Bill Griffin has always been a fan of Ford cars. His love for Ford vehicles was evident when he purchased a 1998 Mustang SVT Cobra and a 1999 Ford Lightning pick-up. While both vehicles were impressive performers, he still dreamt of owning one of the ultimate Ford offerings, a 60’s vintage Shelby A/C Cobra. Unfortunately, even if you can find one of these cars the price tag can be well over a quarter of a million dollars! Then, two things happened in the late 90’s, one, Bill’s financial situation improved and, two; Carroll Shelby started producing A/C Cobras again. Now, we’re not talking a fiberglass kit car powered by a small block Ford. Nope, these are genuine aluminum bodied, 427 FE engine powered monsters, complete with Shelby America ID number.   Well, a down payment was turned over and construction began at Shelby’s Las Vegas, NV facility. Shelby American

427 SC Cobra serial number CSX4266 was born! The cars engine was based on one of Shelby’s own all aluminum 427 Ford FE reproduction blocks with Edelbrock aluminum heads and intake. Using a stroker crank, final displacement topped out at 477 cubic inches. The engine was assembled by Dralle Engineering. The motor pegged the dyno needle at the 656 horsepower and 637 ft/lbs of torque. 

The gears are shifted using original Ford linkage and shifter connected to a 4-speed top loader transmission. Whoa power is supplied by Shelby spec Baer Racing brakes. The racing gas is held beneath the tinned trunk in a 42 gallon fuel cell. 

The interior is still the spartan set up that rolled out in the 60’s, only with leather covering the seats. Newport Shelby Cobras applied the beautiful Saphire Blue pearl paint with Phosphate White pearl stripes. 

Rolling stock is still the original Halibrand style  knock off wheels. After looking underneath his car it’s evident that these cars were made to run and handle, the main frame is a tubular design and all suspension connecting points are heim joints. This is one trick set-up! The one ride I had in the car was truly impressive. Even with a slipping clutch I was pushed hard back into the seat. It is a little unnerving though to really look at how much metal protects you in one of these cars and then remember they raced these cars at Le Mans in the 60’s!    

Here's NHRA announcer Bob Frey trying out Bill's Cobra at a Shelby gathering at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

UPDATE - FEBRUARY 2004

Bill moved his induction system into the 21st century recently by adding electronic fuel injection. The system is by Pantera Specialties in Santa Ana, CA. and was installed at Dralle Engineering The intake manifold is based on a Holman & Moody design. The throttle bodies are 58 mm injectors. At it's first track outing, Bill says the throttle response is much better than the Holley 950 that was previously used.