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The Shelby Cobra, first developed in 1962, was one of the most important and influential automobiles of the 20th century. The basic idea of the cobra, concocted by racing genius Carroll Shelby, was to stuff a whole lot of power into a light chassis. Hot Rod rated the first generation cobra’s at “271 hp…[and] 312 lb ft of torque” (Wright 54). While those numbers aren’t too impressive by today’s standards, today’s average sports car weighs 800-1000 pounds more than the Shelby Cobra. ... Due to the Cobra’s stunning good looks, wicked fast performance and handling, and deep racing roots, it stands on a pedestal of automotive excellence far above everything else, inspiring American automobile manufacturers to build great cars. ... Stone stated that, “were it not for this car, there would be no Shelby Cobra’s: 260, 289, 427, Daytona Coupes, or otherwise… there would have been no Shelby Mustangs… count out the likelihood of there ever being a Dodge Viper” (170). Clearly the Shelby Cobra was quite an influential car, quite possibly dictating the course of American performance vehicles.
The sleek muscular shape is the first thing everyone fell in love with about the Cobra. ... The body, however, cannot be fully credited to Carroll Shelby. The first Cobra’s body was purchased straight from AC Cars in Britain, the AC Ace. This is the roadster design that Shelby needed to make his cobra come alive. The shape of the
AC Ace was truly nothing like America had ever seen before, but the cobra wasn’t ordinary in any sense of the word. ... Exhaust conventionally exits the rear of a vehicle, but not Carroll Shelby’s Cobra. ... The subtle yet effective scoop placed on the hood of the cobra gave it a little extra character, while also scavenging cold air from outside the engine bay, feeding the big Holley carburetor.
Approximate Word count = 1499
Approximate Pages = 6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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