The AC Cobra's Ultra Rare & FORGOTTEN Big Brother - The AC 428

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In this Rare Cars documentary, we go in depth into the mostly forgotten big brother to the AC Cobra, the Frua designed AC 428. The larger Italian GT styled AC that used the same chassis as the Cobra that could have been the car to save AC, but what happened?
This video aims to provide a short history of these unique and rare cars so you can learn about them in a quick, easy to digest video.
*Note, we are not historians. If you see an error in our research then please mention it in the comments!
For business inquiries or other inquiries, reach out to: [e-mail]

[@clyneheretic]

Forgotten?! - I've lusted after one of these for more than 50 years!

[@rarecars3336]

I can see why, they are gorgeous cars

[@manher4335]

I've just learned of this car now. Can absolutely see why no doubt. Very precious and rare cars, I wish they had greater production numbers. Sadly.

[@orwellknew9112]

I never heard of them, but I can see why you have wanted one for such a long time. They’re gorgeous.

[@assaultlick2169]

Another car I've never even heard of. This channel lives up to its name again. Great job, bud

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@jamessharp9790]

Absolutely! The opposite of the bs hype channels

[@tekis0]

I've always liked Alfa Romeo cars. This one looks incredible and like nothing else out there right now. I'm really looking forward to hearing more about it and perhaps to even drive one...

[@algiefeatherstonehaugh1091]

Tara King drove a 428 in The Avengers.

[@eureka5777]

Indeed she did, the first AC Frua prototype no less and the same car featured in the AC brochure and on the cover of CAR magazine at the time. Always a treat to see Linda Thorson and that sleek maroon roadster on that season of The Avengers! 😎

[@needfoolthings]

​@@eureka5777OOOOHHH! The AVENGERS... I was confused for a moment.

[@vrm86gt]

man that is a beautiful car!

[@rarecars3336]

Agreed!

[@fuse8052]

Awesome video! Never heard of this car either!

[@joevanseeters2873]

I have actually never even heard of this automobile. Gosh this thing is gorgeous!. Definitely a product of the mid 60's as many one off Italian coach builders emerged with the greatest of the great Italian designers starting up their own companies like Bitzarinni and the others. You can see the Italian influence in the body of this machine for sure. Many of the Italian coachbuilders also used big American V-8 powerplants in their vehicles so it makes sense that AC would also adopt that platform for their own GT car. I am surprised they didn't sell a TON of these things! Super rare for sure now days. I have never even seen one of these, even in a car museum, and I visit quite a few of the car museums all over the world whenever I am travelling and come across one.

[@MrJommins]

I enjoyed the video and I subscribed. Thank you.

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks for the sub!

[@mikecone4049]

I hope all of you are sharing and promoting this channel. Idk where he finds thos info but i thought i knew some things, 3 times ive never heard of the topic. Hes killin it

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks Mike, glad you enjoyed the video again! I find these cars through honestly just research and a pure love for automobiles and a desire to build one one day. My first word believe it or not was car so it’s kinda in my blood LOL.

[@BigFiveJack]

Quite Informative!

[@rarecars3336]

Thank you! Glad you found it enjoyable and informative!

[@kougerat5388]

That was very interesting ,certainly a car I have never heard of ! a good watch sir just sub'd looking forward to watching your other videos.

[@kellyhinkelman8591]

Good job

[@michaelarchangel1163]

I liked this car a lot, even though having less BHP than a 7 litre Cobra, it had very long gears - 68 mph in first, 93 in second, 125 in third and 150 in top, with the 4 speed manual version. That's plenty for anyone, with a zero to 60 of 5 and a bit seconds.

[@rarecars3336]

Definitely not a slow car! With long gears like that this car was definitely a great cruiser

[@donaldcope4982]

What is the hurry all about?..... get the ,milk before it.......What

[@michaelarchangel1163]

@@donaldcope4982 It's not just the power Donald, they're a lot less cramped for space too.

[@hornetbrown]

Bigger exhaust. How that big engine pushed out if those tiny tinny exhaust is beyond me. Very nice looking car for it's day. Corvettes are my drug. Getting close to owning my first one. Wush me luck!

