Shelby Cobras are a dime a dozen, but Classic Recreations’ officially licensed take should attract plenty of attention when it debuts at Monterey Car Week.
Ham-fistedly called the “Diamond Edition Carbon Fiber Shelby Cobra Race Car,” the limited edition is designed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Cobra and it features a carbon fiber body that weighs 88 lbs (39.9 kg). That’s pretty remarkable and the whole entire car is expected to tip the scales at less than 2,300 lbs (1,043 kg).
However, that’s only part of the story as the Diamond Edition is equipped with a 5.0-liter Gen3 Coyote Aluminator engine from Ford Racing. It’s outfitted with a Magnuson supercharger and a MoTeC engine management system, which enables the V8 to produce an estimated 1,000 hp (746 kW / 1,014 PS) and 750 lb-ft (1,016 Nm) of torque.
More: Shelby American And Classic Restorations Are Creating $1.2 Million Carbon Fiber Cobra With 800 HP
The engine is paired to a six-speed manual transmission from Tremec and it will reportedly enable the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in around 3.9 seconds, before hitting a top speed of roughly 190 mph (306 km/h). These figures are rather curious as earlier estimates pegged the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time at around 3.2 seconds, while the top speed was said to be in excess of 190 mph (306 km/h).
Regardless of the final numbers, the car has a race-inspired cantilever suspension with billet components as well as transmission, oil, and differential coolers. The model also rides on forged wheels that are backed up by a Shelby 6PF 4PR braking system by BAER.
Production will be limited to ten units and each one costs $1.2 (£0.9 / €1.1) million. That’s astronomical, so it’s not surprising to learn that eight units are still available. The high price tag likely isn’t the only issue as Shelby’s website says, “The Diamond Edition 1965 Shelby Cobra is for offroad use only and is not street legal.”
Classic Recreations CEO Jeff Stone said, “We developed the Diamond Edition Cobra by starting with the question, ‘What car would Carroll build with today’s technology?’” Stone described the resulting model as a “completely re-engineered piece of motorsport history” and one they believe Carroll Shelby would be proud of.
