Lot details
Registration No: 878 COB
Chassis No: AK1072
Mot Expiry: May 2006

It was because the AC Ace had been so successful in SCCA events in the US that the American race ace Carroll Shelby decided that, with a US Ford V8 transplant, the very British traditional sportscar might be able to clean up Class A. And so it was that in 1962, an Ace minus motor was flown to California, where, after a Ford 4260cc V8 had been added, the AC Cobra or, as it was officially named in the US, the Shelby-AC Cobra, was hatched.
Because he had to re-work the original AC chassis (extensively, Shelby claimed), so that it would be better able to withstand the power and torque of the lusty Ford V8, the Texan always maintained that his AC Cobras were American rather than British roadsters.
Many years later, British Cobras, genuine ones as opposed to replicas, most of which started life as GRP-bodied kits, were handmade by Autokraft within what was left of the historic Brooklands motor racing circuit. The Brian Angliss run firm was the only company licensed to use the Ford owned Cobra name, Angliss and Ford jointly owning AC Cars during the 1980s.
With a mere 5643 miles recorded when entered for this sale, this 1985-dated and British-built AC Cobra is still virtually new, having been clearly well preserved during the past twenty years. Your inspection today will confirm that the current owner is fully justified in declaring that this is a truly outstanding example of a Mark IV Cobra, which was purchased for his spouse as a Christmas present in 1995, since when only another 28 miles have been added to the total!
Indeed, the current condition of the right-hand drive chassis, he describes, as being virtually as new, with open two-door bodywork painted in Jaguar Indigo Blue said to be perfect and grey leather two-seater interior and carpets, also in grey, very good. Having only been subjected to such little use, the Ford US 5-litre V8 motor is inevitably rated as new, too, as are the five-speed manual gearbox and the genuine Hallibrand knock-on alloy wheels.
Only recently MOT-tested, the current certificate among the paperwork will be valid until May of next year, whilst the V5 confirms that AC chassis number AK 1072 has been re-registered with the distinctive and model appropriate 878 COB cherished registration. A genuine, non-rep AC Cobra like this, especially with COB plates and with such genuinely low mileage underwheel, should be captured swiftly in the auction today and enjoyed at your leisure. Go on treat yourself!
PLEASE NOTE: This car is a 1985 and not 1987 as stated in the catalogue.