Autoblog

Watch a Shelby Cobra do cartwheels at 130 mph

Drew Phillips — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Videos

Being in a car crash can be scary enough, but doing it in a convertible at 130 miles per hour is simply terrifying. That's what the owner of a Shelby Cobra replica went through, however, during a track day at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California. As he was ending the front straight of the 2.5-mile course, something suddenly broke in the front suspension or steering. The car skidded on track for approximately 60 feet, then flipped sideways multiple times, flying off the track for more than 500 feet.

Fortunately, the driver of the Cobra came away from the incident unharmed with the exception of minor injuries to his knee and ribs. If you've ever wondered why that metal roll hoop is there on the driver's side of the Cobra, just ask this guy.

Of course, the owner of the Cobra also had a GoPro camera running on his car that day, and it captured the amazing footage throughout the entire crash. The video has now gone up on YouTube, and we've posted it for you to see after the jump.

Continue reading Watch a Shelby Cobra do cartwheels at 130 mph

Watch a Shelby Cobra do cartwheels at 130 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2012 Iconic AC Roadster

Chris Paukert — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, First Drives, Specialty, MISC

In Which We Learn Not To Judge A Book By Its (Very Familiar) Cover

2012 Iconic AC Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery

We admit it - we nearly got it wrong. But can you blame us? We've seen dozens - nay, hundreds of Shelby Cobra homages and outright knockoffs over the years, and while many of them have offered road-bludgeoning performance, precious few have been high-quality efforts, and fewer still brought something new to the table. So when images of the Iconic AC Roadster first hit our inboxes along with blustery talk of 800+ horsepower and a massive price tag, we didn't pay much attention. Here was yet another Cobra replica whose biggest innovation appeared to be a set of awkward looking head- and taillamps. Why bother?

And then we drove it. And oddly, just as importantly, we took a peek beneath its skin, only to realize that the car's familiar shape is something of a Trojan horse whose familiar striping job masks a shocking amount of cutting-edge technology.

Continue reading to find out what changed our minds.

Gallery: 2012 Iconic AC Roadster: First Drive

Continue reading First Drive: 2012 Iconic AC Roadster

First Drive: 2012 Iconic AC Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Old is New Again: AC Cars unveils Cobra MkVI gullwing in Monaco

Noah Joseph — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, UK, Specialty

AC Cobra MkVI - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chevrolet Corvette engine? Porsche brakes? Assembled in Germany? This doesn't sound like the AC Cobra we know, but lo and behold, it is what it is. Amidst the myriad Cobra replicars on the market, the original AC Cars, which touts itself as the UK's oldest automaker, has released details on the latest version of its classic sportscar. The updated retro-minded sports car is slated to make its official debut later this month at the prestigious Top Marques show in Monaco.

An assembly contract with German manufacturer Gullwing GmbH has the latest Cobra assembled in Heyda, Germany, and fitted with a lightweight removable hardtop complete with - you guessed it - gullwing doors. The aluminum body over tubular space-frame chassis weighs just 2,260 lbs and is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 sourced from the Corvette, tuned to produce 437 hp in standard GT trim or a whopping 647 hp in GTS spec, which we'll surmise comes courtesy of a supercharger. Stopping power is provided by Porsche-sourced four-piston calipers and vented discs (332mm front, 298mm rear). Acceleration? Try 0-62 in a scant 3.3 seconds. Now that sounds more like the Cobra we know. Find out more in the press release after the jump and check out the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: AC Cobra MkVI

[Source: AC Cars]

Continue reading Old is New Again: AC Cars unveils Cobra MkVI gullwing in Monaco

Old is New Again: AC Cars unveils Cobra MkVI gullwing in Monaco originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jensen Interceptor returns with LS2 V8

Dan Roth — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Performance

Click above for high-res gallery of the V Eight Jenson Interceptor

Any automotive enthusiast can quote you the story of the Cobra; the British AC Ace stuffed with a Ford V8, a strategy that was equally successful for Sunbeam with its Tiger - right down to the Ford small-block V8 - though the Cobra later got the FE big block. Perhaps less well known are the GTs to come out of Jensen. We even featured one of these more obscure English muscle-machines as a Reader Ride a while back. The original Jensen Interceptor sported a body designed by Italy's Touring, and various flavors of Mopar V8 were nestled in the nose. Nearly 40 years on, V Eight LTD is engaging in some revisionist history.

