AC Cobra 289 - Intentionally Made Worse.. So It Can Be Better?

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[@stuartpeskett1514]

Harry caught you using his road!!

[@kavinskysmith4094]

No he didnt as that's not the same car, his has a stripe and is more a tomato red orange with a black stripe, that's someone elses car

[@jncg2311]

@@kavinskysmith4094 There must be a shortage of decent roads in that part of Oxfordshire that so many unusual cars want to drive up and down the same bit.

[@lorddoobsworth144]

You made a great point about American V8s IMO. Lots of people here in the UK obsess over things like HP per liter without considering that that's only peak HP made at a specific RPM. Power/torque-band and engine response are big factors to driving experience too. Displacement doesn't tell you how big the engine physically is too- a pushrod V8 with much more displacement is often times physically smaller and lighter than a DOHC engine with less displacement. Good video!

[@UberLummox]

People that slam US V8s probably haven't driven one. And are usually snobby, bitchy nationalists.

[@edmontontangobar4991]

Exactly, and why I love the V8 in my Lexus GS, with its variable valve timing you feel that broad torque band moving with rpm and 'ride' it so the car accelerates with effortless feeling. Obviously very different from this beast, but V8 character is the best.

[@georgebettiol8338]

@@edmontontangobar4991 A Lexus V8 is a modern lightweight (circa 200kg) all-aluminium high reving engine. Certainly not at all like a low specific power, relatively low reving pushrod cast iron V8 lump that was fitted to many US cars of the 1960s to 80s. However, each type has its own character - which I like.

[@caribman10]

..and there's another factor here: weight. The Ford 289 weighed 506 pounds, which was LESS than the weight of the Healey 3000/6 and I believe less than the Bristol/6. So you got a lot more displacement, power possibility AND less weight.

[@SirPaolo777]

The old adage about horsepower selling engines, but torque winning races is absolutely true. People are always chasing outright BHP figures, which are only achieved at the top end of the rev-range. Whereas, a big fat and flat torque curve is usually where you want it, at the revs you normally drive at 👍

[@john1703]

The 289 is a small block (Windsor) engine from 1963 (originally 260). The Pantera originally used the 351 Cleveland engine. The 427 started in the 1964 Galaxie and went into the GT40 mk 2 to finally win at Le Mans in '66.

[@iancharlton678]

THAT is a V8 🙂 Apologies to the Ferrari fans, but a cross plane may get beaten on a track, but the flat plane sounds dull. I had the 351 Cleveland V8 in an Australian Ford Coupe (Mad Max styly)………. and others, Oldsmobile, Rover SD1 V8 Can’t beat that noise 🙂🇬🇧

[@andrewnevermind4902]

A cross plane v8 cold start is way better too in my opinion.

[@anderslaugeprip3733]

Have a friend who had a hot +700Hp Cobra. His then 10 year old son kept asking " Can we take the Cobra out..can we, please, please, please?" One day they did, and was driving about our city centre when some of his sons friends was on the side walk. The son looked at his father with those eyes, and he blipped the accelerator. Next thing, he told me, he was on the opposite sidewalk driving in the opposite direction..!! It was then sold.

[@407j]

That was Harry Metcalf in the Fulvia Zagato.

[@Christographer_UK]

I was going to say that was Harry too.

[@damianfuller74]

Beat me to it!!

[@iancharlton678]

@@407j they share a test track…… both tolerate the occasional incursion by the public 🇬🇧🏁

[@seanoneillsongs]

Who else…?

[@407j]

@@iancharlton678 They need to share the costs for the flagmen. Split 3 ways with #JayEmmonCars

[@terryhand]

I loved This. I remember as schoolboy in the 60's seeing a Cobra in pub carpark. In my 14-year-old eyes It looked like something from outer space.

[@mikewysko2268]

We thank you Howard and Jack for sharing this beautiful car with us. 😎 😎

[@rustybearden1800]

This is what Carrol Shelby wanted from the very beginning - none of the 427 or 428, side oilers, side pipe, wide bodied BS - he only put the fenders and wide, giant tires and enormous engines to get people to buy. He always said that the original AC bodied 289 engine cars were the best to drive and the most balanced and natural feeling. I think that they look the best! What more would anyone want?

