1997 AC Cobra Superblower

• "Yes. It's a real Cobra! "
• Number 1 of  22 Superblowers built between 1997-2001 by the AC Group in Brooklands
• Hand-crafted aluminium bodywork superbly finished in Stratos Silver and Porsche Ruby Red
• Powered by a 5-litre (302ci) Ford V8 producing 326bhp/375lb.ft. 0-60 in 4.5 secs
• Fabulous interior in Oxblood leather, with deep red carpets, Smiths cream-faced instruments and a Moto-Lita steering wheel
• Optioned with Perspex sun-visors, colour-coded boot carpet, Mohair full tonneau, leather half tonneau, factory hood and side screens, headrests, chromed-brass stone guards, side wind-shields, Moto Lita steering wheel and a custom-made dust cover
• 6,100 miles over 24 years in the hands of its 3 owners corroborated by every MOT 
• From four years current ownership. MOT until September 2022 issued with no advisories.
• Our vendor has generously agreed to leave the Cherished Registration 'R50 COB' with the car

The arrival of the Cobra MkIV in 1983 heralded a new era for AC with the Hurlock family passing on the rights to the marque to Brian Angliss, who had been building Autokraft Cobra replicas for years, using much of the original ’60s tooling. Now officially badged AC these cars were lauded for their high levels of build quality and retention of the original’s spirit. Of course, AC was a very different company by then and despite healthy order books and enthusiastic owners, especially in the USA, it was beginning to struggle financially. Original 5.8-litre (302cu in) powered cars were a little bit disappointing on the performance front, but AC soon launched a lightweight version, which restored the balance somewhat.

However, Angliss' tenancy of the company didn't last long, his relationship with Ford was a little ‘bumpy’, and by the 1990s, he had thrown in the towel and the company had passed on to new owner Alan Lubinski. In 1996 the company was purchased by Pride Automotive and two new 'Cobra' style cars were launched in 1997, the 'Superblower', an aluminium-bodied car with a supercharged 4,942-cubic-centimetre (301.6ci) Ford V8 providing 326bhp and the cheaper 'Carbon Road Series' (CRS) with a carbonfibre body and a 225bhp version of the Ford V8 engine. A total of 22 Superblowers and 37 CRS models were built between 1997 and 2001 as confirmed by the 'AC Car Group'.

Silverstone Auctions are delighted to be able to offer this striking AC Cobra, one of the most recognisable sports car profiles in the world. It's one of just 22 supercharged 'Superblower' models hand-built in sheet aluminium by skilled English craftsmen at AC Car Group in Brooklands using some of the original factory tooling. It's logical to assume that #ACSB 7001 was probably the first 'Superblower' finished considering its 1997 registration date and the fact that the other Superblowers that we have seen are somewhere between 7001 and 7022.

The car is powered by a supercharged 5-litre (302ci) Ford V8 producing 326bhp/375lb.ft. and offering 0-60 in 4.5 secs and 155mph. This power is fed through a 5-speed manual Borg-Warner T50 box to a 3.31 final drive.

It's superbly presented in gleaming Silver with twin stripes in Porsche Ruby Red enhanced by colour-coded, polished-rim Halibrands with 3-eared knock offs, a chrome roll hoop, chrome nudge bars, riveted bonnet air-scoop, chromed brass stone guards, Perspex sun-visors, side wind shields and a classic 'Carroll Shelby Motors' US-style number plate holder. The interior is equally impressive with Oxblood leather, matching carpets, Smiths cream-faced instruments in a silver panel and a bespoke Moto-Lita steering wheel. It's supplied with a Mohair half-tonneau, a leather half-tonneau, Factory hood and side screens, a fire extinguisher and a fitted indoor dust cover.

Our vendor is the Cobra's third owner and the indicated mileage of a tad short of 6,100 miles is corroborated by the 18 MOT Certificates in the history file. It's taxed and MOT'd until September 2022 and our vendor has generously agreed to leave the Cherished Registration 'R50 COB' with the car. An AC leather Mont Blanc wallet contains all the information and relevant paperwork on the car from new.

This is a beautiful motor car in lovely condition, it's very rare and, importantly it's a REAL AC Cobra. Having travelled quite a lot in, somewhat agricultural, early cars and enjoyed trips in various replicas some well engineered and some a lot less so, the single question that always awaits whenever you stop is "Is it a real one, mate".  But in this case, instead of having to explain that it's a 'Dipstick Mark 3' or whatever, the undoubtedly enjoyable response will be "It certainly is".