SEMA 2008: Sean Hyland Motorsport GT500-powered King Cobra
Click above for a high resolution gallery of the King Cobra
Big engine, small car. This simple idea was such a successful formula for Carroll's Cobras in the 1960's that it still lives on today. In addition to numerous kit cars available, Shelby offers his own version that comes with a CSX4000 chassis number. It's up to the owner to decide what engine to put in the car, lending to some pretty wild variations. This example might just be the most extreme, with a supercharged V8 pushing out a cool 1,000 horsepower. Built by Nevada Classics, Inc. and Sean Hyland Motorsport in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, the King Cobra utilizes the all-aluminum 5.4L V8 from the Ford GT500 fitted with a 2.8L Kenne Bell supercharger and runs on E85 ethanol. Additional upgrades were made to accommodate the engine and the suspension and brakes were beefed up to account for the extra horsepower. A short press release can be found after the jump, and our high-resolution photos of this wicked snake are in the gallery below.
[Source: Nevada Classics, Inc.]
PRESS RELEASE:
Mark Logan, President of Nevada Classics, Inc., a Las Vegas based Shelby Cobra, classic, and performance car dealer, and Sean Hyland, President of Sean Hyland Motorsport in Woodstock, Ontario Canada, will unveil the King Cobra at SEMA in Las Vegas, November 3 -7, 2008.
Sean Hyland, and his team, fitted a Guardsman Blue/Wimbledon White, CSX4000 series Shelby Cobra with an all aluminum, 1,000 horsepower, 5.4 liter modular engine, originally designed for the 2007-2009 Shelby GT500's. It features a Kenne Bell supercharger and burns E85 ethanol.
Manufactured by Sean Hyland Motorsport, the engine is mated with the GT500's six speed manual transmission. Along with a custom interior, brake, wheel, tire and suspension upgrades have been made to handle the extra horsepower, and keep the car on the ground.
"I approached Mark with the idea of building the ultimate Shelby Cobra street car several months ago", said Hyland. "When I told Mark what I wanted to do, he said, '1,000 HP? That's the craziest idea I've ever heard of . . . Let's do it' " While modification of the chassis was required to accommodate the 700 lb. engine, the results speak for themselves.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ioyioioy 7:53PM (11/04/2008)
If I see one more cobra I am going to...!!!
These have always sucked, there all kit cars nowadays and they stink.
Anything else?
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Torrent 7:59PM (11/04/2008)
Cobras are tizzight fo shizzle
imirk 8:15PM (11/04/2008)
I guess he missed the shelby manufactured CSX thing?
So what is your issue with the Cobra, perhaps the styling, the suspension geometry, how you don't have one and don't know S- about them?
John 10:03AM (11/05/2008)
Obviously a total lack of taste in cars. The AC Cobra is one of the most beautiful cars ever made and I for one don't think I could ever see enough of them. Sure there are some exaggerated models that are a bit of a turnoff, but not this one.
If you want proof of their beauty, find someone that will let you look down that stunning front end on a road track. It blew my mind.
HotRodzNKustoms 8:01PM (11/04/2008)
That shift boot is horrible... and isn't the GT500 block an iron block?
Besides that supercharger will not fit under a Cobra hood, and if it doesn't look like a Cobra what's the point?
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john 9:30PM (11/04/2008)
actually it can fit under a stock cobra hood, someone at factory five has already done it and it looks a ton better than this one
HotRodzNKustoms 10:00PM (11/04/2008)
Is that car a Factory Five?
BrianM 8:05PM (11/04/2008)
Does it come with a free Tombstone and obituary writing?
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Mobius_1 10:04PM (11/04/2008)
I'm not sure that's necessary, since you'll probably never been seen again anyways. But maybe it's on the options list?
And actually I want one, too, with full body armor just in case.
BrianM 8:05PM (11/04/2008)
Not saying I wouldn't want one though....
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Nick 9:35PM (11/04/2008)
The GT500 is an iron block w/ alum heads. The FGT is the one with an all-alum engine.
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mcspeed 10:39PM (11/04/2008)
the article states
"CSX4000 series Shelby Cobra with an all aluminum, 1,000 horsepower, 5.4 liter modular engine"
SHM has teksid engine blocks which are cast with significant thickness, strength and other upgrades compared to the standard ford factory engine blocks. If it's an SHM engine then it's one of his/teksid blocks and can handle as high as 1400hp.
http://www.seanhylandmotorsport.com/46_modular_shortblocks.shtml
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Jeff 12:39AM (11/05/2008)
wrong...
the teskid block were only 4.6's and were specially cast for the svt cobra 1996-1998...
Patrick 1:08AM (11/05/2008)
You'd think they could have removed the 427 emblem...
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Dunc 1:59AM (11/05/2008)
In my opinion 1000 hp engine in a big old muscle car is acceptable, but in the cobra it doesn't work. My pops has a superformance replica with the 351w bored out to a 392, and it puts out about 400 hp and tq at the wheels and that is just right in my opinion. With much more hp than that it gets out of control and it kills the balance of the car.
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Cole Mitguard 5:06AM (11/05/2008)
It may not be classically correct... but think about being able to put your foot down on a 1000 hp and have the rubber off your back tires literally cry out in pain as you create a plume of white smoke 10 stories high... its dreams like that which keep me warm at night.. haha.
Dunc 3:26PM (11/05/2008)
hahahha thats true man thats true...Im all for disgustingly powerful cars but its no fun if its undriveable ya know?
Chris 12:03PM (11/05/2008)
Great combo! I love the lack of hood....it just lets you hear more of that awesome Kenne Belle scream as it blows by you!
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