[@bobmcl2406]

When people start lecturing me about the magnificence of high-revving peaky engines, I just smile and nod. Quite frankly, it is hard work to drive such beast in a sporting fashion. Just give me a nice broad torque band, and I don't care if it runs out of breath at 6,000 rpm. I probably never need to shift anyway, once I'm moving.....

[@mckengineer5727]

The good news is…that’s precisely what you’ll get from the electric future: all torque, instantly on tap 😊

[@dogpaw775]

nail on the head; driving older kit the difference is the gap between power on tap and handling, it was so much more marked in the day, this only serves to highlight the skill of drivers at the time being able to wring the nth out of these automobiles.

[@georgebettiol8338]

Having driven a 289 Cobra - admittedly a replica, I found the handling to be somewhat 'nervous' and a real handful in the wet if you were not smooth with the application of the throttle. I suspect that many 1960s Cobra drivers that were 'wringing' the car found themselves in a hedge or attempting to 'kiss' a tree.

[@delukxy]

The Rod Leach's Nostalgia adverts in Motor Sport were always required reading back in the day. Where is COB1 today?

[@andymaskill5406]

Those adverts were one of the big highlights every time I bought that magazine I can see his logo now.. mega cool 😎

[@martinclapton2724]

That was the one with twin turbos too, or superchargers(?) ; was it a reputed 700bhp

[@paulrobinson3649]

The American cars were made by AC as well. Shelby used to complain that the cars arrived in the States with an AC badge at each end and that his craftsmen had to change the badge at the front to his.

[@ac2litre]

Very true. Shelby put his own maker's plates on them, and no AC badges on body or steering wheel. However, AC sneaked in 2 badges: Clutch and brake pedals, as fitted to ACs from the 1930s up to the Cobras. AC's designer Alan Turner should be mentioned far more in Cobra history.

[@archiegoodwinjr]

My last "sports" car was a 289 Ford AC Cobra. I don't understand why anybody would want to reproduce such an antiquated chassis faithfully, but not for me to judge. I agree with all of Jack's observations, especially that heavy clutch. One "pleasure" Jack missed was to fill up the tank at a service station that has wet or slippery pavement. If the soles of the driver's shoes are wet it's too easy to slip off the pedals (especially the throttle that is smooth). Also, the transmission would slip out of 2nd gear by itself (oops) that everyone credited to sloppiness at the Borg Warner plant. I notice Jack drove a lot in 3rd gear which works for almost any traffic. In the US at the time, we had a TV show called Honey West starring the glamorous Anne Francis (available on KZbin). She drove a 289 (white like mine). But unlike me she did not seem to struggle with the clutch or heavy steering in all those scenes. Thanks for another interesting perspective.

[@kavinskysmith4094]

its called theirs too many candy asses driving slow cars that arent real, and even Lee I wont fix the pinto for a dollar Ioccca had problems with the clutch of the 260 and hated it but regretted not having one or keeping it, which ironically caused him to keep one of the first vipers apparently when he introduced it to the work in 1989 the videos titled Lee Iacocca Introduces the Dodge Viper FYI and you know, you could have fixed that, put some different pedals in or did a transmission swap for a better borg warner and not held the clutch so much, as a racing car clutch is an on and off switch, only use it when you need it also TV show, TV shows being TV shows and its a 289, they probably switched it for an auto and put in power steering

[@ClellBiggs]

I'm not a Ford fan but they certianly know how to make a good engine. The combination of that body and engine is near perfection.

[@chrisreed3929]

I am surprised you got to drive such a personal labour of love. I hope you didn't tie him up in the garage to grab the keys! Absolutely stunning car, amazing achievement.

[@wollaminfaetter]

I think this must be the definition of a car that brings a smile to your face. It certainly did bring one to yours!

[@PatrickCurrie1]

Here in Australia a company called Bachanan in Sydney made a Cobra in 1956/7 based on the AC body and made in Fibreglass. There were 7 made and mine was chassis number 6. They originally had Standard Ten running gear but mine had a 1500 GT Cortina motor and gearbox fitted at some time but sadly it still had the Standard Ten rear axle with pencils for half shafts. Despite the American protestations to the contrary, we here in Australia had a Cobra name badge before them. If you Google Buchanan Cobra you will se my car. It's the red one with the white soft top. They also built Aston Martin copies of the early 50s as well.

