Comments about this vehicle

Author	Message
Alexander ◊ 2005-10-08 01:20	AC Ace Bristol ??? Link to "www.allsportauto.com"
antp ◊ 2005-10-08 10:22	AC-Shelby like the Cobras, or just AC in this cas?
Alexander ◊ 2005-10-08 23:41	The Cobras have a wider track and therefore extended wheel-arches. Additionally the Cobras have an extra air intake on the hood. Follow the link to see a picture of an early Cobra: http://www.lesroutesdunord.com/Photos/AC%20Cobra%201965.jpg
antp ◊ 2005-10-08 23:54	I was asking this because the Cobras are listed as "AC-Shelby Cobra", were "AC-Shelby" is the make. So I wanted to know if we could list this one as the same make. (e.g. AC-Shelby Ace Bristol) Or maybe shall we only use "AC" as make rather than "AC-Shelby" for the others? -- Last edit: 2005-10-08 23:56:16
Alexander ◊ 2005-10-09 00:06	Now I get it! Well, its past midnight already... The make of this one is AC. After AC could no longer use the Bristol six cylinder engines, Carroll Shelby approached AC with the idea to use an American V8. According to his own web-page http://www.carrollshelby.com/ this combination of AC car with a Ford V8 small block is being sold under the name "Shelby-American".
wrenchhead ◊ 2006-01-25 23:14	There were three cars that were very similar. The AC ACE - 4 cylinder, AC Bristol - 6 cylinder, and the first series Shelby Cobra - small block 289 v8 ford, The second series Cobras had the big block 427 ford v8 and look significantly different as the body was modified to hold the big engine and much larger tires.
Tim ◊ 2006-01-25 23:47	Don't tell Carroll Shelby that it's an AC! He's always been adamant that it should be Shelby Cobra. However, as the majority of the car came out of the AC factory, I'd say AC Cobra personally. Not all Cobras had flared arches so I would suggest that the illustrated car is an early series Cobra rather than an Ace.
wrenchhead ◊ 2006-01-26 21:20	I agree with Tim, re: his suggestion that its an early series Cobra.
antp ◊ 2006-01-26 21:28	So what's the full name of this one? AC Shelby Cobra or just AC Cobra?
wrenchhead ◊ 2006-01-27 21:23	According to "Standard Catalog of American Cars, 3 ed., they are: Shelby-American Cobra. The chasis and body was by AC, the engine/running gear was by Ford and the whole thing was conceived, developed and marketed by the Shelby-American company. AC simply sold frames/bodies to Shelby-American while Ford sold them engines/running gear. I don't know who did the actual assembly. AC was simply a supplier to Shelby-American. You couldn't buy a Cobra from AC so I don't know why folks want to call them AC Cobras. The company that made/sold them calls them Shelby Cobra and I don't have a problem with that. Now after all that I still don't know for sure if the car shown is a Shelby Cobra or an AC Bristol. -- Last edit: 2006-03-17 00:44:59
antp ◊ 2006-01-27 21:37	So we should rename the other AC Shelby Cobra to Shelby Cobra ?
Alexander ◊ 2006-01-28 00:55	Quote So we should rename the other AC Shelby Cobra to Shelby Cobra ? No, if it is a 'Cobra' it should be 'Shelby-American Cobra'. (See my comment and the link above.) This one here, I would still say, is an 'AC Ace Bristol'.
calvin ◊ 2006-06-12 04:30	The make of this car should definately be "Shelby Cobra". I suspect some Euro-centric types would have their issues with it, but the accepted manufacturer is Shelby American. This particular car is chassis number CSX2019. At the time of the filming of the movie this car was the Shelby American "Demo" car. It also appered in various early Cobra marketing brochures and pictures. Later this same car was converted into the Factory Drag racing car where is set some drag racing records. The car was recently put up for sale via this link: Link to "www.mecumauction.com" Very cool history to the car.
832Spain ◊ 2007-02-26 21:20	Very early Shelby Cobra, it has the wheel arch flares which the Ace Bristol never had. The lack of bonnet intake is probably due to the engine ( 289 cu in, 4.7 litres or even the origonal 260 cu in 4.2 litre ) not being equipped with the 'Hi-Rise' inlet manifold.
rpcm ◊ 2007-02-27 02:20	1962
morgan ◊ 2007-10-26 18:49	ELVA MK 6 on his right
Beans ◊ 2012-01-16 21:01	832Spain wrote Very early Shelby Cobra, it has the wheel arch flares which the Ace Bristol never had. The lack of bonnet intake is probably due to the engine ( 289 cu in, 4.7 litres or even the origonal 260 cu in 4.2 litre ) not being equipped with the 'Hi-Rise' inlet manifold. mostly correct. Street cars didn't have hood scoops
Alessandro58 ◊ 2012-02-14 15:45	Another one:
