In 1976 a 10 year-old child watches a film in the cinema in Guildford with his father and is mesmerised by the lead car in the film. The small boy with eyes wide asks his father: “Dad… what car is that?!” and his father replies “that, son, is an AC Cobra”.
The mold was cast and couldn’t be changed.
Time passes and by 17 years old posters and brochures and photos from all over of Cobras fill my head with dreams. One day I promise myself.
More time passes and encounters with real Cobras and GT40s occur, and a realisation that the 427 isn’t the Cobra for me. I find it too visually aggressive, too loud, and certainly in the UK nearly all kit cars are based on this Cobra, sporting excessively padded dashes, twin roll hoops, GM engines and various Jaguar parts. This causes me to turn my attention to the 289 leaf-sprung car.
Finally I decide to build my business (high performance car and motorcycle shocks) to the point where I can afford to buy a real car occurs, and while I am waiting I will create or buy a very accurate replica that I will be able to use as and when I like, but particularly in competition which is where my heart lies.
A visit to Kirkham Motorsport in Utah puts the final piece in place and working with David Kirkham I place my order for a 289 MkII leaf sprung car with a nod to FIA compliance.
289 Shelby Cobra 