The original AC-Shelby Cobra was made in tiny numbers in the 1960s, but decades later those of us who can’t afford the $1 million plus needed for an original can still choose from any number of replicas promising to deliver both the looks and raw driving experience of the real deal.
AC Cars, however, the descendant of the original company who modified the 1950s ACE sports car to create the first Cobra for Shelby, is moving away from the classic roadster template by borrowing an idea from fellow Brit sports car brand, Morgan. While the exterior design of the latest AC Cobra GT Roadster is clearly based on the look of the big-block 427 Cobras from the 1960s, under the skin it’s a radically different, and far more sophisticated, beast.
Instead of the original’s steel ladder chassis, the GT Roadster switches to a brand new aluminium platform that the company says “was conceived as future proof, and holds huge potential for the company going forward.” AC says the previous chassis had “reached the end of the road in terms and safety and performance,” and it was newly installed CEO and major investor David Conza who has been the driving force behind the update.
Related: AC Cars Unveils Modern Cobra GT Roadster, Blending Classic Charm With 654 HP
The carbon-skinned GT is 110mm (4.3 inches) longer than AC’s Cobra MK VI, but the wheelbase has swollen by 284 mm (11.2 inches) to liberate enough interior space for drivers over 6 feet (1,800 mm) tall. The track is also wider, both to enhance elbow room and stability, and buyers can even choose a 10-speed automatic transmission with wheel-mounted paddle shifters if they don’t want the more physical six-speed manual unit. Available engines are Ford 5.0-liter Coyote V8 making 454bhp (460PS) and 420lb ft (570Nm), or a supercharged version fo the same capable of pushing out as much as 654bhp (663PS) and 575lb ft (780Nm).
“Through the development of the new AC Cobra GT Roadster, we are providing an experience on a par to driving the original AC Cobra in its heyday but with an unrivalled level of sophistication,” said AC Cars‘ CEO David Conza.
“Some companies rely on engineering akin to that of the 1960s, but we believe that for the 2020s and beyond you must break new ground. High performance, highly exclusive sports cars must provide new levels of driver engagement and refinement, as well as outstanding safety.”
AC plans to build 250 GTs every year for multiple markets around the world, and says the first year’s allocation is already sold, each of those buyers having stumped up £285,000 ($359,000) for the privilege.
