What happened to calling it an AC cobra?
 

In the 80s and Until I purchased my replica a few years ago I always refer to the original cobras as AC cobras . I know Shelby loved Promoting his name and signing everything possible but where did the AC Association stop and the Shelby Cobra only began?

To me it sure makes it easy and clear to refer to an original as an AC cobra even the people with the Shelby replicas cannot say it is a Original AC cobra without And aluminum body from AC Of England.

It just seems Odd to me that people rarely these days even mention AC just saying Shelby cobra which is confusing to Many with all the different mustangs Over The years Using cobra in their name.

Ha! Great question. I've seen a number of replicas titled as "Ford", but I don't think Ford had any involvment other than providing engines and racing support. The 427 suspension was designed on Fords computer, and the cars (289 and 427) were sold thru ford dealers, but they weren't "Ford" built cars!

If it was built under the Shelby contract (CSX), it would be called a "Shelby Cobra."

If it was built by AC Cars to market themselves (COB/COX), it would be called an "AC Cobra."

Over the years, terminology has evolved. In the 60's, Shelby originally referred to his small-block cars as AC Cobras, but he was quite vocal that he wanted the big-blocks to be called Shelby Cobras, as so much had been changed from the AC Bristol beginnings. Today, people generally differentiate the Cobras by calling all the cars built by Shelby, Shelby Cobras, and saving the AC Cobra designation for the cars that were sold to Europe by AC Cars, Ltd and were never part of the Shelby contract. AC Cars built every one of the original 60's Cobras, but those that were shipped to Shelby are now considered one group, and those that remained in Europe another.

I,ve been involved with these cars for over 40 years. starting with csx2058 63/260 cid, csx3116 66/427cid , 64/289csx----, & 68/428 csx----. Not to mention over 1/2 dozen 60's era GT350's & GT500's Included during that time was an assortment of others from Healey's, 300SEL's Gulwings, mustangs, camaro's, Jag's, vette's etc. No, I nor my friends ever truly raced in series racing. But we do consider ourselves true automotive enthusiast. Back in the day; when we were driving these assorted beast. We had access to a 28+ car collection & used them all. We simply called a AC cobra that. "An AC". The GT's we called them by there color & number, or year & number, ie 68/GT500, or 68/KR. These were all Shelby built/titled cars. But we rarely used the Shelby name before the type of car we were in. IMHO any AC bodied car is a AC Cobra, because all of these cars. Shelby AC's now & then, ERA AC's, KMC AC's & all the rest are all based off the original "AC Bristol Ace" Shelby had a great design concept & we are all the better for his vision. No matter what manifacturers "AC" kit or factory turn key roadster you drive. They are all AC COBRA'S I now own a ERA S/C 427 side oiler. It is a true "AC Cobra" better & stronger in fact. I know from original AC past experience what a AC Cobra is. If Shelby American built your AC, call it a Shelby!! Just make sure the performance of your ride is on par with the original AC Cobra's.

I just relized this forum is "originality based" I thought I was in All Cobra Talk forum. If the previous reply thread is ill placed, please excuse.

Yeah I wasn't sure where to Post the question.

Just got back from a short ride, stopped to get gas and a gentleman walked up to me saying this is beautiful and I thanked him, he Went on about how he used to drag race cars in the 70s And a gentleman used to bring a gold one that would do mid 10 seconds.
So I figured let Try him. I said so what car is this a replica of? and he instantly said an AC cobra ;)

He was in his early 60s I would guess I think it's more of an age thing younger people Almost always say Shelby cobra

The badging tells the story. 2000 had the AC emblem promptly yanked (intentional pun) and Shelby hand lettered on the front of it. First badges read AC and Cobra, then it was first and then second gen Cobra emblems. His latest use Shelby on the side emblems. I have found whether the name contains Shelby or AC depends on which side of the pond you're on or loyal to.

Just a thought....do the 427 Cobras have the "AC" pads on the brake and clutch pedals? ;)
Cheers,
Glen

Yes, they do. Does that change anything?

I was at a cars/coffee get together yesterday morning. I was talking to a guy about the continuation CSX cars and that while "real" they have no connection to AC.
He asked "who's AC"?
Larry

Good old Auto Carriers. This is what they made most of, I reckon - used to be hundreds of them around here, thanks to the world-famous Papworth hospital, just 5 miles away. Check the badge on the nose:
Redirect Notice

Not that this has anything to do with the question but I read somewhere that the people at AC cars did not like CS yanking the AC emblem from the cars so they put the AC stamp on the pedals because CS couldn't remove those.

Which is why so many old Cobra owners don't consider the continuation cars as real Cobras - they have no AC Cars DNA.

AC Cobra
 

I have posted this before but here it is again, back in 1965-1967 all the Cobra owners I knew (we had about 6 in a town of 50,000) called our cars AC Cobras because we did not want them confused with Shelby Mustangs. In those days if you told someone you had a Shelby anything they immediately thought you had a Mustang and believe me they had no where near the prestige they do now. Ned, I like your DNA theory, but I don't think Evan will agree.

Well, no, I suppose it doesn't. It was just an observation that the AC logo was and is on the pedals of all Cobras.
That in itself doesn't make a Cobra an AC of course, but just as there's a large Shelby input into every Cobra, there's obviously a large AC input as well and leaving the pedals there indicates that Shelby wasn't that fussed that he would remove that visual connection to his cars' roots (even when there was a major change in production from the CSX2xxx cars to CSX3xxx)
An earlier comment about it depends on which side of the pond you're on or loyal to, is probably accurate. I'm in the middle (literally as well as figuratively!); I wouldn't like to see either one dismissed.
Cheers,
Glen

over hear in the UK we always call them an AC Cobra, why would you want to name such a butch car after a bloke with a girls name,
sorry only joking.

I think that's apocryphal - the Ace, Aceca and Greyhound all had the same pedals, which predated the Cobra by some years. It's the stock AC pedal, they had no others!

The ACOC make the distinction: Thames Ditton - built cars. It's an AC if it was built in AC Cars factory (and I would say the 'original' factory, under the management of the Hurlock brothers). The difficulty is defining 'built' - but for my money, and speaking as a Brit, building an entire car and shipping it to the US for an engine makes it an AC. I speak only for the early cars!