Ponder Carroll Shelby’s vehicles, and some sort of Ford Mustang will likely come to mind. So, it may be the AC Cobra. The one and an only car designed and built by the automobile legend from the ground up. While on the other hand-the the Shelby Series 1-is not a household name.
Maybe this is because the car itself needs to deal with the back-story drama. Series 1, planned to a contemporary representation of the mythical Cobra. It had a period of costly and drawn-out production. Even while the plan to produce 500, only 249 produced.
Features:
Nonetheless, the final product has a lot to go with it. Two aluminum extrusions and the bodywork made of carbon fiber is based on the chassis. The 4.0-liter, Oldsmobile-sourced V8 installed well back into the curvy flanks of Series 1 giving it a front-mid configuration. There are inboard-mounted pushrod dampers just in front of the door. And there are double wishbones in front and rear as well.
Stylish, the references to the Cobra are obvious but Marcos ‘vibe is still very welcome. Most versions fitted with a folding cloth roof while a handful offered without.
As standard, the V8 is good for 325bhp, allowing for a 4.4 seconds 0-60 mph time and a top speed of 170 mph. Shelby American also offered a supercharger option (rarely fitted) complete with a beefier clutch and bigger brakes to help cope with the 450bhp output.
The full production of the car wound up in 1999, some sold in part form between 2000 and 2005. There has been no follow-up so far. Mirroring the Series I’s complicated conception, speculation of a Series II has been rumbling on for years and a couple of designs have also been around.
If the Series II will get past that remains to see. But the Series I the only full-fledged Shelby sports car option for now. This example one of the last ones to create-number 238 out of 249. It has used sparingly, turning up on the clock a mere 2679 miles. It will auction with no reservation at RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection sale in October. Expect it going for somewhere in the $100,000 zone.