[@meeshker]

I was lucky to drive a genuine 427 Cobra in the early 80s . That was a monster , a car that could do 0-100 in under 10s.

[@xpatsteve]

As I recall, it was the first car to go from 0 - 100 and back to zero in 10 seconds. On bias ply tires, no less.

[@johnandrews3568]

I was on a training ride on my bicycle years ago and a gen 427 was at a light I stopped at. A guy in a Corvette stingray pulled up... engines revved... the look on the Cobra driver's face was classic. As soon as the light went green the Cobra was literally across the intersection before the Vette got moving. I'm sure that Cobra driver was weeeeell versed in dragging. lol

[@velocita6907]

When I was a boy in 1963, this car was the dream of every gear head. It was beyond exotic it was unattainable. Still so incredibly beautiful!

[@sailingspark9748]

I hope the Fulvia is chasing you to do a video! I love those Zagato cars! As for the 289 Cobra. I know the 427 gets all the press and accolades, but I prefer the looks of the more petite 289 cars. Still an aggressive looking vehicle, but not looking like the brute the bigger engined ones were.

[@johnmull59]

Probably Harry in his Fulvia

[@chriscarbaugh3936]

FIA Cobra might just be the ultimate IMHO

[@robertharris7027]

Harry Metcalf's Zagato has a black stripe on the bonnet. And different wheels and no front bumper (11:25).

[@shawnmungur4875]

Given the 'secret road' that they both use, I those it was Harry's car too at first!

[@robertthomas3364]

That heavy clutch was why my father had to sell our 1965 Mustang. Mom couldn't deal with it

[@JP19-67]

Ah brings back the memories. I swapped my montego for one of these 30 years ago. Though mines was a poor man's 289 using marina running gear, Pilgrim Hawthorn if I remember right. But it looked great and was some car for a 20 year old.

[@davidstuart4915]

amazing reproduction, however the price must be 'uncomfortable!' The Griff 4.3 reflects the basic values: V8, 280bhp, 1 ton weight, 2 seater compact etc and offer modern comforts, however I appreciate they are poles apart...including the price

[@honestreviewer3283]

This is so much more elegant than some of the overpowered rolling-middle-age-crises Cobras we see on the road.

[@simonelliott5956]

Great video Jack, the holy grail for me is the 289, it’s more understated than the 427 and looks more like the Ace. What a privilege to be able to drive such a beautiful machine.

[@ryanmccormick2150]

The mk3 in that blue with white stripes is one of my favourite cars of all time!.... awesome job as always Jack buddy 👏

[@bertbristow7172]

The Raymond Mays Ruddspeed head on the Zephyr motor was no slouch with 190 bhp in the preceding Ace. John Bolster recorded a 7.2 sec 0-60 so it was a rocket ship for 1961 with 200lb less weight than the Cobra Yes, the old AC six was a 30's hangover, but the BMW/Bristol 6 was surely more of a thoroughbred than the Ford 2.6 or 4.7?

[@ChuckFickens1972]

Hmmm, I wonder who might be driving a red Fulvia zagato down those roads?

[@Saaketti]

I'd quess It is Harrys Garage Harry.

[@LRSTGS]

Clearly a very different car to Harry's.

[@aussiebloke609]

@@LRSTGS I thought it was Harry's at first, but it's missing the black stripe up the bonnet - and Harry's colour is more orange/red, although the outdoor lighting can affect that to a degree.

[@sparky4878]

Harry's has the black bit on the bonnet and also no front bumper the last I saw it. That car looked like it had the bumper and no black stripe.

[@jameshutton5979]

The Fulvias driver playing Harry's Garage 😂

[@louisgiokas2206]

These were/are great cars. I have a funny story about one. My cousin, who was studying mechanical engineering, was a passenger in one driven by a customer of his father's factory. At one point they were stopped a traffic light and there were people crossing the road. The driver said, see those people there, that is not reality. Then he patted the side of the car and said, this is realty. My cousin wanted to drop out of engineering, but his father made him go back to school and finish his degree. He later took over the factory with his brother, who was also a mechanical engineer.

