There is one car that stands out in automotive history unlike any other vehicle ever made: the Shelby Cobra. No other car has ever been so lusted after that even its replicas are considered high value. Not the Ferrari F40, not the Lamborghini Countach, no BMW or Corvette has ever had an imitation produced that has been in seriously high demand. But, the Shelby Cobra has spawned a legion of reproduction models that have a strong market, and this 1965 Shelby Cobra Backdraft 427 is an amazing example of just why these cars are so pined after.
Backdraft Racing is an international automotive company that manufactures its cars in South Africa and then sends those vehicles to Boynton Beach, Florida, for final assembly. This car has 2,427 miles since that assembly. The Guardsman Blue and white exterior paint, body panels, and interior are all original from Backdraft. This 'imitation' Cobra has all of the same sinuous curves and bulging muscular fenders of the original car.
Under the hood, this Cobra is just as lethally venomous as the car it is based upon. A monster Ford 427 cubic-inch engine sits just as the original car's did, topped with a single four-barrel carb and fastened with a set of shorty headers that feed exhaust to a set of thunderous side pipes that will announce your arrival from blocks away. A T5 five-speed transmission handles shifting duties, while an adjustable set of coilovers up front and an independent rear suspension take care of any corner you can throw at it. Big 18-inch wheels shod in Falken Azenis rubber measuring 245/40R-18 up front and 295/40R-18 out back.
Also included with his beast are cam specs and a verified dyno sheet that proves this car makes power that even Carroll Shelby himself would approve of. How does 458 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 492 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm at the rear wheels sound? It sounds amazing.
The simplicity of the Shelby Cobra is one of its hallmark characteristics: let's take the most agile compact sports car we can find and stuff the biggest, baddest, most powerful motor we can get our hands on and see what happens. That is why the Cobra can be reincarnated in a car like this Backdraft 427 and be nothing short of a breathtaking collector's item. Come and see for yourself.
*427 CID Ford *T5 Five speed trans *2427 miles *Coilovers *Independent rear *18 inch wheels *Falken tires *Sidepipes *458 horsepower *492 pound feet of torque *Clean car *Instant head turner
