Cobra 427 vs. Griffith 400

[cycleguy55]

Car and Driver Magazine has tested Cobras (originals and replicas) many times over the past 50+ years. Some of their tests, showing 0-60 times:

• Shelby Cobra 427, 1965, 4.3 secs
• Shelby Cobra 289, 1970, 5.2 secs
• Autokraft Ltd. AC Mark IV (replica), 1984, 4.4 secs
• Shelby Cobra 427 S/C, 1998, 3.6 secs

I could find no details on the '1998 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C' that ran a 0-60 time of 3.6 secs - perhaps someone can fill those in.

Source: Rocket Sleds: The Best Performers from 50 Years of Car and Driver Testing - Car Comparison - Feature Article - Page 2

BTW, this page (1965 Griffith 400 full range specs) shows the Griffith @ 6.6 secs - obviously well off a 3.5 sec pace.

Also worth noting is the Griffith had a wheelbase of 87.4" and was apparently plagued by torque steer and handling was described as 'quirky'. 1966 Griffith

Griffith apparently claimed a 0-60 time of 3.8 secs with a 289 HP - but I've found no instrumented tests.

YouTube video shows a 500 HP nitrous Griffith 500 with a sub-4 second 0-60. Video here: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd_WTr8PJV4[/ame]

[HealeyRick]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

Griffith apparently claimed a 0-60 time of 3.8 secs with a 289 HP - but I've found no instrumented tests.

This is what I found, too. Nothing to back up the 3.8 claimed time from Griffith. I could buy the Griffith besting a 289 Cobra, but not a 427.

[xb-60]

I have John Christy's original Sports Car Graphic road test no. 21/62 for a 260 Cobra with 0-60mph recorded in 4.1 sec, 0-100 in 10.8 and standing quarter in 12.9 at 114mph. Top speed (ave.) was 152

Cheers,
Glen

[Harpoon PV2]

Originally Posted by xb-60

I have John Christy's original Sports Car Graphic road test no. 21/62 for a 260 Cobra with 0-60mph recorded in 4.1 sec, 0-100 in 10.8 and standing quarter in 12.9 at 114mph. Top speed (ave.) was 152

Cheers,
Glen

All hale John Christy, the man Carrol called the Godfather of the Cobra! He was at Dean Moons shop during the engine install in CSX2000 and it was Dean and John that actually went Corvette hunting. In farness Shelby had to run after a short test drive, because he was still trying to sell the Cobra, to Ford, Tasca and Ed Hugus! John went way overboard in his praise of the Cobra. Those figures for even a well tuned 260, need to be taken with several Texas size grains of salt!