23. Shelby Cobra 289
The story of the Shelby Cobra 289 is a widely known one, but it’s still interesting enough to be told again. In 1962, Shelby heard that AC Cars from England was planning to shut down the production of their Ace sports roadster since Bristol engines weren’t available anymore. In just a couple of days, he managed to get several engineless bodies on a transport ship to his Venice Beach shop where he had Ford’s 260 V8 engines waiting for installation. The small but powerful American V8 in a light and nimble body proved to be a match made in heaven. soon, Shelby installed the 289 V8 with 271 HP, which brought some serious performance to this little roadster. But since Shelby’s main goal was racing, it was obvious that the Cobra was a racetrack terror. In fact, it dominated the domestic championships, beating all the Corvettes, Ferraris, and Jaguars.
However, Shelby wanted to go to Europe to prove his concept. So in 1963/64, with immense help from Ford, Shelby campaigned with his Cobras all over Europe’s finest racing tracks, repeating the success. The small V8 roadster proved extremely capable, dominating the GT class. The Ford V8 was a durable and reliable unit. But Shelby’s knowledge and racing know-how were crucial in setting the car right for the different tracks. Also, Shelby sold factory-prepared “Competition” Cobras to private teams and numerous amateur races enjoyed success with this fierce car, too.