[pderouss]

Don.
I have seen a number of the AC MkIII 427's at the AC factory and there is a picture of one in my gallery. As they do not meet current UK safety regulations I am not able to puchase one and have had to make do with a modified MkIV, pictures of which are also in the gallery. These variously show it from bare metal to fully built form.

As the MkIIIs are illegal in the UK all cars should go for export, hence the COX designation. Cars that were originally destined for the UK had COB chassis prefixes, with leaf spring ones being refered to as AC Cobras. Later ones being called AC 289 or AC427 respectively.

I think Cal Metal dismisses the AC too easily and without evidence. As these cars are built on the original bucks, they must, by definition, be closer to "the real thing" than anything else that is available. For those that are lucky enough to live in countries where the regulations are more liberal ( I doubt that this includes France) the AC MkIII must be the ultimate version to own. This is one reason why AC now fit the AC Original badge that Don refers to. I have posted a picture of the one that was fitted to my car. It is intended to provide an answer to the "is it real" question bearing in mind that only a tiny fraction of Cobras have ever seen the inside of an AC factory. I personally don't like the design of the badge so have removed it and continue to answer the inevitable question.

I agree that without Shelby the Cobra would never have existed and that the CSX cars were Shelby Cobras ( COB cars were for UK consumption and COX cars were for direct export to other non- US countries). Equally without AC Shelby have had very little to offer the world as his main contribution was to fit an engine manufactured by someone else. I would not belittle this contribution as genius is often defined as the ability to connect apparently unconnected elements.

The original cars represented the best of both sides of the Atlantic, UK craftsmanship and US muscle. Hopefully this combination will lead to similar success in the current Gulf conflict.