A 1965 Hertz gold model with less than 4,000 miles sold at Gooding & Co’s Scottsdale Auction for close to a million dollars.
And a well-maintained “1967 Shelby 427 ‘Semi-Competition’ Cobra CSX3045—sold for $2,117,500,” according to Super Cars. It was one of the rare 29 authentic Semi-Competition Shelby Cobras produced.
One particular CSX 3015 Cobra model was sold for more money than most people will ever see in their life! What started out as a factory 427 competition model (one of 23 built-in 1965) transformed into a Super Snake in 1967. Road and Track noted that it “remains in good original condition, with its original engine block, body panels, brake calipers, rear end, and exhaust system.”
And according to
Road and Track
, the “Cobra Super Snake sold at a final hammer price of $5.5 million
. That number is $400,000 more than the car raised in 2015 but equal to what it sold for in 2007.” Holey Moley!The Super Snake is widely considered to be the ultimate Cobra. It features a three-speed automatic transmission and, “the normal 427 cubic-inch V-8, already a bit too powerful for the chassis, is equipped with not one, but two Paxton superchargers in Super Snake spec,” reported Car and Track.
If you’re interested in snagging your own classic Cobra, make sure you contact Shelby American Automobile Club to make sure the model you’re interested in is legit. If so, get ready to ward off the competition for the chance to be a part of the exclusive Shelby Cobra 427 club.
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