The Competition AC Cobras of the 1960s

Discover the legendary Shelby Cobras of 1960s motorsport. Cars, drivers, races…

The Golden Age of a Racing Legend

1. The Birth of a Legend (1962–1963)

The story of the AC Cobra began in 1962 when Carroll Shelby, a former Texan racing driver, had the bold idea of installing a Ford V8 engine into the lightweight chassis of the British AC Ace.

Objective: defeat Ferrari in international competition.

From its very first outings, the Cobra stood out thanks to:

• an exceptional power-to-weight ratio

• brutal acceleration

• a simple yet devastatingly effective design

The first race versions were the Cobra 260 and 289, quickly followed by the monstrous 427, better suited to American circuits.

2. Iconic Competition Cars

AC Cobra 289 (1963–1965)

• Engine: Ford 4.7-liter V8

• Weight: ~950 kg

• Power: 385–400 hp

• Primary category: FIA GT

👉 This was the most successful version in Europe.

Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupé (1964–1965)

• Closed, aerodynamic body

• Designed by Peter Brock

• Built specifically for Le Mans

👉 It allowed Shelby to beat Ferrari on its own turf.

AC Cobra 427 (1965–1967)

• Engine: Ford 7.0-liter V8

• Power: up to 500 hp

• Competition: American championships (SCCA, USRRC)

👉 Too powerful and heavy for European FIA GT racing, but terrifying on U.S. circuits.

3. Major Races and Championships

24 Hours of Le Mans

• Cobras entered from 1963 onward

• GT class victories in 1964 and 1965

• The Daytona Coupé finished 4th overall in 1964

World GT Manufacturers’ Championship (1965)

• Historic victory for Shelby American

• Ferrari defeated after years of domination

👉 The first—and only—World GT title for the Cobra.

12 Hours of Sebring

• Class victories

• Major achievements against Ferrari, Porsche, and Corvette

Daytona & SCCA Championships

• Dominance of the Cobra 427

• Spectacular, sometimes brutal racing

• The Cobra became an icon of American motorsport

4. The Legendary Cobra Drivers

Ken Miles

• Key driver in the Shelby program

• Exceptional development driver

• Multiple victories with the Cobra

Dan Gurney

• Endurance race victories

• Versatile talent (F1, NASCAR, endurance)

• Brought international credibility to the Cobra

Bob Bondurant

• Regular Shelby driver

• Excellent GT results

• Later founded the famous Bondurant Racing School

Phil Hill

• Formula 1 World Champion

• Occasional but symbolic involvement with Shelby

5. Key Achievements (1963–1966)

• World GT Champion – 1965

• Le Mans class victories (1964, 1965)

• Multiple SCCA wins

• Ferrari beaten on both European and American circuits

👉 The Cobra became the nightmare of the Ferrari 250 GTO.

6. Why the Cobra Made History

First American GT car to dominate Europe

A unique Anglo-American alliance

A symbol of raw power and boldness

A race car… without compromise

The Cobra was not the most refined.

It was the most radical.

7. Legacy and Myth Today

• Current value: several million euros

• An essential presence at:

  • Le Mans Classic

  • Goodwood Revival

  • Tour Auto

• Inspiration for legendary replicas (ERA, Superformance…)

👉 The Cobra remains one of the most respected racing cars in history.

Conclusion

In the 1960s, the AC Cobra did more than win races.

It shifted the balance of power in motorsport, proving that with genius, audacity, and a big V8, even empires could be overthrown.