[@650Max]

I used to pass one of these every day on my way to primary school in the early 70's, a deep maroon/burgundy colour. Following an "old man/powerful automatic/garage door/wrong pedal" incident, it was repaired and painted a godawful shade of blue. I hope it survives.

[@rarecars3336]

That’s an amazing story considering there were just 80 or so of these made!

[@alanward992]

Was that in Whitehaven, England? I remember an old guy who had a deep maroon one there in the 1970's and he used to drive it around at about 20 mph holding up all the traffic!! He must have been at least 70+ yrs old.

[@650Max]

@@alanward992 That's the one, the car was always parked just up from the Sunnyhill pub, the old biffer was called Oldfield, ran a little printing business on the harbourside.

[@alanward992]

@@650Max Yes, that's right! I used to walk past it on my way down to Whitehaven town centre. Always fantasised about pinching it and giving it a good blast! I used to live up at Moresby Parks in the 1970's. Small world! Now live in Germany after 35 years in Australia! That was a fabulous looking car! I loved it.

[@650Max]

@@alanward992 You'll remember Fred Steel from Moor Row, the Datsun dealer? He had a Jensen Interceptor, the plate was FS 88.

[@culcune]

I think one of the Cobra replica makers should make replicas of these as well. I think the roadster would be a nice alternative to a Cobra roadster due to how performance oriented the Cobra is whereas one of these would be a nice weekend getaway vehicle.

[@carlinshowalter1806]

Hell,the coupe wouldn't be bad either. My friend has a factory five Cobra and we went for a winter drive to pick his new truck up from the dealer and liked to froze our nuggets off. I think the coupe kind of reminds me of a Ferrari of the 60's

[@culcune]

@@carlinshowalter1806 If they could emphasize less 'roadster' and more GT, they could fit it with windows and a soft-top. But, on a different note, I could see the hardtop as a viable replica on its own. My guess is there is either Ferrari DNA at Frua at the time, or the designers in Italy took the 'Ferrari' route when designing random cars at the time.

[@blxtothis]

Not so many people realise that AC manufactured a 3 wheeled small car for invalids which came out of their tiny Thames Ditton factory.

[@windronner1]

I actually vaguely remember these cars. What an excellent expose!! I really dig this car. Given its pedigree, and association with racing Cobra's. I don't see the conflict with ANY other GT's at that time.....

[@roberthill2219]

Looks somewhat like a tamed Bizzarini.... more euro GT cars with American V8 power, please! Iso Rivolta! DeTomeso Longchamp!

[@rarecars3336]

Don’t worry I absolutely will be making more videos on them, my favorite types of cars!

[@steves9905]

Ford had wound down making the FE by 1970 for passenger cars...trucks could be had with them until the mid 70's...probably the reason Ford refused providing them directly by the end of the AC production. I guess AC could have upgraded to either the Cleveland, similar to the Pantera and later Grifo's, or even the 429...probably didn't have the funds to do so. Anyway, gorgeous car and a seriously cool one too...less $$ than a Cobra

[@billsmith1770]

would be great if they also made a modern version of the daytona coupe .

[@carlinshowalter1806]

Hell yes!

[@UberLummox]

Yeah you sure don't hear about those ever. Thanks for the video!

[@barriewright2857]

Absolutely brilliant and thank you for the information and education. Didn't know that they USA had such cars. It's bieuteful to look at and it shows pedigree.

[@tomnekuda3818]

The car was elegant, no doubt about that, but the idea of shipping it around to complete it was costly and should have been considered in the planning. I've had considerable experience with the 427 FE (I've had three.) and they simply could not have a tougher and more powerful engine for the size and weight. The 428 is sort of a weak kid sister to the 427 but should have been adequate with a bit of "hot rodding".

[@rarecars3336]

Allegedly they thought at some point they could switch to a british coachbuilder but that never materialized.

[@tedium37]

Looks like the rear of the later 240z and the front of a Bizzarrini. I know they're rare but I can't believe I've never seen one. Thanks

[@rarecars3336]

It does you are right!

[@Mike-br8zt]

Nearly purchased one of these before the price shot up. As stated, it looks like a Maserati Mistral but it also bears a resemblance to the Monteverdi 375 S (1967). I would still love one.

