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The thrill of owning a Cobra replica

By KATHY GRESEY - kgresey@nwnewsgroup.com
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GRAYSLAKE – Underneath a cream-colored cover in Reed Chester's garage, a car's heart is racing.

That car is a 1965 AC Cobra replica that Chester has owned for 11 years.

Like many Cobra aficionados, Chester fell in love with the classic sports car decades ago.

He bought his first replica in 1988 and still owns the work-in-progress car.

His second Cobra was sold for a sizable profit. And the third spends its time zooming in and out of the garage.

"Cobras are one of the most recognized super-performance vehicles," Chester said. "You see more of them now. They've become more popular."

The Cobra is one of the most reproduced cars in history (attribution?). An original Cobra can sell for more than $1 million.

Carroll Shelby, a former racing driver, created the car in the 1960s using Ford engines and a British sports car chassis.

Last week, one of Shelby's original Cobras, dubbed the "Super Snake," sold for $5.5 million at an auction in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Chester estimates his 1965 replica could sell for as much as $40,000. He has put countless hours of work into the car.

"This is something you do where you can see results right away," he said. "[My car] has a special 427 [cubic inch] Ford engine. It's more original to the car. And the 427 is more expensive than the 428 ... which increases its value."

In addition to being a Cobra owner, Chester also is a member of the Windy City Cobra Club, a club for Cobra owners and enthusiasts.

Bob Brown, of Spring Grove, introduced Chester to the club. Since then, the two have discussed all sorts of Cobra-related topics.

"Right now, I'm trying to buy an interior package from him," Brown said. "It doesn't matter what walk of life you are, when you show up [at a Cobra Club event], you better know your stuff about Cobras."

Chester said one of the things he likes about the Cobra community is that the cars' owners enjoy talking about the car.

He and his wife, Linda, have taken the 1965 replica to car shows throughout Illinois and other states.

"His dream is to retire and build them," Linda said of her husband's passion.

Last year, Chester's 1965 replica was the judge-class winner for exotics at the Chicagoland All Wheel Show.

Chester said work can always be done on the car, adding that fixing Cobras can be unbelievably enjoyable.

"This car has changed a bit since we got it on the road," he said. "It's kind of like therapy."