Back in the early days it was not unusual to drive your sports car to work during the week, then race it on Sundays. The true "dual purpose car" was alive and well; just think of "rebel" James Dean: he drove his Porsche 550 Spyder--in full race trim--on public highways to every competition event he entered.
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That would be impossible in the year 2006, because today's road racing cars are highly specialized animals. A car that's competitive on the racing circuit can't be a vehicle you'd feel comfortable driving on public roads, right?
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Well, exceptions confirm the rule, they say.
Presented here is one of the most desirable sports cars of all time, a '65 Cobra, as originally envisioned by Texan Carroll Shelby. This particular car is a race winning competitor in NASA's Factory Five Challenge Series. It also is fully licensed for highway use. Hence, it's the proverbial dual purpose sports car.
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Professionally built to the tune of well over $50K, this snake is a fully sanctioned road race car. Thanks to a savvy owner who managed to obtain one of the five-hundred highly coveted SB100 special construction permits available each year, VIN *FFR5011SP* is now legally tagged as a 2006 Special Construction COBRA.
After completion and pro testing in late 2004, the car participated in a most important race weekend, NASA's version of SCCA's Runoffs, competing for the series' National Championship title. It WON, on its first time out, and still proudly displays its 2004 Factory Five National Champion decal on the hood.
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On July 15/16 of 2005, on its first regular race weekend at Summit Point, the car catapulted its celebrity pilot, Brian Cunningham, grandson of motorsports legend Briggs Swift Cunningham, onto the podium again. Three's a charm: on September 1/2, 2005 at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), Ryan Spencer-Smith piloted the red snake, proudly displaying number 01, to another podium finish!
The car is currently licensed through November of 2006. It's a true race car for the street, not a wannabe, not a look-a-like. Thus it is the ideal candidate not only for track days, but also for all-out competition events that require participating cars to be street licensed.
Despite its otherwordly performance and handling, this Cobra can be driven like any other sports car. Thanks to gobs of torque, it idles nicely in stop-and-go traffic and surges powerfully toward redline from any speed, in any gear.
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The secret to this superior display of oomph is the fully smog legal, late model FORD 5.0-liter H.O. powerplant that has an easy life in the lightweight, tube-framed, aluminum-panelled, fiberglass-skin Cobra. It's the spec engine for NASA's Pro Racing series; every competitor has to run it. Mated to a Borg-Warner 5-speed T5 trans, shifting is as precise as you'd expect it from a race car. Clutch action is surprisingly light.
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Being a first class product, the Factory Five Cobra does not suffer from premature stress cracks or other defects. Having seen very limited track use, the car shows only minimal blemishes, such as a few light surface scratches. It has never been in an accident, neither on the track, nor on the street, and has covered just 1,113 miles to date. The Signal Red paint is very glossy--this snake is a real eyecatcher!
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Fitted with expensive 17x9JJ A-TECH Monoblock alloy wheels and a set of brand new, super high performance YOKOHAMA 275/70ZR17 tires, this Cobra features a low, mean stance--she's ready to pounce!
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The ultra-potent Cobra's builder is very well-known in racing circles: Marcus Motorsports, very successful on tracks around the nation, who has been active not only in the FFR challenge, but also in GT2 and the ALMS series. It's not a home-made bitsa, but a 100% professionally assembled racer. Only highest quality components were used, and it shows.
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Functional side exhaust is mandatory on any real Cobra. Exhaust note is quite mellow, until you reach about 4,000 rpm, at which point the snake turns into a roaring lion.
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If you're keen to enjoy the open air experience to the fullest--remember Lotus Eleven or Jaguar XKSS?--you'll appreciate the LEXAN windscreen. A pair of racing goggles is included, too!
Of course, a full windshield could easily be bolted on, if so desired.
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Dash layout is functional to the extreme, without sacrificing the Cobra's inherent beauty. A full complement of AUTO METER gauges, leather wrapped MOTO-LITA steering wheel, aircraft-style racing switches, and all the proper lights for street use are present and work flawlessly. Yes, there's even a horn!
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The cockpit features dual KIRKEY aluminum race seats with 5-point SIMPSON safety harnesses. There's a quick release steering wheel hub, a FIA-compliant SAFECRAFT fire system, and a master power switch. Brake bias adjuster on the fly, DYNAMAT-covered floors, SPARCO race pedals; everything you need to hit the track next weekend!
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Ready for a test drive?
Sure you are, but before we take off, there are two more areas to inspect: the trunk and the undercarriage.
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A glimpse into the trunk tells you everything: this is a full blown, tube framed, aluminum skinned racing machine! Beautifully executed by Marcus Motorsports with Dzus fasteners throughout, the trunk is sparkling clean and fully finished.
Note that this snake comes with its own AMB racing transponder (#1720390), a set of spun aluminum headlamp protectors, RACING ELECTRONICS intercom system, and a brand new, never-been-mounted, aluminum front spoiler ("diffuser"), optional equipment for the FF Challenge series, as well as spare brake rotors and pads.
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Here's where the Cobra really shines: down under!
The professional workmanship of Marcus Motorsports is second to none. The race Cobra is based on a tubular space frame chassis with two oversized, longitudinal main tubes, just like you'd find it on a Maserati 3500GT or AC Bristol. Further supported by riveted Reynolds aluminum panels, it makes for a super-strong platform that is as responsive as it is safe.
Speaking of safety, take a close look at the massive LAKEWOOD scattershield, housing the 10½-inch clutch.
For a detailed specification sheet, click here.
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Go-kart like handling is achieved by using fully adjustable, aluminum coil-over suspension on all 4 corners, further supported by dual competition sway bars. Ford multi-link live axle is bulletproof. Go-juice is stored safely in a FIA-approved FUEL SAFE fuel cell with bladder, fed via the traditional, very attractive aluminum flip-top filler.
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The secret to the Cobra's performance lies in its favorable power-to-weight ratio. Weighing in at only 2,450 lbs including driver, it needs a mere 4.8 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. But the roller coaster ride won't stop there, as the tall-geared snake will pull hard up to about 145mph without the slightest sign of fatigue.
Thanks to its oversized aluminum racing radiator with multiple fans, not even triple-digit temperatures will make this reptile break a sweat. Designed to run at high speeds during endurance races, it will do so for many hours, with utter reliability.
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Those who have racing or at least track experience, check this out: the Cobra will take Willow Springs' infamous Turn Nine at about 120 mph. It corners at 1.1g and decelerates violently on its shaved spec tires. Not even a Dodge Viper Competition Coupe or Grand Am GT3 Cup Porsche can do much better, and they'll cost two or three times as much as this wild snake!
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Driving it on the street is another matter altogether. All of a sudden, you are looked upon as the wealthy collector, exercising his classic toy. Your red Cobra will attract crowds, young and old, male and female, wherever you park. It's the most macho car we can imagine driving around town, with intimidating performance to match its mesmerizing looks.
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The best of both worlds: a street-legal, race-winning Cobra. With just over 1,000 miles on the odometer, it's almost new; however, it can already boast of a proud pedigree. If you've ever dreamed of being the top dog on the highway and at the track, you only need one car: this super-hot Cobra.
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Best of all, you don't have to wait in line to have a competent builder manufacture a Cobra for you; neither will you have to deal with the dreaded DMV licensing process that can be very frustrating.
Here's a unique opportunity to purchase a fully sorted Super Cobra. A proven winner, complete with the coveted street license. One of a very small number of fully sanctioned street/race Cobras, this fine example will hold its value while you're having the time of your life driving it.
Addendum:
This Cobra sold in September 2006 to a gentleman in Los Angeles, California.