[@rarecars3336]

Wow awesome story, I absolutely plan to do a video on Monteverdi as I absolutely LOVE their cars. Thanks for sharing!

[@dcanmore]

@@rarecars3336 Yup, Monteverdi, Monica, Iso, Facel Vega, Bitter, Gordon Keeble, Bizzarrini, a nice rabbit hole to go down :)

[@carlinshowalter1806]

@@dcanmore The Bizzarrini was a very beautiful car!

[@MrJoeltrain]

Never heard of but I really like it. How much are they going for today

[@James-nl6fu]

I only know about this car because "Tara King" drove a convertible in 'The Avengers'. Very nice it looked too. Without traction control I've no idea how she kept it from spinning in circles❤️It's still one of my all-time favourites

[@arejetko]

Love the car - very quick and stylish. Reminds me of an Interceptor but nicer.

[@rarecars3336]

I love this car too, I think it looks better than an interceptor as well!

[@perdanielsorensen7775]

The dual vents on the front wing shows that the "Interceptor" is a Jensen FF, the worlds first four wheel drive road car.

[@6rimR3ap3r]

It's beautiful. Looks like Bizzarrini up front and Aston Martin in the back - and I really mean that in a positive way. I bet it's far more enjoyable on the open road than it is everywhere else. Imagine piloting this through junctions and parking spots, your front end is like three blocks ahead of you.

[@strat0871]

Very nice car, its design was very close to the Maserati Mistral.

[@needfoolthings]

I did not know this one. Looks Swiss to me.

[@slimjimjohn4671]

I saw this earlier today. I turned on The Avengers, and guess what car Tara King was driving? Nice. I usually like coupes, but the convertible is nicer.

[@jazzandbluesculturalherita2547]

Of Italy-designed US cars, please do an episode on the Studebaker Avanti. There used to be one that sometimes parked on Monroe Street behind South Quad while I was at The University of Michigan. I helped push it out of the snow once in a while.

[@melodigrand]

The Studebaker Avanti was a 100% US design, for Sherwood Egbert by Raymond Loewy studios.

[@jazzandbluesculturalherita2547]

@@melodigrand Well, there you have it! I wouldn't have known that the Avanti was of US design had I not watched this episode of Rare Cars.

[@stephenscholes4758]

@@melodigrand Sure but overseen by a French-American with an eye very much on the European trends.

[@beatglauser9444]

I knew the 428 for many years and I even knew it had a Frua design. And it was very beautiful like other GTs at the time. I bet the hugest problem was the competition: Maseratis, Aston Martins and most of all the incredibly classy Iso Grifo. There was also the very unknown but interesting Bristols. And there were also many great cars built in the USA. Never after that time cars were that beautiful and that much fun!

[@LucvValen]

A forgotten classic is the AC Aceca. Very beautiful car, not the fastest around. It's looks like an elegant cobra with a roof. Another forgotten classic for a new video is the beautiful Peugeot 405 (cabriolet, convertible).

[@richardmccaughey5928]

The Aceca was a handsome little coupe. Imagine it with a nicely tuned 289!

[@UberLummox]

A customer of mine has one here in Maine, of all places. She also has one of those really rare '60s Alfas that looks like a 1930s 8C - built on a Guilia platform. I forget the model.

[@johnnymason2460]

I have heard of the AC Aceca. It's a shame that there wasn't an AC Aceca 427 with the Shelby Cobra's 427 V8 engine. Imagine driving that coupe at the 24 Hours of LeMans race. Probably would have been lighter and quicker than the Shelby Daytona Coupe.

[@LucvValen]

I agree with all of you.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

So Ford pulled the engines and Shelby pulled the Cobra name and USA marketing connections... and AC wanted to make too much money off each car slowly produced...

[@andrewaylett2952]

the Cobra name had nothing to do with these particular cars so its irrelevant and AC barely broke even and usually made a loss on each one made , so your statement is completely irrellevant

[@davidfisher3273]

It clearly states they were on a shoestring so how could they be making too much money off each car?

