Carroll Shelby almost single-handedly redefined “fast” with the amazing 289 Cobra. The car was a lightweight bomb that immediately put Chevrolet’s shiny new Corvette Sting Ray Z06 on the trailer in SCCA national competition and then wrested the FIA World Manufacturer’s Championship from Ferrari in 1965.
This handsome Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster, number 271 of 453 street cars delivered with the Hi-Po 289/271 HP V-8, was purchased new in 1964 from Service Motors in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, by Elmer Carl (E.C.) Kiekhaefer, the pioneering founder of the Mercury-Kiekhaefer Outboard Motor Company that would eventually become Mercury Marine.
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Oh my, is that thing ever pretty!
ReplyDeleteBuilt the same year as my Sprite, also of British origins, the Sprite came with a wheezing little 4 cylinder , 1098 CID and a whopping 50 HP.
It couldn't get out of the way of that thing fast enough.
Those early Cobras had exceptional power to weight ratios.
exceptional power to weight ratios.
DeleteThe big difference in 0 to 60 v the same motor in a fastback like mine. Hey, let's squeeze one in a Sprite! That ought to do it.
I've seen Spridgets with 289's in them. They go like Hell but don't stop.
ReplyDeleteBTW, an error on my part for engine displacement, 1098 CC's, not CID.
That would be an aircraft engine!!
:) Close enough for government work! Thanks.
DeleteAbsolutely stunning car. Drove one and a 427 cobra later on Old friend, now gone, his dad had an awesome car collection back some 40-45 yrs ago. This car in MHO was one of the BEST cars ever made and a superb example of American Exceptionalism.
ReplyDeleteThanks and an amazing motor. My Hi-Po above ran 0 to 60 in 7.5, a big difference from the Cobra's 4.2. As I remember the 427 only ran .2 faster. I just saw something that said mine couldn't compete with the GOATS, but that's BS. I beat their 389/325's all the time and was close on their 389/360 auto, but not their 4 speed. If you got it right off the line, it was over. :)
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