Small block Chevy in a cobra?

[Harpoon PV2]

It's pretty common knowledge. Shelby tried to get several engines, and tried to get several English car companies to sell him their wares, before Ford And AC finally said yes!

Ac also looked at the Daimler V8! Not that they were as desperate as Shelby claimed. They had the Ford 2.6 Liter cars, which would become the Cobra. When they liquidated their Ace parts in 1963, they found out there were 100 NOS Bristol engines in store. The Hurlock's also had lots of other business, including some very lucrative defense contracts. At any time during the Cobra saga, they could have bought Shelby out of petty cash!
It is funny to go back and look at what Shelby said abought AC when the Cobra first came out. In the early brochures it stated, Shelby AC Cobra, Powered By Ford. Just like the early badges! Then it goes on, "A unique and effective combination of a modern American Production powerplant and a renowned English sports car body and chassis." Then the brochure goes on, "Shelby consulted with the AC Car Company of England and designed his new sports car around what he believes is the best handling production car chassis in the world, powered by a modern American engine that has the stamina to meet the requirements of road racing." Of course, none of that is true!