King Cobra

The prototype of Carroll Shelby’s seminal sports car has been resurrected, rough-and-tumble drive experience and all.

- Words: Michael Van Runkle

THE SHELBY COBRA is on the short list of the world’s most pivotal cars. A simple, diminutive powerhouse born from automotive visionary Carroll Shelby’s quest for a stateside David to Europe's racing Goliaths, the model’s 1962 prototype, serial number CSX2000, sold through RM Sotheby’s for US$13.75 million in 2016. Now, Shelby Legendary Cars of Irvine, California, is producing an extremely limited run of only 10 continuation examples based on that benchmark.

The Shelby Cobra CSX2000 Tribute Series Roadster, priced from US$450,000 minus the power train, is built on its namesake's original blueprints, which paired an agile British AC Ace with a ripsnorting Ford small-block V8. The result boasts hand-formed ‘slab side’ aluminium body panels that contrast with the swelling wings of later Cobras equipped with big-block V8 power. Under the skin, the chassis comes complete with authentic leaf-spring suspension, a period-correct Salisbury rear differential, and inboard brakes.