AC Cars. Its History. Part 2 1959-2008.Carroll Shelby and the Cobra.

1959: With changes barring the AC ACE Le Mans prototype (LMP) Ken Rudd returned to the Sarthe in a standard Bristol Ace winning its class and being driven to and from the event in almost standard production specification!

1960: The Greyhound was to be the last AC to be built in the old craftsman's tradition. With the finest leather, Walnut dash panel, a hand shaped body over the steel chassis complete with an exclusive high efficiency small six-cylinder engine.

1961: AC was approached by Carroll Shelby to use a small block Ford V8 engine in the Ace chassis, producing the AC Cobra. Shelby needed a car that could compete with the Chevrolet Corvette in US sports car racing. The resulting Cobra was a very powerful roadster, and it is commonly blamed for the introduction of the 70 mph (113 km/h) limit on British motorways. This was in fact a major factor in the decision, after a coupe version was caught doing 196 mph (315 km/h) during a test run.

The rest they say is history!

The first RHD Mk1 Cobra. Apart from the neat flares around the wheel arches, there is little to distinguish these early Cobra's from the Ace.

1963: AC Cars, sponsored by the Sunday Times, entered a Cobra 287, Car No 3 was driven to 7th overall place by Bolton & Sanderson. The works team was entered by William Hurlock (MD AC Cars) and managed by a then bearded Stirling Moss. A second entry Car No 4 driven by Jopp & Hugus retired with engine problems mid way through the 24 hour race.

1964: For the 1964 Le Mans race AC Cars built their own Cobra Le Mans Coupe' to be driven by Bolton & Sears at the Sarthe. The car was recorded at 183mph through the radar trap, matching the Daytona Coupe', despite having some 30bhp less power.

Unfortunately the car never finished the race as it was destroyed in a high speed collision with Babhetti’s Ferrari, killing three spectators who had climbed over the security fence during the night.

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