[@grahamwest1079]

My uncle took me to see his mates original 289 which was a treat in my younger days. He went on to build some nice DAX cobras which I got to drive at 18. I love the detail on this 289.

[@owenb1t5014]

Pretty sure the body’s for the Kirkham cobra are made in Poland by ex aircraft builders who were skilled in Aluminium sheet work, the are then shipped to the US for the rest of the build. Seen a video from Kirkham on here years ago! Easily the best cobra replica money can buy!

[@chriscarbaugh3936]

Yep, ex-MiG factory

[@shanehnorman]

It's best to steer overpowered lightweights on the throttle. A small whiff of the beans as you turn in sets the nose on the right arc - but judging the degree of 'whiff' can be tricky.

[@secretsquirrel3793]

Tyres are critical to appreciating how an original spec Cobra drives. I assume that this car was on modern radials, albeit with tall sidewalls. Crossplies would be a whole different ballgame!

[@deanstevenson6527]

The K code 289 Hi Po, like its later 351 Cleveland 4V sucessor in the 1971 Pantera they never really lost power at the top rpm levels. With most other more standard US V8s, like the Sunbeam Tiger 260, they lost power from as little as 4700 rpm. English or Italian sports cars with transplant US V8's, usually bought the Hi Spec.American engines. What a huge difference between a 164 hp 260 2bbl Ford V8 in a Sunbeam Tiger and the 271 hp 289 4 barrel High Performance V8 in the AC Cobra.

[@JohnnyDanger36963]

351 Cleveland is NOT the successor to the k code 289!

[@deanstevenson6527]

@@JohnnyDanger36963 The Boss 302! ♥️✔️

[@JohnnyDanger36963]

@@deanstevenson6527 that's not the successor to the k 289. the boss had Cleveland heads. really the 289 went to the 4bbl 302.

[@deanstevenson6527]

@@JohnnyDanger36963 The 230 hp J code or the G code 'so called' 240 hp Street Tunnel port 302's were never a successor to the K code, IMHO...Have a great day. 🥝✔️

[@JohnnyDanger36963]

@@deanstevenson6527 yawn..sure as he'll wasent the boss 302,clownio.🤡

[@xpatsteve]

I read years ago that Carroll Shelby once said the true definition of a sports car is: "A car that doesn't have anything on it that doesn't make it go faster".

[@matthewnicholas6365]

Jack has rapidly become the English Doug Demuro

[@genzigzag]

I don't know Jack, where is 19" media touch screen, 32 speaker hi-fi, 16 way power driver and passenger seats with heating, ventilation with massage? Does it have front and rear parking sensors with auto park assist, lane keep assist, collision avoidance. What is the crash compliance rating, and is it ULEZ compliant!

[@georgebettiol8338]

You forgot to include the 'self drive' capability.

[@markrandle4368]

Jacks comment about high raving European engines is one of the reasons they have a short life span. Gimme that Merican throaty V8 any day. That was an excellent repo, hats off to the owner.

[@matthewnicholas6365]

It's not just that. Our (euro) engines that rev high push all the power right up to the top of the rev range. When you gear those revs to wheel speed, you only ever get that horse power in low gears. 3rd+ in most high revving engines is well into treble digit speed by the time you get to the power zone. So unreliable and power where it can't be used.

[@georgebettiol8338]

A Lexus V8 is a modern lightweight (circa 200kg) all-aluminium high reving engine and comporable to modern BMW/VW-AUDI/MERC V8 engines. My Lexus has covered 350,000km without any issues - just regular servicing - and is typical of that marque. Consequently, I don't agree that modern engines have a short life span. However, when considering contemporary German cars, they do possess lots of very poor quality, short lived plastics that are located within the hot engine bay - which is very sad.

[@matthewnicholas6365]

@georgebettiol8338 whilst the Lexus V8 is a reliable engine with good specific output, it's still nothing like as beefy as a simple, large capacity V8 that has most of its power at idle. The thing about the Germans as well, is they're in a constant arms race with one another to keep one-upping the others. They can't refine and engine for 10+ years, as the others will have brought something newer and more powerful out. This leads to a lack of long term testing on reliability on engines that are pushed to the max a manufacturer can reasonably sell.

