To commemorate its 50th anniversary, Shelby American has announced that it will be creating 50 units of a limited-production Continuation Cobra, named the CSX7000 Shelby 289 FIA Cobra, the manufacturer said in a recent press release.
The Continuation Cobra will be built as a replica of the 289 FIA Cobra, which competed alongside Jaguar and Aston Martin in the World Manufacturer Championship fifty years ago. The World Manufacturer Championship was considered to be one of the most significant racing events of that era.
The new cars will share many features with its predecessor, such as its authentic style suspension, roundels, racing stripes and its Viking Blue paintwork. However, the car will also undergo several improvements, including a stronger frame, modern disc brakes and a new dash. The car will also be fitted with a detachable steering wheel and will come with a fitted car cover. Buyers will be able to choose either an aluminium or fibreglass body.
John Luft, president of Shelby American, commented that Shelby Cobras were one of the most significant cars in American History, and were piloted by the likes of Bob Bondurant, Phil Hill and Ken Miles. Ken LaViolette, designer at Shelby American, said that the new cars are improved in terms of safety and performance, but stressed that such improvements have not impacted on the car’s originality or excitement. A prototype of the new model was revealed at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, on the 17th of January.
Each of the new cars will be sold without the drivetrain, so buyers will have to buy this separately and put the two together. When on the market, the fibreglass-bodies Cobra will be sold at $94,995 and the aluminium-bodied version will be sold at $159,995. The Cobras will be available to buy through a specific network of Shelby American Cobra dealerships.