[@64fairlane305]

AC didn`t make the Cobras, they were allowed to mak the tiny 289cui versions as long as the didn`t involve Shelby`s name or "Cobra"

[@kennethrine8171]

I absolutely love this CAR I wish I could go back in time and buy 10 or 15 of them. So amazing ❤. Thank you for the video

[@grahambell4298]

@@64fairlane305 Not so. AC actually did most of the build on Cobras. Cobras for US market were built as rolling shells without engine/transmission, with the car being completed in the US by Shelby American. Cobras for other markets were built completely by AC and they were called Cobras.

[@markstopkey4085]

I want the blue roadster ❤

[@rarecars3336]

Gorgeous right!

[@vincentrockel1149]

Looks like Datsun may have barrowed some of the styling for the 240z from this car.

[@davidgalea6113]

The oriental car companies often copied the design of successful cars.. they did this because they wanted to sell in western markets.

[@daveranger2826]

Now I know where the 280 Z came from .

[@mickeymichaels1298]

Thank you for the great video. I noticed decades ago that there's quite a similarity in design between this and the Maserati Mistral, if you compare the convertible versions, although the coupés look quite different. Both were designed by Frua, so it seems as if he double dipped his design for AC, although there are detail differences.

[@rarecars3336]

Yes! Frua definitely had his own style that was very similar between the two which is so interesting. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@davidpeters6536]

A great car.

[@rarecars3336]

I agree!

[@mikecone4049]

Another one :)

[@katherynscleaning5807]

My uncle sold the AC Cobra's new. I am sure he would like to drive the new one

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

At 5.20 the red car appears not to have the slightly rising wings/fenders. The Frua Maserati Mistral, after which it is obviously styled, is a little prettier, but I would love a 428. (Thats right, my next car is a Dacia)! The custom builders you have in the U S could make a nice copy.

[@mescko]

Some have said there are panels and glass that are interchangeable.

[@johnnymason2460]

I would love to have an AC 428 coupe or convertible with an automatic. That would be a perfect weekend car for me.

[@scotforman1894]

You keep referring to money revenue coming to the company from the cobra. But the AC cobras name and revenue were owned by Shelby international corporation under Carroll Shelby who created the AC cobra

[@grahambell4298]

AC did the majority of the build work on the Cobras - i.e. the bodies and chassis. Cobras sold in the US were shipped as rolling shells for Shelby American to fit the engine/trans and finish the cars off. So yes, AC did get revenue from the Cobra.

[@lancerevell5979]

The roadster is definitely a prettier car than the hardtop.

[@rarecars3336]

I go back and forth. The roadster has such good lines but I love hardtops naturally, such a tough choice

[@mescko]

I'm a *huge* fastback coupe fan, and have never liked convertibles, so I must respectfully disagree. I would have one of these over an Interceptor any day.

[@EuropaSman]

Intersesring video. Shame that Bertone is not pronounced correctly on the video. It should be said this way; Bur-tone-ay. 👍

[@pashakdescilly7517]

Surely the 1973 oil crisis had something to do with the demise of AC? Lots makers of big GT cars went into big trouble then

[@dcanmore]

They had only built 81 428s by the time of the oil crisis, so you could say they were already in trouble. However, they did come back with ME3000 sports car in 1979 and restarted production of the Cobra in the mid 80s with the MkIV.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

@@dcanmore It took me a while to find a production figure for the AC ME3000, and finally found one - 76 by AC in Thames Ditton, and a further 30 by AC Scotland. AC was well and truly bust. The company was reformed at West Byfleet and made continuation Cobras for a while. You could say that the AC 428 was a much more successful, or perhaps less disastrous car, in that it used a lengthened, well developed AC Cobra chassis and body made for it by Frua, so not much development and tooling cost. The AC ME3000 cost a huge amount buying the Diablo design, redesigning it, designing the gearbox to suit the Ford engine installation etc. It was a £1million investment that bled AC.

[@dcanmore]

@@pashakdescilly7517 the point is, the AC story didn't stop in 1973.

[@aaronogawa8339]

Was this car available for the USA? With left hand drive

[@elroyfudbucker6806]

Looking very similar to a Maserati Mistral, but much lower. Obviously back then, there were no such things as speed bumps.

