Is there anything that matches the simplistic, sixties-era styling of an AC Ace or Cobra? An Eagle E-Type springs to mind, but not a lot else. And like the Eagle, Stateside-builder Superformance has been bringing that style into the 21st century with its Cobra continuation and replica series. So it seems like a natural fit that US importer and Shelby retailer, Clive Sutton, has just announced a working association with Superformance. That means its Cobras are coming to Britain.
As Clive Sutton himself says: “We have a long history with the Cobra, so it holds a special place in our hearts. Many of our customers grew up adoring this model, so we’re confident of a warm reception for our Cobra range. Offering the world’s only Shelby-licensed Cobras is a source of great pride and we can’t wait to share these special vehicles with enthusiasts everywhere.”
For those looking for authenticity, there’s the £124,950 ‘Slab Side’ MkII. It’s a continuation car with lines that stick faithfully to the original 1962 American race-winning Cobra FIA. The body sits on a Tojeiro-styled round tube chassis with a transverse leaf spring suspension, into which Clive Sutton drops a 5.7-litre Roush V8 coupled to a Tremec TKO transmission.
The MkIII is the only Cobra replica built under license from Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc. It’s a more modern interpretation of the Cobra, with a wider body, wings and arches. It also has independent front and rear suspension and Wildwood power-assist disc brakes. However, the Roush V8 grows but to 7.0 litres. This is ‘significantly lighter than the original big-block V8 from the 1960s, meaning the performance and handling of the Sutton MkIII Cobras is even more rewarding than the original.’
The side-exiting exhausts are also said to deliver a ‘suitably rousing noise.’ The MkIII is priced from £123,950. The MkIII-R takes the same basic formula as above but comes with a more aggressive look. The additions include functional aero in the form of the distinctive rear diffuser and body-contour front splitter. The R starts at £136,950.
The cars are offered in right-hand drive and, being modern classics, add the peace of mind of contemporary engineering, build quality and reliability. That’s backed up with Clive Sutton’s two-year / 30,000-mile warranty. Order today and you can expect to see your new Cobra by the middle of next year. And if the Cobra isn’t your thing, then as an official Superformance retailer, Clive Sutton can also sell you the other models from the Superformance inventory, including the rather magnificent Shelby Daytona Coupe and GT40.
1 / 13
Keyword: Shelby-licensed Cobras available to order in UK