[@CasperthefriendlyG10T]

Your Pantera has a Cleveland 351 V8, the Cobra clone has a Windsor block engine

[@Engineerd3d]

The actual misnomer about American engines not revving is a bit of a crap shoot. Those 289s were capable of 7k redlines or more… the European cars of the time did not rev much over that either.

[@georgebettiol8338]

Agree with you on elaborated high power Ford 289s. However the standard 289 fitted to say a mid 60s Mustang was rev limited to 5,500 - could achieve 6,000 at a stretch, however there was no point reving it to 6k.

[@Engineerd3d]

@@georgebettiol8338 if I’m not mistaken Shelby uses different cam and springs on that 289

[@Blablablabla1ify]

I’ve been following your videos for quite a few months now. I don’t believe I’ve seen such a broad grin and boyish giggle before 😀

[@SirPaolo777]

I’ve always loved the 289 Cobra, ever since I read a Motor test of a race car in about 1980. I can’t recall what the power output was, but apparently when the tester “floored the throttle” at 100mph, the rear wheels would spin 😮 I was immediately hooked.

[@aussiebloke609]

10:42 Not quite a bigger version of this engine in the Pantera, Jack. Virtually all of the De Tomaso's got the Cleveland block (all bit a few very late production, and only once Cleveland blocks weren't available from Australia any more) - but the 260/289 in the Cobra uses the Windsor block.

[@georgebettiol8338]

Agree with the De Tomaso Pantera - they used the Ford Cleveland. However the De Tomaso Mangusta was fitted with a Ford Windsor.

[@richardelson3261]

What a beauty I admire the obsessive detailing. I went firmly once and accidentally coincided with a Cobra owners club meet. The pub car park was full of them. Some were obviously custom made versions others loomed like this, traditional originals or replicas.

[@westmus]

US V8s are typical oversquare. So they can revv high, the low end torque comes from the displacement combined with relative mild stock cams. The mid 60s high performance version of the 289" made max hp at 6000 rpm factory stock. 289's were in race trim revved to 8000 rpm or higher.

[@phils2180]

The 427 FE motor in S3 Cobra was a race engine taken from the Galaxy 500. Some "427" Cobras actually had the 428 motor which was a longer stroke, lower revving engine designed and for and used in other road cars of the period. It was also a cheaper engine to produce.

[@simonhjc]

😍😍😍 the auction room gave me one to use as a drive car. It ran jaguar suspension, rack and pinion, a 302 Boss/tickford fuel injected engine. Side pipes. It was wicked. As you said even a white line road lane sign would produce wheel spin or a slip. Loved it. However, the brake master cyl was only mm away from the extractors. This over heated it causing it to leak and, whilst driving it caught on fire…. Very unpleasant as I struggled to get in and it was worse to get out of with those hot side pipes. Fortunately i did and fortunately a fellow pulled up with a fire extinguisher….thanks for the memories Jack

[@georgebettiol8338]

I have also 'experienced' the hot side pipes while exiting the car. It's what Cobra owners refer to as the 'snake bite'.

[@pedrom5919]

There is no replacement for displacement ...

[@peterrenn6341]

except a supercharger 🙂 (personally I like an engine with both)

[@bigboycycles]

I had the opportunity to drive an original MK2 and a MK3 back in the early 90’s… and to this day the MK2 with its beautiful proportioned body and its 289 HiPo engine makes me smile… what a pleasant car it is! No really bad manors … The MK3 on the other hand seemed to be built for the drag strip! Just a wacky handful…

[@eric-wb7gj]

TY 🙏🙏 Glad you enjoyed yourself Jack, & it giving you inspiration & enthusiasm for the Pantera!

[@michaelhughes3302]

One marker of my personal growth and maturity has been the realization that I now prefer the narrow cars as apposed to the slightly odd proportions of the later big cars. As a child, I would have said the brutish one is the only one to have.

[@markcompton6750]

Looks amazing. Dick Lovett and his brother have one each (original ones), well they did years ago. Great vid Jack.

[@martinjames9250]

I've never been a fan of the 427 (look at my willy) Cobra. The 289 is a beautiful car and this one must be one of the best.

[@IncognitoChild]

Not quite sure why you think us Brits have no love for American engines. The short block Buick engine worked very nicely in a lot of TVRs and specialist British sports car manufacturers 👍😎

[@jessiebrader2926]

A very early Cobra was found near me many years ago, it had a 260 V8, original engine. I hope it is running again. The earlier cars are great looking and so much more usable than huge 427. It could be a daily driver, Love it.

