My Velocity blog on how a ride in a cobra changed my life

[brandx]

I saw my first cobra in 1967 at an autocross event in the parking lot of the local shopping center. It was a 289 slabside. I didn,t know exactly what it was until I saw an article in a car magazine. Always wanted one but no money. Got a 67 gt500 wnen I was 19. Finally got my cobra 35 years later. That was 2 years ago. Was most likley better off that way. I might not have survived a cobra any sooner in life.

[kvisser]

Originally Posted by brandx

I saw my first cobra in 1967 at an autocross event in the parking lot of the local shopping center. It was a 289 slabside. I didn,t know exactly what it was until I saw an article in a car magazine. Always wanted one but no money. Got a 67 gt500 wnen I was 19. Finally got my cobra 35 years later. That was 2 years ago. Was most likley better off that way. I might not have survived a cobra any sooner in life.

Well said. What was the percentage of Cobra owners that didn't make their second payment?

A 67 GT500 at the age of 19 must have made it difficult to stay on the right side of the law.

great stories, keep 'em coming.

regards

ken

[flipscobra]

My love affair with the Cobra started in 1964. Me and a friend use to talk about the Cobras in my 12th grade homeroom class. I finally saw 1 coming from the old Effingham dragstrip an heard it had blow away all the Corvettes an I think it was just the little 260 version. Then 1968 I was coming from Macon Ga when I met a 427 Cobra at a stop sign. He was going 1 way an me the other. It was solid black an sounded awesome, never will forget it. It took 43 years before I could realize my dream of owning a 66 Replica Superformance Cobra, I have had it for 6 years. People are always taking a picture of it an telling me how beautiful it is. It has the Shelby FE aluminum block an is stroked to 484 cubic inches with Eldebrock heads. 550 hp. Me an my son had been out riding around an was headed back to the garage. We had just made the last turn before we got to the garage an were just idleing along when I stompped the gas. It snapped his head back an it near about bounced off the back of the Cobra, I heard him groan an damn I was not ready for that, I told him when he rides with me he better be ready all the time lol. The only thing I hate is when I am asked if its real or a kit. I just tell them its not a kit

[Turbonut48]

I had sort of followed the advertising about Cobras thru my early teens. Then I saw one in person at the 1966 car show In Milw. It was a little rough, had a paint chip on the front. It still looked great to me.
I was 17 at the time. Took me 27 years before I got my GT350 and got my Daytona about 15 months ago. Life is good !!

The Nut

[kvisser]

I have an interesting update to my initial Cobra experience. To recap :My infatuation with the Shelby Cobra dates back the mid 70’s, when I caught my first glimpse of a blue 427 Cobra rumbling down Reading Blvd. It took me nearly 2 years of furious pedaling to finally figure out where the Shelby lived. As a gangly 14 year old, I went up the door and introduced myself. I showed the owner my Shelby binder of magazine articles and ads. Then asked if I could have a photoshoot of his Cobra. Rick said yes under one condition, that I not tell anyone about where the car lived. Even better, he gave me a ride. I can remember every second of that short blast. “I’m going to accelerate now, don’t let you head snap back and hit the back of the cockpit.” Seriously...

Here is the update, this past Sunday I was involved in an enthusiasts rally thru the horse country of Northern Virginia, starting in Middleberg. We were number 4 in line with an Austin Healey up front, a 70's Porsche 911S and a real deal 73 Porsche Carrera RS with the factory lightweight setup and the duct tail then my friend's 328 Ferrari. At times, the Porsche just walked away from us. At the lunch following the rally, the owner of the Porsche emailed me for contact purposes. As I was leaving the event, the organizer mentioned that the Porsche owner was from Reading and his dad was a serious collector.

Then the last name rang a bell. I emailed John the Porsche photos and then separately sent an email telling the above Cobra story.

He emailed me back " Rick is my dad. He passed away 2 yrs ago. That blue cobra was my uncle johns. I went to gov mifflin sr. High. The Shelby was my dads and he also owned a red 427 cobra after they sold that blue one. Great shots. Thanks for sending them to me. Really a treat. We will have to catch up more sometime.

John"

I was stunned at the coincidence but immediately enthralled as well. What a small world. John is awaiting the return of his dad's C3 Cunningham roadster. I can't wait to see that.

[Got the Bug]

The first Cobra that I saw was owned by professional golfer Ken Venturi. He lived around the corner from me when I was growing up in Menlo Park, CA. We also had a neighbor who lived a couple of houses away that had a 289 Cobra.

Here's a post I made back in 2006 with some of the details.

Carroll Shelby Tribute thread. Be a part of it.

I did a Google search and found a page from a 1997 Christie's auction where the car sold for $222.5K

1965 A.C. SHELBY COBRA 427