The Jensen Interceptor S by V Eight is essentially a total rebuilding of an original Interceptor, with many key areas upgraded with modern components. A General Motors LS2 sends 414 horsepower to the independently sprung rear wheels through a modern five-speed automatic transmission. The stock chassis calibration has been upgraded as well, and 17-inch wheels couple tire to tarmac. £75,000 pounds will get you a hand-rebuilt and upgraded Jensen that's a significant improvement in quality over the original, while also benefitting from decades of advancement in engine management. Some might yawn at the small block and its virtual hotrodding ubiquity, and a more esoteric powertrain swap would be equally exciting. We'd be just as puppy-dog waggy over a twin-turbo VQ V6 smashed in there, but who can argue with a vintage sports car that never fails to light off instantly, idles demurely, and can snap the tendons in your neck when you flatten the pedal, all wrapped in an uncommon body shell? Any chance we could get one to sample for the Autoblog Garage? Thanks for the tip, Pottz!

Gallery: Jensen Interceptor S

[Source: jensen-cars.co.uk]

Jensen Interceptor returns with LS2 V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 May 2008 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy Halloween: Performance pumpkin

Chris Tutor — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 12:06:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

There are those of us who love cars, then there are those who spend hours delicately carving the likeness of an AC Cobra into an orange gourd. This jack-o-lantern was found on Flickr member Norbini's page, though it's not clear if he is the artist or just an admirer.

Anyone else seen any impressive pumpkin-based automotive tributes this Halloween?

Happy Halloween: Performance pumpkin originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A guide to building your own Cobra replica

Eric Bryant — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible

Sure, AC may be bringing a pre-built Cobra to the US, but say the $94K price tag is just too high... or, perhaps you want the full DIY experience. Hot Rod Magazine evidently felt the same way, so it obtained a Factory Five Racing Roadster kit and attacked its 256-page instruction manual, snapping plenty of pictures along the way so that its readers know what's involved in the build.

Being that this is Hot Rod, a stock 5.0L engine and T5 transmission weren't going to cut it. In went a 427-cube small-block Ford from Coast High Performance, and it's backed by a Tremec TKO trans. With 440 horseower at the rear wheels and only 2,200 lbs. of vehicle to motivate, acceleration is downright brisk, with the quarter-mile dispensed with in right around twelve seconds at a trap speed of 123 MPH.

We'd be lying if we said we didn't want one of our own, but we also know that a driver's license stands virtually no chance of surviving more than, oh, 30 seconds in something like this.

[Source: Hot Rod Magazine]

A guide to building your own Cobra replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jun 2006 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AC Cobra returns to kill replicas in the U.S.

John Neff — Wed, 17 May 2006 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Etc., Supercars

British sports car manufacturer AC has signed a new a distribution deal to sell an updated version of the iconic AC Cobra called the Mk V in the U.S. A new factory located on the Mediterranean island of Malta will begin production of the Mk V soon that features an all carbon fiber skin on a traditional ladder-frame chassis, racing brakes and 16-inch alloys. Unique Performance based in Texas will handle sales of the car in this country, all of which arrive less the engine and transaxle just like the Noble. AC's chairman Alan Lubinsky is quoted over at Inside Line saying, " Why would anyone buy a replica when they can own an authentic AC roadster that is lighter and better for the same cost?" Official U.S. prices have not been released, but in Britain the Mark V goes for about $94,000 US.

[Source: Inside Line]

AC Cobra returns to kill replicas in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 May 2006 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AC Cars signs deal for U.S. distribution of "real" Cobras

Stuart Waterman — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing

AC Cars Ltd. and Texas-based Unique Performance, Inc. have announced an exclusive distribution deal that will bring AC's MkV roadster to the U.S. market. The carbon fiber bodied roadster is produced in the U.K. by AC, Britain's oldest automotive manufacturer, and the company that built the AC Ace, which Carroll Shelby transformed into the legendary AC Cobra.

Unique Performance is already well-established as a builder of limited-edition performance cars, notably a line of Chip Foose-designed Ford Mustangs. The company is already building a demo version of the AC MarkV, powered by a Ford 4.6-liter crate engine.

Faithful readers will recall that late last year, we reported on AC Cars' plan to open a production factory in Bridgeport, Connecticut. No word on the impact of this latest announcement on AC's U.S. production plans, but we have to assume that they've been shelved for the time being.

It will be interesting to see if an authentic AC roadster will cut into the sales of the multitude of Cobra knockoffs already rumbling through the U.S. market. No word on pricing, but Unique is apparently already taking orders.

Full press release after the jump.

[Source: Unique Performance]

Continue reading AC Cars signs deal for U.S. distribution of "real" Cobras

AC Cars signs deal for U.S. distribution of "real" Cobras originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Apr 2006 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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