The Shelby American name is enough to get any classic car collector excited. It symbolizes a tradition of making rare vehicles; these cars are exclusive both in terms of the power and speed they offer and the limited number of models that were actually produced. Every gearhead has a favorite Shelby that is, in their opinion, the best combination of these unique tenets. However, every proud automotive legacy has to start somewhere, and every Shelby that has been produced over the past six decades owes its existence to the first: the 1963 Shelby Cobra.

This proud example of automotive genius came from relatively humble beginnings. Auto Carriers Ltd., also known as AC Cars, was a British car company that produced stylish roadsters and sportscars for the English gentleman. As celebrated as the company’s style may have been, their models were powered by a modified WWII BMW inline-six all the way until the early 60s. This meant that they were perfectly poised to try something new when Carroll Shelby, a recently retired American racing driver, asked them if he could buy a modified AC with a V8 engine.

As exciting as this offer was to the ears of the AC engineers, they told Shelby that he needed to find a suitable V8 before they could proceed. Shelby quickly found a willing partner in Ford Automotive, who wanted to create an answer to the newly released and well-reputed Chevrolet Corvette. Ford handed over two copies of their brand-new engines–the 3.6L 221 cu in Windsor V8–and AC got straight to work modifying the body of the AC Ace to accommodate it. In early February 1962, less than 6 months after Shelby’s original pitch, the first Shelby-AC arrived at the test track in Santa Fe Springs, California.

These tests informed the changes that would be made to the AC in the months leading up to its commercial production: the fuel tank filler was relocated and the brakes were reworked to be outboard. All-important installations—such as the engine and the transmission—were overseen and completed by Shelby himself in his LA workshop. Shelby and his team also scoured the cars in search of any bodywork damage that had occurred in trans-Atlantic transit and buffed them out before they were in the hands of customers. August 1961 saw the formal launch of the resultant vehicle: the 1962 AC Shelby Cobra.

Despite the significant intersection of mechanical know-how at work in these first Cobras, the AC-Shelby team was not certain that they were doing all that they could in terms of speed. Out of the 126 first-model Cobras produced, 75 had a 4.3 L 260 cu. in. V8 engine, which was already a significant rework from the Ford prototype. Shelby American approached Ford regarding a possible rework in order to meet the team’s speed ideals, and Ford returned with a truly special block: the further improved 4.7 L 289 cu. in. V8. 

The 289 became one of the quintessential high performance engines of the decade. This is partially due to the exclusivity of the block within the Shelby lineup–only the remaining 51 of the first-year models featured the 289 and made an already rare vehicle even more remarkable. Cobras with this package could reach up to 5800 RPM in 4th gear and reach 130 mph in a straight line. The team worked to make the 289 the model standard and to add some other improvements–such as a rack and pinion steering column and transverse leaf spring suspension— resulting in an entirely new model called the Cobra Mk II, which debuted as part of the 1963 production year.

289s would continue their high performance legacy when they appeared in special models of the 1965 Ford Mustang. Mustang engineers had reached a similar speed stumbling block in the development of the original Mustang’s 260 engine, and they exceeded gearheads’ expectations with the introduction of the 1965 289 HiPo Mustang (famously known as “K Codes” due to their unique VIN numbers). This means that the 289 engine was equally responsible for establishing the decades-long reputation of quickness for the Shelby Cobra and Ford Mustang model lines, and truly cemented Ford as a manufacturer of remarkably speedy engines.

This first wave of 289 Cobras was a smash hit among serious gearheads in the U.S. They offered an intersection of lightness and speed that was unheard of for a production car, and drivers who were yearning to bring more racing power to their daily lives were quick to snatch up the 528 American-sold Cobra Mk IIs. In journalistic circles, conversation about this new driving machine abounded. MotorTrend was among the first publication to laud the merits of this joint venture, telling readers that “offers unmatched performance in the production car field” and “if you fancy yourself an enthusiast and you want the most out of your dollar, we’d recommend a serious look and a personal test drive in this car.” 

This overwhelmingly positive reception of the car and the outpouring of incredulity over its speed spawned a number of further improvements in the model’s twilight years. The Mk II ended production in November 1964 and was quickly replaced with the 1965-67 Mk III, which boasted additional body and suspension improvements in addition to a new Ford Engine. This new block was massive by comparison, coming in at 427 cu. In. It brought even more racing spirit to the model, producing 425 bhp in the base model and 485 bhp in its S/C or “Competition” rework. Only 56 Mk IIIs (33 being S/Cs) were ever produced, making them some of the most rare and sought-after models in vehicle collection history.

Outside of the normal production line, Shelby also produced a few special-package Cobras in single-digit numbers specifically for the racetrack or for extremely well-to-do customers. These include the six Drag package 289 “Dragon Snakes,” two cross-auto cars called the “Slalom Special” and “Slalom Snake,” and the two world-famous CSX “Super Snakes.” These SS models were special racing models only barely converted to be street legal and twin-supercharged, and they were the personal vehicles of Shelby and his friend Bill Cosby before they were auctioned off to the tune of millions of dollars.

The exclusivity of these Cobra models meant that they could not be considered financially viable for long. Official commercial production unsurprisingly ended in 1967 with the Mk III due to its remarkably low numbers, but that obviously did not spell the end of the public’s appreciation for these cars. Less than 750 total Cobras were ever sold, yet the model created an unprecedented automotive buzz in the 60s that continues to this day. It’s rare to see a Cobra sell for any less than a million dollars, and since these pieces are often the pride and joy of their owners the auctions are rare in the first place. 

Carroll Shelby, AC Cars, and Ford Automotive obviously knew that they were creating something special with the launch of their first joint cars; they were putting a powerful engine in a small car with an exotic body, which was a combination that many would find irresistible. But it’s difficult to claim that any of the people who worked to produce this sensational vehicle could have ever known the scale at which their creation would be enjoyed in the years to come and even after the end of its production. This partnership, specifically that between Ford and Shelby, would go on to create cars that were faster, more powerful, and better-looking in the eyes of enthusiasts. But there’s a reason that many of them continue to bear the Cobra name to this day.

References:

AC Cobra - Wikipedia

A Quick History of the Shelby Cobra (silodrome.com)

1963 Shelby Cobra 289 - Motor Trends