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Evolution
and Life of the AC Cobra
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October
1953
|
AC
Ace was unveiled at Earls Court Motor Show in London
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1956
|
Ace
became available with the Bristol six cylinder engine
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1958
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Ford
lightweight small block V-8 engine program started in the USA
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December
1960
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Carroll
Shelby raced for the last time at Riverside
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March
1961
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British
Ford six cylinder engine was used in the Ace when Bristol
switched to the Chrysler V8
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September
1961
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Carroll
Shelby contacted AC about his ideas for a V8 engine sports car
based on the AC Ace
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November
1961
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The
first lightweight Ford V8's were delivered to AC
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1961-1962
|
AC
and Shelby worked on the first Cobra prototype
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January
1962
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Prototype
Cobra runs for the first time at Silverstone
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February
1962
|
CSX2000
- The 221 cid engine was removed and the car was shipped to
Shelby in Santa Fe Springs where it was fitted with a 260 cid
engine and tested at Riverside
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April
1962
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The
Cobra was introduced to the press and first shown in public at
the New York Auto Show
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May
1962
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First
magazine road test of the prototype Cobra appeared
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July
1962
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The
first three "production" Cobras were completed and
shipped to the USA complete with 260 cid engines
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October
1962
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The
first Cobra was raced for the first time, by Billy Krause at
Riverside
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January
1963
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CSX2075
- First 289 cid powered Cobra was completed
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|
January
1963
|
Cobra's
first race win was at Riverside
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|
March
1963
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CSX2127
- First production rack and pinion Cobra was completed
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|
June
1963
|
Two
Cobras entered at Le Mans; one retired and the other finished
seventh overall
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|
Late
1963
|
AC
Ace production stopped
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October
1963
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The
first 427 cid powered prototype was built using a leaf spring
chassis
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November
1963
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The
first right hand drive Cobra was delivered in the UK
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November
1963
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Work
began on a Cobra racing coupe which was to become the Daytona
Coupe
|
|
February
1964
|
CSX2287
- The first Daytona Coupe was tested at Riverside. During 1964
it took three GT class wins and placed fourth overall at Le Mans
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|
March
1964
|
CSX2166
- Ken Miles raced a prototype 427, leaf spring chassis, at
Sebring
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|
April
1964
|
AC
tested its own 289 cid coupe at Le Mans
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November
1964
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Leaf
spring chassis production for export was stopped
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|
December
1964
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CSX2196
- second 427 cid prototype was debuted by Ken Miles at Nassau
Speed Weeks
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January
1965
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CSX3001
- Production of completely redesigned, coil spring 427 Cobra was
announced
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Early
1965
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CSX3054
- 427 Super Coupe project was started but eventually abandoned
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March
1965
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Leaf
spring chassis production stopped completely after 655 cars were
built
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1965
|
Daytona
Coupe won the World Manufacturer's Championship for GT cars with
six GT class wins
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May
1966
|
AC
started producing 289 powered versions of the coil spring
chassis for the European market
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February
1968
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Five
special "long wheelbase" chassis were built for
Paramount Pictures film
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February
1969
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Final
coil spring car completed in the European series after a total
of 348 were built
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Index |
Back to AC Cobra Story
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