AC (Shelby) Cobra: 1962-67; Marks I, II, III; 260, 289, 427

Read the title of the book carefully. It thoughtfully combines the names of AC Cars of Thames Ditton, down the river west from the centre of London, and Carroll Shelby, the wily Texan 'snake charmer', garage owner and ex-racing driver, with the name of 'Cobra'. The time-honoured story is that the Cobra was simply the sports car that went after Ferrari in an attempt to topple it from its throne of 'king of the race track'. How Carroll Shelby took a traditional, in some ways even conservative, British sports car and conquered the world. And how he persuaded the speed-hungry driver that he wanted brute force and the howl of a V8 Ford instead of the expensive zip of a sophisticated V12 from Italy. Today, of course, Cobras are heavily replicated and the originals are very rare and expensive. Wilson McComb's story sorts out fact from fiction unlike any book before it. For the first time he tells the true story, end the fabrication and refutes the above. Also he tells the 'English' end of things, consulting throughout with recognised men in-the-know from the USA. Here is a unique Cobra story adding hard fact, some opinion and many new comments about a car which is close to the top of any car enthusiast poll as to the world's most desirable sports car. AC Cars and Shelby both had their part to play - read on.