Cobraknow ◊ 2012-08-22 09:23	THE FINAL WORD: The red Cobra is a very early 260-powered SHELBY AC COBRA, that was converted to 289 power in 1963, the year it was filmed for the Elvis Presley flick, released in May of 1964. This is the proper name that the car was supposed to be known by, when Shelby signed his original contract with AC boss Charles Hurlock, in February of 1962. However, while in the U.S. Mr. Shelby was revered as an automotive god, he did have some human weaknesses. One of them was ego. He quite simply didn't want to share credit with AC Cars Ltd. of Thames-Ditton, Surrey--just south of London. Over the years he was to say things like AC had only sold him "some parts"...as if complete AC Aces modified by AC to take V-8s were only "parts". Shelby American did contribute plenty of racing feedback, for AC to continue adapting the Ace design, but it was very much a joint venture. When Shelby started removing the cars' AC badges, Charles Hurlock was furious. He got on the transatlantic phone to "'Ol Shel" and made it clear that Shelby was violating his contract. "Not to worry", said Shelby, quickly thinking of what to do, as Hurlock was letting him have Cobras on credit. Shelby said he was having new badges made up that did incorporate the AC logo. He thus quickly went to visit a badge manufacturer, who followed his guidelines for a new badge. The end result was a badge with a huge "Shelby" towering over a truly tiny AC logo, with the word "Cobra" underneath. Only the very first 260-powered cars wore these badges. By early 1963, Shelby allowed his first employee, Pete Brock, to design the first version of a snake badge. Brock actually thought that those "Shelby AC Cobra" badges came from England, but they didn't. Hurlock was actually quite annoyed that his logo was so tiny--about half the size of a key fob logo! Now that Carroll Shelby was starting to sell a few cars and able to start paying Hurlock, he went back to taking full credit for the Cobra's design, chassis, underpinnings, interiors, etc. AC Cars Ltd also built Cobras for the British home market, continental Europe, Australia and Canada, and as Shelby had violated his contract, they ommitted his name in retaliation, and these cars were were legally registered as "AC Cobras", with COB or COX serial number prefixes, while all Cobras exported to the U.S.A.--CSX cars, were called "Shelby Cobras", as Shelby managed, through legal paperwork intricacies, to have himself registered in the U.S. only, as the car's "manufacturer" of record, while all non-U.S.- bound Cobras have "AC of England" manufacturer's identity plates. Without Carroll Shelby there would never have been a Cobra, but without AC Cars' existing AC Ace and AC Ace-Bristol, there also would never have been a Cobra. The car had two parents, and it's unfortunate that there is still so much confusion among automotive enthusiasts about who to credit the car to. That's why I thought I would take the trouble to clarify things, which the late Mr. Shelby--may he rest in peace-- made somewhat cloudy. -- Last edit: 2012-08-22 23:17:42
Cobraknow ◊ 2012-08-22 09:32	calvin wrote The make of this car should definately be "Shelby Cobra". I suspect some Euro-centric types would have their issues with it, but the accepted manufacturer is Shelby American. This particular car is chassis number CSX2019. At the time of the filming of the movie this car was the Shelby American "Demo" car. It also appered in various early Cobra marketing brochures and pictures. Later this same car was converted into the Factory Drag racing car where is set some drag racing records. The car was recently put up for sale via this link: Link to "www.mecumauction.com" Very cool history to the car.
Cobraknow ◊ 2012-08-22 09:34	Hi Calvin, you may want to look at the "Cobraknow" entry. It has little-known information in the U.S.A.
morningflight ◊ 2016-11-07 20:38	Hey Cobraknow, you definitely know your "Shelby Cobras" - which CSX2019 certainly is. All the info you posted is right on the money. I have some insight into the history of this car since I owned it for 39 years (and sold it at the Mecum Auction in 2006 for a million and a half). The car was bought by Larry Miller who has sadly passed away. To the best of my knowledge, it's still with his estate. http://www.heylittlecobra.com

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Last completed movie pages

1962 Shelby Cobra 260 [CSX2019]

1962 Shelby Cobra 260 [CSX2019] in Viva Las Vegas, Movie, 1964

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