Few classic cars
can compete with the history and swagger of the Shelby Cobra
. Originally created by racing legend Carroll Shelby and put into production in 1963, it’s lived on well into the 21st Century, thanks to its reputation as a continuation car. Shelby developed a few sports cars with British automaker AC, but the model with the most staying power was the 427 S/C. After ending its first run in 1967, Shelby started building them again with his own company in the 1980s and production hasn’t stopped since.
The CSX 6000 is the current 427 available, and it looks as beautiful as it did back in 1965. Jerry
, your car insurance super app, dug into the details of the vintage American sports car to let you know how it stacks up to the original. Shelby Cobra CSX 6000—the spitting image of the original 427
Many continuation cars
take the styling of classic models and infuse them with modern features. Not so with the Shelby Cobra CSX 6000. Since Shelby American restarted production in 1997, the car has been made almost exactly to its original specifications. Each unit gets the same 427 FE motor
that was designed to compete with the Corvettes and Ferraris of the 1960s. All that’s really changed is the metal it's made of—swapping steel out for aluminum has made the engine stronger and lighter. Shelby offers a number of configurations for the motor that give an impressive range of 500 to 700 hp. The company also offers the car with either an aluminum or fiberglass body, the choice of vinyl or leather seats, and wheels of multiple sizes styled as they were back in the day.
One awkward detail: AC vs. Shelby Cobra continuation cars
As was noted earlier, the original Shelby Cobra 427 S/C was built in partnership with Auto Carriers, or AC, as it’s more commonly known.
After the partnership ended, AC went through numerous ownership changes and financial struggles. By the early ‘80s, the brand name was owned by Brian Angliss, a British Cobra restorer and replica manufacturer already benefiting from widespread nostalgia
for the car. Angliss started building continuation models of the 427 S/C for the European market while Shelby did the same in the U.S.
The dual production came to a head in the ‘90s when Shelby was accused of creating counterfeit Cobras, an accusation he claimed was part of a smear campaign organized by Angliss.
AC has since changed hands two more times, but it continues to build its own, more modernized version of the Cobra 427
. Owning a Shelby Cobra 427 CSX 6000
Buying an original Shelby Cobra is an unattainable goal for most. Hagerty
says that in good condition, a legitimate model from 1965 is worth anywhere between $1.05 million and $2.1 million. Buying a continuation model from Shelby isn’t cheap either, but it doesn’t reach near the heights of the antique. A brand new CSX 6000 will cost you over $166,000.
Unfortunately, because it’s brand new, it probably doesn’t qualify for classic car coverage. But Jerry can help you find the right car insurance for the right price, no matter the age of your car.
A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and can even help you cancel your old policy.
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