[@ian-nz-2000]

Great video Jack, your grin says it all! I do shudder every time you take your hands off the wheel...

[@ryklatortuga4146]

If you play a tune upon a pungi, you would charm that car for the journey. It's like a flute full of Antilock brakes and Traction control.

[@davel9130]

What a thing. I've always felt that even if I had the means, I wouldn't want an original because I'd want to drive. This is a great way around the "problem".

[@finlayfraser9952]

Jack, the temptation to push the pedal to the metal must be close to impossible to resist!

[@davidhedley1225]

"I'm not going to take any liberties with this", as the pedal is mashed to the floor 😀

[@DanMosqueda]

The 289 flat body is so elegant. I’ve looked at the Superformance models in person and there is no doubt I’d go with the 289. I tried on the Daytona Coupe and it was wonderful, but very hard to ingress and egress. Hillbank in Irvine sells them for Superperfomance and Shelby. A comparable Mk II is available at $599K USD. A recreation can be had for $115K USD or so.

[@mikeyerke3920]

“Such a big engine!” That’s precious. Haha

[@stephenricketts7764]

Wow,wow that is very well put together and no compromise on the details either. I must congratulate the owner on building such a beautiful car, well done Howard. As an older classic lover I very much like the AC ACE as well for its design but the AC Cobra is another level of machine. You are right Jack there are some rubbish replicas out there but this is so well done and aluminium body too, I also prefer a painted body. What a sound of the V8 I am glad you 'shut up' for once!! Thanks for the video Jack, nicely filmed. 👍👍

[@wearetomorrowspast.5617]

What a beautiful machine. A thing designed to be enjoyed by people who still know what it is to have a good time.

[@ceedoubleyou]

I've had and presently have a Ford 302 Windsor car, like a lot of Ford products leaks oil from every orifice, but an LS3 V8 vehicle sharing the same garage does not.

[@williamkennedy5492]

Great car great video, I did toy with the idea of building a Cobra kit car, however the labour chancellor Gormless Gordon slapped VAT on kit cars. so that was the end of that !

[@oggie1967]

Oh my, what a visceral snarling beast of an engine, I love that noise! All praise to the owner of that cobra, she looks the real deal, what a beautiful, utterly super cool car! Thanks for sharing this one Jack, loved it!👍👏👏👏♥️

[@PB200559]

Something very different. Hats off to the guys who put this together.

[@markkerry5840]

A great car and a great film. I had often thought the roads in your films and and Harry's looked alike but had put it down to my imagination. Harry is a true petrol head apparently borrowing money from his bank to build a barn then using it to kick start EVO. Now you must get to drive a 65 mark 3 427. Years ago I read that Shelby used to take potential customers for a test ride on a runway close to his assembly plant at an L.A airport. He apparently used to tape a hundred dollar bill to the inside of the windscreen and told the potential customer if they could grab it before he hit 100 miles per hour they could keep it. Apparently nobody ever did.

[@michaeldelaney7271]

289 Cobra's switched to rack & pinion steering fairly early in the Mk II run, so the Kirkham using that steering is correct.

[@bandidol200]

As others have said, that Fulvia Zagato was Harry's!

[@TygonBC]

I was watching a Goodwood Revival race via their livestream recently and I wrongly stated in the live chat that the many Cobras were 427s. Turns out despite the flared arches that made them look like the larger block road cars, they were pretty much all 289s, as they are apparently way more drivable on a track.

[@johnbriggs3916]

Probably a confused memory of the FIA 289 Cobra which did indeed have enlarged wheel arches, but had the Mk II chassis. Only 5 were made.

[@stuwhite2337]

The transverse leaf was used to great effect by Fiat on the 128 and Strada/Ritmo

[@jean-charlesweyland129]

Though it's not Harry's Fulvia Zagato, it might still be Harry filming a video (1300S VS 1600HF maybe) ^^

[@UberLummox]

The little Ford small block 261/289 was one of, or the 1st thin-wall light weight block casting. My little '67 Jag 420/S compact runs amazing, but I wouldn't mind having a lighter V8 in it. Dare I say even an aluminum LS.

