Original cobra books

[ROSS WEAVER]

My number one Cobra book is "Cobra- The Real Thing" by Trevor Legate. I am waiting for his next one to come out.

[SunDude]

Originally Posted by ROSS WEAVER

My number one Cobra book is "Cobra- The Real Thing" by Trevor Legate. I am waiting for his next one to come out.

Trevor has another Cobra book out since then. It's called "Cobra: The First 40 Years" and it's another great book from him, very informative and filled with great photos.

[ROSS WEAVER]

I have that one as well. Yes it is another good one. Earlier someone said that Trevor had three Cobra books out, I only know of the two. What is the name of the third? I understand he is working on another one, could this be the third one?

[snakehunter]

Wow, great suggestions. I'll look into those.

I didn't know Jay Leno had a book club, but its a good idea!

[Historybuff]

That horizontal format hardbound book is the most high priced Cobra book on eBay because though it was published some years ago by Stauffer Classics in Blue Mounds, WI, it has never been reprinted. I missed one for $250 a couple of years ago at the literature swap meet in Los Angeles but on the internet it goes for more like $750-1200 depending on whether you get the one autographed by many original Shelby team members. Some sources list Pete Brock as the author. Making things confusing is that recently Pete Brock issued a small hardbound book on the Daytona Cobra coupe when the Mecum auction had a genuine car for sale but that book sold for only about $50 and is sold out. That was only about 1/2" thick.

I recently heard of Shelby's own autobiography the softbound version of the COBRA STORY being available in French but since the production quality was so bad (chopped cars off at the front and rear, etc.) I wouldn't pay too much for that.

Mike Schoen did a lot of research for his book and it's still available. He also has a beautiful website where he inserts some of the reactions to his book, which often include pictures from people he didn't know when he wrote the book. That keeps interest in the book going.

One book I have never seen and would like to hear about is a German book, in German, on the Cobra which is supposed to have aluminum covers. I suspect though that it's some guy talking about his own car--has anyone seen this book?

Also you would think with the car crazy Australians and Kiwis there would be a Cobra book done down there?

Trevor Legate is doing a third Cobra book, haven't heard if it's out yet.

[SunDude]

Actually Trevor Legate has four Cobra books published and/or in the works.

The three that have been published are:

• Cobra, Motorbooks International, Jul 1984, ISBN 0879381817
• Cobra: The Real Thing!, Veloce Publishing Ltd., Oct 1994, ISBN 1874105057
• Cobra: The First 40 Years (U.S. edition), Motorbooks International, Jul 2006, ISBN 0760324239

The fourth one is still being written/completed and is being shopped around to different publishers. See my post here.