Shelby's 50th Anniversary Cobra

If you’re keen to put down your order for one of the limited edition Shelby Cobra 427’s, you can do so starting 13 January, but you better do it fast. Shelby is building only 50 of the 50th anniversary version of the iconic car, starting from just under US$120,000.

The Las Vegas sports car manufacturer is reviving the car that cemented Shelby’s legendary status for power and performance. Rewind to 50 years ago, you’ll find the Cobra tearing around roads and racetracks powered by small block Ford V8’s. When the car maker somehow squeezed a Ford 427 cubic inch 8-cylinder under the Cobra's tiny hood, it became freakishly fast.

But like the 289 FIA car last year, the 50th Anniversary 427 Cobra will be delivered as a rolling chassis without an engine. So you’ll have to cough up another US$50,000 to US$70,000 to fit a normally-aspirated big block engine for a 400 to 700hp set-up. Alternatively, Shelby is currently developing an unspecified powertrain for the car.

The cars will also come with a special serial number - CSX4550 to CSX4599 – and a badge proudly displaying its chronological order, ie. 1/50, 2/50 and so on.

image: automobilemag.com