New Member Building a Modern Reimagining of Shelby Cobra in Florida

[CobraChris]

Hi All. I’m new here and wanted to introduce myself.

My back story...

I grew up in the 70s/80s and have had a love affair with cars as long as I can remember. I was always checking out and reading up on muscle cars. My first Cars were a 77 Firebird Formula, 78 Trans Am, 79 Firebird Esprit & 86 Camaro IROC Z/28. But I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the early Shelby Cobras. Not the Mustang varieties; the one built on the AC Cars Cobra.



The last car I built was a 2003 WRX, to road-racing specs with no expense spared. Almost every part on that car was modified to serve some greater purpose. With an STI 2.5L motor built to 525hp/550tq, Brembo brakes, Bilstein coilovers, a built six speed, cage & harnesses, and sticky rubber, that car was very capable on a track. I loved that the WRX had power, handling, braking, and very little shortcomings. As great as it was, I sold that car in 2011 and sought out the holy grail of my childhood dream cars: a Shelby Cobra.

Since I’m not a millionaire, the only way to scratch that itch was to purchase a replica. I was about to pull the trigger on a Backdraft Racing Cobra when I realized I wanted most was to build it myself and share that experience with my family and friends. So after much research I decided on the Factory Five Racing MkIV Roadster platform.

Right after I took delivery in December of 2011, I started to go through a divorce. The project was put on hold and the car was put into storage until a day came when I would have the time money to get back to it. I’m now happily remarried and have restarted the Cobra project. My wife and I are in the middle of building a business this year as well so my time for the cobra will be spotty at best. But I’ll work on it in the spaces in between everything else. As for my plan...

I loved the 1965 Shelby Cobra SC 427s looks and raw performance, and initially thought I would build a traditional homage to that, but have since decided to make a modern reimagining restomod Pro-touring version. I did not want a car that was only capable of going straight, was scary to drive, was unreliable, or was unsafe for my passengers. While I might take it to Sebring for weekend track days on occasion, it would spend most of its time on the streets. I wanted to build something Carroll Shelby himself would have enjoyed driving. For me, it needed to be able to soak up the twisties, have daily-driver-reliability, have a balanced power to weight ratio, and provide a level of comfort and safety found in modern sports cars. Those are tall orders for a Shelby Cobra Replica but seemingly possible.

Here is the parts I’ve acquired so far to meet my objectives:
2018 Ford Racing Coyote 5.0 crate motor
Ford Racing Coyote control pack
FoMoCo Power steering pump
Power steering rack, limiters, & offset mounts from Breeze Automotive
FoMoCo alternator
FoMoCo mini starter
Moroso Oil Pan
Afco aluminum radiator
Custom Intake
Tremec T56 Magnum
Ram clutch pack
Mid shifter
External slave hydraulic clutch
Energy Suspension motor/trans mounts
Hydraboost power brakes
Wilwood 6-piston Front Brake Calipers
Wilwood 4-piston Rear Brake Calipers w/ Park brake
Wilwood 2-piece Black slotted rotors
SN97 Mustang Cobra ABS
17” Halibrand Wheels
Fuel filter, regulator, and in-tank fuel pump
Independent Rear suspension
Forte’s Rear IRS adjusters
Forte’s solid IRS mounts
Ford Racing Aluminum pumpkin
Torsten Differential
Ford Racing knuckles, hubs & bearings
Driveshaft Shop custom half shaft axles
Driveshaft Shop custom driveshaft
Smith gauges
Leather Roadster seats
Stainless Side Pipes
Darkwater Customs Sidepipe Hangers
Darkwater Customs Rear Cubby
Darkwater Customs Dead Pedal Box
Darkwater Customs custom door sills
Darkwater Customs Fuel tank access panel
Darkwater Customs recessed Trunk boxes
FF Metal F-panel
FF Metal battery Box to recess it below the trunk
2bKing’s Custom Foodbox Mod & 0.090 Firewall forward panels
Breeze Automotive dash supports
Sun visors
Wind wings
Tubular upper & lower control arms
Polished stainless bumpers
Vintage wiper kit
The chassis and all aluminum panels have been powder coated

I still need to acquire:
Stainless Steel Double Collector Headers
Wilwood proportioning valve
Dual roll-bars in stainless from Breeze Auto
Truck-lite LED headlights
Glove box
Alcantara for the interior
Heater
Seat heaters
Tripple fluid reservoirs
Radiator shroud
Tires

I’d like to black out all of the trim, black out the wheels, and paint it with a matte charcoal paint & stripes.

The build is just getting started. Brakes & Suspension done at the corners. The progress is slow moving but moving all the same. Looking forward to my time here. Thanks for reading.