Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Shelby Cobra 427

The Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Shelby Cobra 427 went on sale on January 13, 2015 and if you weren’t standing in line at the time, the chances aren’t that great that you are driving one today. There are a few of them out there, but not many. Only fifty were manufactured, making this one of the most sought after vehicle for collectors and lovers of the Shelby Cobra. This iconic car has been rebooted in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of this popular make and model.

A glance at the Shelby Cobra 427

An icon within the automotive industry, the Shelby Cobra 427 is a remake of this popular race car rolled off the lines of the Shelby production line and was re-introduced to an adoring fan base. The Shelby, originally designed for high performance racing was modified for use on the roads and in its heyday, there was a huge demand. The reboot offers customers with a few different choices including fiberglass or aluminum bodies. They threw in the option for polished aluminum and the lucky owners had their choice of brushed stripes or foregoing the addition.

All of these beauties made in fiberglass were manufactured in a Guardsman blue paint job with attractive Wimbledon white striping for an added touch of class. So if blue is not your color, you’ll still have the polished aluminum option. Regardless of the color choice, each new Shelby Cobra 427 comes with a special feature that sets them apart from all others. This is the special fiftieth anniversary edition badging features and logos.

Further distinctions

The Shelby company has issued the anniversary badging with a numbering system to distinguish each limited edition Shelby in its positioning as it rolled off of the line, The badging on the vehicle clearly shows whether it was number one of fifty, two of fifty, fifty of fifty and so on. While this may not be a big deal to some of the new owners, dyed in the wool collectors are thrilled with the badging. It’s just another in the long line of features that set this edition apart from all of the others. Shelby has also set aside of block of CSX serial numbers for this edition which range from CSX4550 through CSC4599. We think that it’s just another feature of the reboot that makes it ultra cool.

What’s different about the limited edition?

If we go back in time to the November 1965 Car and Driver magazine, they listed some interesting facts about the 65 Cobra 427. It retailed brand new for just seven thousand dollars. It made the run from zero to sixty miles per hour in a mere 4.3 seconds and because it was originally a race car, of course they included the stats that showed it could reach a hundred miles per hour in just 8.8 seconds. Pretty impressive, but that’s not all.

The Shelby Cobra 427 was equipped with a braking system that brought it from one hundred miles per hour to a full stop within 14.5 seconds. Needless to even say, the performance ratings were though the roof and it encouraged fond devotees to beg, borrow and steal to get their own. The pricing of the new edition has evolved from its previous seven thousand dollars to a range of a hundred and eighteen thousand for the fiberglass version and nearly one hundred and eighty thousand or the aluminum edition.

This may create a bigger fan base for the fiberglass edition because these are the figures that are given before the addition of the transmission and engine. It’s a hefty price tag, but there were more people willing to pay the price than there will be vehicles available for purchase.

The history of the Shelby

Many fans remember the Mustang variations of the Shelby, but it’s important to note that the Shelby Cobra was first created as a race car. The specifications of the 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 include a Ford engine which was massive in size and power featuring a 7.0 liter V-8 engine. The fiftieth anniversary edition has followed in the tradition of big block engines with its most recent release.

The new Cobra 427

The Shelby company has kept the majority of the features for the new Cobra much the same as the sixty five model. They were manufactured with a lightweight body, fully independent suspension, upgraded disc brakes and come as a rolling chassis. As noted previously, it’s up to the purchaser to choose the transmission and engine so this was an additional cost on top of the hefty price tag for his car. In addition to selecting the motor and transmission, it was also up to the new owners to arrange for the installation of these vital components.

This was an interesting proposition and although seemingly a hassle, the option does have definite benefits. It means that control of the power was in the hands of the purchaser who could choose from a few different options. The part of this situation that makes it a little sketchy when it comes to collectable value is that there will not be a stock option to refer to in the future, but for now, it’s not really an issue and perhaps will not be in the years to come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVVKPj7X5To

Speculation on Shelby Cobra Engine package

There are rumors circulating that the Shelby company is at work to develop an engine package for this edition that would be considered the optimal selection for this particular vehicle. As it stands, the car comes with a twenty three gallon fuel tank, racing style, custom gauges and a powder coated frame and racing brakes.

Final thoughts

The fiftieth anniversary edition of the Shelby Cobra 427 gave enthusiasts the freedom to power this car with their choice of engine and transmission. This type of customization is fitting as there are plenty of fans with the know-how who prefer to make these additions themselves anyway. The finished products end up being customized collectables any way that you slice it. Shelby was onto a great idea here and if you’re fortunate enough to find one, it most likely has already been prepped with an engine and transmission and if it isn’t your preference, you can always replace what’s there and make it truly your own.