[@dcanmore]

both cars had the same designer.

[@caribman10]

There are actually a few LHD versions around from what I understand.

[@rarecars3336]

This may be true I am not totally sure!

[@joshuaanothereraseddad]

AC needs to contact Factory Five Racing. 😎

[@mickabikhair675]

So, No AC cars was told by Carroll Shelby to produce and build the AC's roadster design platform differently with his intellectual property how he wanted them with his design to his specifications for the cars they supplied, hence the Cobra designation in conjunction with the Shelby & Ford names ®️ .This is the convieniently forgotten detail about the AC Cobras, they were not AC designed along with the US ford engines again US Ford and Shelby criteria specification. AC at the time had no wish or future projection to develop the roadster in the Cobra direction. There is documentation to support the facts, even though history is attempting to be massaged differently to actual events it seems for whatever reasons then as now.

[@JackosJingles]

I saw one once in real life a long time ago think it was near Beaulieu as I used to live in the area. Great looking car but hardly any made.

[@DaveMcIntyre]

The looks alone would definitely explain why it didn't sell

[@rarecars3336]

Really?! I love the way this thing looks

[@ericellquist7007]

The similarity of the tail lights to those of the first gen Pinto and Maverick probably didn't help... Can't you just see that ghoul Ralph Nader drooling over the thought of destroying something like this?

[@getzfan1258]

Any reason why at 8:15 your video shows the manufacturing of a 1960 Chevrolet and Chevy small block???????

[@rarecars3336]

Good eye! And well, just needed some engine footage to fit in

[@chrisdaigle5410]

I would like to have seen Ford sell Boss 351 engines to put in that pretty GT body. By 1973, the 428 wasn't a good choice anymore.

[@jamesgudgeon4868]

Try the AC ME 3000 7:27

[@PrivateEyeYiYi]

I don’t remember seeing this car in The Avengers. Mrs Peel drove a Lotus Elan. Maybe Steed drove one of these?

[@lawrencedagostino4282]

Tara King drove one on series 5 of the Avengers. She also drove a Lotus Europa.

[@PrivateEyeYiYi]

@@lawrencedagostino4282 Thanks. I lost interest in the series when Diana Rigg left so that’s why I didn’t recognize the car.

[@douglasb.1203]

And the clip of Impalas being manufactured relates how?

[@dcanmore]

Just to say that the 428 Frua was a replacement for the AC Greyhound GT 1959-63.

[@hansgruber1946]

I never knew this car existed. I wonder what they have sold for at auction.

[@BobbyTucker]

Don't you think the auto assembly line film clip should have been made in a Ford Plant instead of a GM plant with 1960 Chevrolets running down the assembly line? Just a thought, lol.

[@rodgerjohnson3375]

With the exception of the front this car as a very early 60's 250 GTE Ferrari look.

[@AMCmachine]

Wasn't this known as the AC Frua also?

[@Tj930]

I think I've heard Bertone pronounced "Ber-tone-ey"

[@tekis0]

AC is coming back?!

[@jamesblonde2271]

The Aston being cheaper really killed it......why would you, mind you, the Aston broke occasionally.....

[@dannycalley7777]

R.C. .............tell the new corporation 7.3 Godzilla engine !!!!!

[@martintobycorker4562]

I thought the body is very similar to a maseratti

[@rarecars3336]

It is people often confuse the two apparently! Frua definitely had his own style!

[@robertybarra7826]

Looks like it has a Porsche Dotson. Ford all twisted into one.

[@street-level]

Perhaps it only took Frua 5 months because he almost copied his previous Maserati Mistral.

[@stanleysteemr1316]

Looks like a Datsun at a glance.

[@rarecars3336]

A little 240z -ish I can see that!

