Shelby Cobras Gather for 50th Anniversary
The legend turns 50, and for a brief moment, a parking lot in Pomona looks like heaven.
By Sam Smith Apr 25, 2012 4:05AM
I rode in a Shelby Cobra once. A real one, a much-loved 289 owned by a collector acquaintance in Milwaukee. It was interesting, life-changing, happy, sad, noisy, excellent. I came away thrilled -- the car was everything I expected it to be, a rolling testament to all things loud and awesome -- but also a bit disappointed. I am not independently wealthy. The average Cobra costs well into six figures. I will not own one any time soon. Sad. Small problem, I admit. In other news, I am too ordinary to own a host of other fabulous things: Gulfstreams, spaceships, Monaco apartments, bottles of brown liquor that cost as much as a new Honda. This should not be a surprise; I write for a living, and few writers live high and fat. I signed up for this. But occasionally, stuff comes along that makes it hurt.
There are a handful of notes to make here. First, it should be said that Cobras are unique among wildly expensive supercars -- or classics, or sports cars, or muscle cars, etc. -- in that a large proportion of their owners believe they are best when driven. The world is filled with a lot of garage-queen original Shelby Cobras, but it is also filled with a lot of Cobras getting the snot driven out of them. Which is excellent. Rock on, gentlemen.
Second, the man who gave me a ride in his Cobra is none other than Colin Comer, the guy who wrote this. I will cut to the chase and give you the Official Ringing Endorsement: That book (do you need another link? Have one!) is the best car book I've read this year. It's wonderfully assembled and passionately written, and it takes a refreshingly new angle on a much-discussed subject. Buy it. (Disclosure: I receive no financial benefit from sales of this book.) In addition to documenting the history and personalities behind one of America's most wonderful automobiles, it's just plain fun to flip through. Third, that reunion happened at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona. It was put on by the Team Shelby Pacific Coast Division. There will doubtless be other such celebrations this year, given that 50th anniversaries come around only once. Good stuff. Keep an eye out.
And finally, last but not least, I give you a few sentences on what it's like to ride in an original 289 Cobra: The car is delicate but brutal, meaty but thin, loud but not overdone. Patina helps; if you get a chance to ride in an original one (remember, replicas abound), try to find one that hasn't been restored. Every replica you've ever seen -- including the "continuation" cars made by Carroll Shelby himself -- is missing that indefinable 1960s something, the history-story-temporal-magic you get from an original car.
What's that? You want more pictures of Shelby and his cars? Of course you do. Here. I leave you with the man himself. These pictures make my gut tingle. To borrow a line from the great Ed Bruce, mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be writers. Those Cobras aren't going to buy themselves, you know.
[Source: 4Comments
Apr 26, 2012 8:34AM
I want one. I saw a genuine 289 Cobra at a car show a few years back, I just stood there in awe for a few minutes.
I actually like the 289's better. The 427's look meaner, but it seeems like the 289's would be better balanced,. handling wise. And IIRC, it was the 289's that had the majority of the racing victories.
Apr 26, 2012 9:40AM
Apr 26, 2012 11:17AM
I actually got to see the VERY First Shelby Cobra at the NY Auto Show this year, it returned for its 50th birthday. I spoke with John Luft, President of Shelby Motors and he let me touch (I didn't want to sit in it) the car. It is a beautiful piece of history. Follow me on Twitter @TheOneGambino and on Instagram @Omerta19, where I have the pics up of the beautiful blue beauty. You can also check out my videos on our SilverCheeseMedia channel on Youtube! Check it out!!
Apr 26, 2012 11:17AM
I actually got to see the VERY First Shelby Cobra at the NY Auto Show this year, it returned for its 50th birthday. I spoke with John Luft, President of Shelby Motors and he let me touch (I didn't want to sit in it) the car. It is a beautiful piece of history. Follow me on Twitter @TheOneGambino and on Instagram @Omerta19, where I have the pics up of the beautiful blue beauty. You can also check out my videos on our SilverCheeseMedia channel on Youtube! Check it out!!
Apr 26, 2012 7:10AM
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