[@culcune]

The 289 engines, more so the higher output ones, were rev happy engines. The Shelby company used the higher output 271 horse Mustangs as the basis for their GT350 Mustangs, but did a slight bit of performance caressing where the GT350s were rated at 306 horsepower. I do believe that Shelby did not do any 'magic' to the Cobras, so were rated at 271 hp.

[@mikewysko2268]

Oh my! That 289 sounds magnificent. 🎶 Much respect to the attention to detail. Beautifully built machine inside and out.

[@rodsdmba1571]

That must be Harry's Fulvia Zagato. My 66 K series Mustang used the same 271HP 289. The 289 liked to rev. Really pulled up to 6000 rpm. The prior owner of my car had rebuilt it with the 302 crank (3" vs 2.87" stroke) though which gave a lot more low end torque which for daily driving was preferable. I sold the Mustang in 1978 for $1200 . . . doh! I thought the Pantera used the 351 Cleveland (4 bolt mains) as opposed to 351 Windsor (2 bolt mains) though. It's been a while so I could be wrong about that.

[@caribman10]

The real shame here is that Shelby never took the advice of Austin Healey and changed the damn windshield so you could have real windows and a top that actually had some value.

[@SimonWallwork]

I'm lucky to have a Tiger- with a 289 in it. I think it's one of the best engines ever made. Tough, powerful and simple. I'd lend you mine but we live in Bulgaria these days.

[@chrisfranklin2104]

Yep, wondered when someone would surface to mention the underrated SumbeamTiger, Not the basic early Mk1 choked 260, with a tiny Autolite 2bbl carb & boat anchor inlet manifold ! The later 289 or a retrofitted 302, or even a stroked 347 is a whole new dimension, same gearbox, tall rear axle ratio, a real striped wolf in sheep's clothing ... Aske me how I know - great mammeries 😃

[@michaelpegasiou4531]

Lucky it was a dry day,no need for a radio in that lovely car.

[@estern001]

The photographer in me must point out the absolutely perfect sky.

[@lesklower7281]

The way you can tell a car is a beautiful design they are recreated over amd over again and that is the case with the AC Shelby Cobra such a great design

[@andrew.l.5493]

The red Zagato may have been Harry Metcalf's from the channel Harrys garage.

[@ronr6450]

Have had (still have one) two Kirkham 427SC Cobras...the absolute pinnacle of replicas. Actually built to a much higher standard than the originals, but interchangeable otherwise.

[@ronr6450]

BTW..."hand formed" is a bit of a stretch. The major body components are pressed aluminum, but are then hand fitted to the chassis. So yes, there is some hand forming, but most shaping is done in a press using dies that were made based on perfected digital scans of original cars (non of which were ever exactly alike....due to "hand forming".)

[@kavinskysmith4094]