[@jazzandbluesculturalherita2547]

Again, well-done episode on the AC-128! But you are still pronouncing Italian like an American. Italian automobile design firm Bertone is pronounced in Italian: BARE TOW NAY. The letter e in Italian has the long a sound as in "hay"; i.e., "The cow is eating hay." And don't forget to roll the r a bit.☺

[@johnmarsh2078]

It's an English car so pronounce his name in t' northern English wan y ..... BERT-WUN. (Bert-one)

[@JohnPhillips-vd5bt]

10:29

[@Schlipperschlopper]

Sadly soon all gas cars will be banned in EU and USA! In France they have a new banning law for ICE cars called SCHLABOUBVE and in Switzerland the HESCHLAVVO law! In Scandinavian countries soon there will be a so called SMORVEBIDEN law. In Germany from 2027 the new BABVVO and TEBBVO laws by the green peoples party will bann all gas cars from public streets only exception will be professional commuter trips and state-certified transports)

[@kellyhinkelman8591]

Factory hp were all under so insurance for were less heheh.add 150 hp for the hot motors all big three makes ha ha wins on sunday sells on monday since1966.

[@mikerevis6439]

So what is an AC Bristol then?

[@mikerevis6439]

Oh ya. Keith Moon gave one away one of these after he put it n a ditch... what a champion.

[@dcanmore]

AC 'Bristol' is an Ace with a Bristol 6cyl engine.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Donor car for V8 Cobra.

[@RUfromthe40s]

Sorry , the Boss of AC ,they closed doors and shelby bought the AC´s body´s to fit a V8 engine and that´s how AC cobra become a American car , AC had very beautifull cars before what we know as cobra ,Shelby also was a pilot for AC in early 60´s ,i think he also drove in a Lemans race in 1961 or close to it ,he had been contracted by AC to come to Europe but not as a driver that´s when it happened and mr.Shelby had a lot of luck, so i don´t understand , this history was told in the last 57 years, there´s a special model to me that was made a racing car out of it for Lemans that looks like the cobra but a 2+2 or closed back,this in the begining of the 60´s

[@elithornton6276]

Ferrari 275gtb not a GTO ore 250 gt

[@PETERNESS]

big BOTHER?

[@rarecars3336]

Shhhh, you didn’t see that typo 😂 (thanks for catching that though!)

[@paulomiranda1717]

I've known it as AC Frua.A good idea poorly executed.I would take one for ride any nice day ,an sure I forgive the 428...

[@charleseddem7042]

I always thought ac was a British company?

[@grahambell4298]

It is.

[@worldtraveler930]

If you give me the keys and title I'll Smile and say Thank You!!! 🤠👍

[@rarecars3336]

Hahaha as would I

[@marvinellis1517]

Camara stabilizers are cheap....buy one . 😮

[@rarecars3336]

This is footage compiled from various sources

[@tristamsculthorpe4609]

The cost LAY - past tense. Lied is past tense for someone not telling the truth.

[@RUfromthe40s]

it sounds fake or the story is not complete AC cobra only exists because mr. shelby bought the bodies and assemble them in the U.S. with ford V8´s ,so this video is missing some bigger part of the story or not real

[@grahambell4298]

Cobras for the US market were built by AC as rolling shells without engine/gearbox, so the bulk of the work was done in England. These rolling shells were then shipped to US where Shelby American fitted the engine/gearbox and completed the cars to customer requirements. Cobras for other markets were built entirely by AC in England.

[@robertparton6705]

So it’s an AC 428 then 😂.

[@carlinshowalter1806]

Nobody in the U.S. built a high performance engine after 1973 anyway. Name any Ford motor after 73 that put out any kind of horsepower. none until late 80s.

[@paulvincent3825]

The next AC 428 will be electric ⚡️

[@cnance1972]

Low production and done dirty by Ford

[@rarecars3336]

Absolutely, one of these just sold for 60,000 GBP at acution as well so even now for a car of this caliber they aren't CRAZY expensive

[@CarspottingBrasil]

Never heard of this car. Very interesting. But it looks generic

[@xtop23]

Yeah..... it looks like a Jensen. No wonder it failed

[@Mike-br8zt]

What! The Jensen Interceptor is beautiful and that is why I purchased one. Paying for petrol is another story.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Jensen Healey followed this.

[@Nomad-Rogers]

Shoot me if you want but I'd take the Ac 428 fastback over the cobra.

[@rarecars3336]

For daily driving so would I

[@santosh911]

At 3:07, what model/make of car is this?