05/03: The next generation Cobra Roadster
- By Terry McGean
Perhaps no other car has inspired so many replicas as Carroll Shelby’s AC Cobra. The legendary 427 Cobras were victors on the track, terrors on the street and capable of performance numbers that stood as the high water mark for production sports cars for many years. Exclusivity that resulted from high cost and low production numbers spawned replicas before long, and over the years there have been many such efforts, some that attempt to accurately recreate every detail of the original, and others that can only offer a reasonable facsimile of the Cobra’s appearance.
Factory Five was a relative latecomer to the replica field, but quickly carved an appealing niche in the market by offering reasonably priced kits that used lots of mechanical bits from the popular Ford Fox-platform Mustang 5.0. The resulting vehicles looked good and performed well, and provided builders with lots of options for upgrades, thanks to the vast aftermarket for the Fox Mustang.
The success of the original Factory Five Roadster led to further developments, both in improving the Roadster and in creating other models. Now the company has directed its attention back to the original product with a next-generation effort, yielding the new Mk4 Roadster. Many of the improvements to the Mk4 were made to make the body even more true to the original in dimension and detail, while also improving its build quality, but another design goal was to enhance driver and passenger space. In addition, the chassis is also new, with upgrades to provide increased rigidity and better handling. There are many details that Factory Five lists at www.factoryfive.com; the company is also offering discounted rates on the remaining inventory of Mk3 Roadsters. While you’re there, also take a look and the company’s slick Type 65 Coupe.
www.factoryfive.com
Perhaps no other car has inspired so many replicas as Carroll Shelby’s AC Cobra. The legendary 427 Cobras were victors on the track, terrors on the street and capable of performance numbers that stood as the high water mark for production sports cars for many years. Exclusivity that resulted from high cost and low production numbers spawned replicas before long, and over the years there have been many such efforts, some that attempt to accurately recreate every detail of the original, and others that can only offer a reasonable facsimile of the Cobra’s appearance.
Factory Five was a relative latecomer to the replica field, but quickly carved an appealing niche in the market by offering reasonably priced kits that used lots of mechanical bits from the popular Ford Fox-platform Mustang 5.0. The resulting vehicles looked good and performed well, and provided builders with lots of options for upgrades, thanks to the vast aftermarket for the Fox Mustang.
The success of the original Factory Five Roadster led to further developments, both in improving the Roadster and in creating other models. Now the company has directed its attention back to the original product with a next-generation effort, yielding the new Mk4 Roadster. Many of the improvements to the Mk4 were made to make the body even more true to the original in dimension and detail, while also improving its build quality, but another design goal was to enhance driver and passenger space. In addition, the chassis is also new, with upgrades to provide increased rigidity and better handling. There are many details that Factory Five lists at www.factoryfive.com; the company is also offering discounted rates on the remaining inventory of Mk3 Roadsters. While you’re there, also take a look and the company’s slick Type 65 Coupe.
www.factoryfive.com
