Shelby Cobra Express Test: A Legend Still Produced!

At the time, Carroll Shelby only built his famous Cobra from 1962 to 1966, not even a thousand copies.

But this small production created a myth, which was then copied by more or less inspired craftsmen.

Suddenly, in 1991, the Californian decided to relaunch the machine and start producing the car he had created himself.

This is still the case, and it is therefore possible to buy a Cobra identical in all respects to its sisters from the 60s but… new!

The importer for Europe being based in Belgium, not far from Liège (Gentleman Car company), it was on the Mettet circuit that we had the opportunity to do a few laps behind the wheel of one of these cars. In this case a 289 FIA version homologated for the circuit but, apart from a few details, it is the same machine as the road 289.

To try a Cobra is necessarily to relive the atmosphere of the 60s, when sports cars did not yet meet any safety or anti-pollution standards. The right front harness and the smell emitted by the exhausts of the big 375 hp 5.4 liter V8 Ford are there to remind you! Likewise, there is obviously no question of automatic transmission or power steering, let alone ABS or traction control! The driving of this machine is therefore particularly manly, and its driving has absolutely nothing to do with that of a modern car, even if the performances are still very relevant!

This is obviously what makes the concept so charming: being able to drive “old-fashioned” but with a new car and therefore more reliable than an old one, with a “manufacturer” guarantee.

A pleasure reserved for a few enthusiasts who can afford their ambitions, because a “new” Cobra cannot be traded below 160,000 euros… two years of maintenance included!

Automotive

Porsche Cayman GT4 RS: Little monster of 500 hp

Automotive

The Japanese auto and motorcycle industry is not betting everything on electric

The Cobra 289 in detail

• Engine: V8, petrol, 5.400cc;

  375hp.

• Transmission: to the rear wheels.

• Gearbox: 4-speed manual.

• L / l (mm): 3.840 / 1.830

• Empty weight (kg): 1.025

• 0 to 100 km / h (sec.): +/- 3.5

• V-Max: +/- 250 km / h

• Conso.

  mixed: shameful!

• CO2: same ...

• Price: from 160,000 €

• Unusual

• Sports cars

• Automotive

• Car

• Vintage

• Auto Moto

• 0 comment

• 0 share

  • Share on Messenger

  • Share on Facebook

  • Share on twitter

  • Share on Flipboard

  • Share on Pinterest

  • Share on Linkedin

  • Send by Mail

• To safeguard

• A fault ?

• To print