The 427 came about as they really wanted to road race these things hard despite how well the daytona coupe had done, as it was probably too hard to do that body as a production car, and it was the thing to do, the wider track and everything else coming because of it, as a little bit of history on this, this car, well the real one is using what is known as a 289 Hi Po the top tier version of the 289, good for about 300 horses but it is absolutely maxed out, and the 428 police interceptor, the stock motor for the Shelby GT500, produces more power from it as the base before tuning it hence why the 350 of 67 used that 289, and the 500 that, save for a super snake, the one used on the goodyear tire test at a 170 mph, on the old polyglass of the era, was using a geniune GT40 engine called a medium riser, called that as it has something to do with the oiling system I think as how do you think they got it to do 7 grand and last as long as it did ALSO just remembered, you might REALLY want to reinforce the motor on your car, Regular Car Reviews built a falcon with a junked 302 and theirs literally a point in the motor you have to reinforce if you want to go over 400 horses, which is probably the reason why they went bigger with that mind you I dont know if you need to do that on the 351, but once it gets over 400 horses on the 302 it literally breaks itself apart in the mid point, and you have to put a reinforcement in the block he covered it years and years ago and I just remembered that, his mechanic in PA actually covered it in the video, and was like yeah they do that, its no biggie, here's all you need to do think its in the crankcase area, like where it mounts, should be on some of the 1961 falcon build videos and the 427 was just more and more power, basically to try and make this thing as fast as possible, catch is Shelby was badly behind schedule, 6 plus month waiting list and it took forever to get a car which is probably why the GT500's really have 428's and it resulted in well, a 428 going into a station wagon with the personal permission of I dont want you to put that on that pinto for a dollar, Mr Lee I'm too cheap to make a pinto not catch fire Iococa, and 3 of the cobra's having that same motor as a stop gap thing as it was the 427 medium riser, the GT40 motor, holding up the production of the SC's which is actually what the straw was that broke the camels back, as when ford found out, they basically bought him out and started making the cars themselves given how far he had fallen behind and theirs actually a race car driver I came across on here, a legit one who has one of those 427's but its a stripper without the wider flares and all that, looks really odd, but its geniune, and he is a legitmate classic car race guy and actually bumped into carrol and he remembered seeing him at the races and was surprised to see someone actually using the car as is, polyglass and all lol and its a forever car for him, and I cant blame him, as its a proper beast a PROPER god damn beast, also by the way did you delete my comment on the past video as I cant find it also why is it that these car guys never put in a radio with a 289, like their is nothing better than your favorite music to the roar of a V8 as how can you not be doing the Riggs Radar rider thing from heavy metal with this thing constantly as this is what a corvette is supposed to be, but never was save for the 327 versions of it that is, that was the only time the corvette was actually a corvette, that and the 427 also this is considerably lighter than that steel framed impala using car with a knock off Jag IRS in the rear with leaf springs so even with a 427, this would kick a corvette's ass

[@johndavey72]

What's not to like . A fabulous recreation and keeps the concentration levels at thier absolute peak ! Not many can experience this level of realism .....spare underwear supplied ! 😅😅

[@georgebettiol8338]

Having driven a Cobra 351 V8 replica, I can confirm that one can quickly 'run of talent' - more so in wet conditions.

[@michaelarchangel1163]

I hope you get to try a 427, to see if the reported nose heaviness with the big block is as apparent as we've been told down the years.

[@stuwhite2337]

It didn't look like the welding on that chassis was great. Maybe just the angle though

[@seanoneillsongs]

I seem to be turning BRG with envy 😅

[@adamgilesconcoursdelegance9302]

Harry’s Garage doing a Zagato bombing of your vid 😂

[@phils2180]

The 289's and the 427's may look very similar but are completely different cars. The 289 was designed and built primarily as a road going sports car which was then raced. The 427 was designed as a race car from the outset, with different chassis and suspension, to beat the big block Corvettes. Some were then sold as road cars to try and cash in on their success but Ford pulled the plug to concentrate on the GT40 program, hence the rarity of "original" 427's.

[@nikbj68]

Phil, the 427’s were not ‘sold to cash in on their(the 427) success’, in fact, it was the opposite! To meet the FiA homologation criteria, 100 production cars had to be built, but when the FiA went to inspect them, only 53 had been completed, so the 427 never actually had FiA recognition, unlike the 260/289’s that went before. Faced with cars sitting around that couldn’t be raced internationally, the idea to ‘street’ these competition cars, to sell them was basically the only thing they could do!

[@phils2180]

@@nikbj68 I was thinking primarily of the cars built for the road which had the 428 engine. It was an expensive car to produce with the race 427FE "Nascar" engine which wasn't built on Ford's regular production line but by their race division. I've read that the last 17 race cars (with the 427FE) were detuned slightly, made road legal and sold off as "SC" models when the homologation target was missed and production ceased so the only 427's that raced were in the hands of privateers. The fact that there are so many replicas around just proves it's one of the most desirable sports cars ever made.😀👍

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

A beautiful work of automobilistic philology.

[@Schlipperschlopper]

A Cobra with Mercedes 6,9 V8 would be another thing very different...

[@theapplepaul]

The icon. The legend. And then there's the car, too

[@grahamsmith2022]

The sound of NASCAR!,there's a car I wouldn't want to push my luck with,'60's 'safety' regulations, I really wouldn't want to get it wrong in one of these (what roll bar!) and those 650+ bhp versions are supposed to be terrifying, I can well believe it!!

[@J0hnny8ravo]

I guess traction from the back is called propulsion. But I might be wrong.

[@james5353]

God that V8 sounds glorious