Cobra 427 – 1965 “The Golden Snake”

The 1965 Cobra 427 Mk III, powered by the huge and powerful Ford 7.0-litre (427ci) Side Oiler’ engine, a new chassis and body were designed and developed in cooperation with Ford in Detroit. The new chassis was built using 4・ (101.6mm) main chassis tubes (up from 3・) and coil spring suspension all around; the latter was an especially significant change up front, where the previously used transverse leaf spring had also served as the top link. The new car also had wider wings and a larger radiator intake. Two prototypes were sent from the UK to the USA in October 1964, and Cobra Mark III production began on 1st January 1965.

The Cobra on offer here is a 1965 Shelby test car (chassis CSX3120), which was involved in an accident in Europe at the time.

Following the discovery of part of the chassis in France, which was imported into Switzerland (FORM. 13.20 A) Swiss customs import document.

Rebuilt to FIA specifications by Burgol, a team specialising in historic vehicles based in Geneva, Switzerland, a new, compliant Kirkham chassis made from the original chassis number CSX3120 (the manufacturer’s sheet was obtained for this chassis number) and an aluminium body also supplied by Kirkham.

Impeccably prepared by Burgol, the car was entered in the Peter Auto 60s endurance races for the 2017 season, finishing second at Le Castellet and third at Dijon. The fastest lap at Spa-Francorchamps was 2 min 49 s and the best at Le Castellet was 2 min 28 s. From 2018 to 2020, the car was entered in Peter Auto’s CER1 series at Le Castellet, Spa-Francorchamps and Monza.
The current engine, a 480bhp 427ci (7-litre) V8, was built by Burgol/Lorrtec Race Engines.

Specification highlights include the following:

Kirkham Aluminium body and steel chassis
Independent wishbone suspension front and rear
Koni telescopic dampers
Girling brake callipers
Front discs 290.5mm; rear discs 273mm
Wheels: front 15″ x 7.5″ rear 15″ x 9.5″
FIA approved roll cage
160-litre foam-filled Fuel Safe Systems fuel tank to FIA FT3-1999 specification
Minimum weight 975kg
Original Ford FE 427 C5AE-D ‘Side Oiler’ engine delivering 480bhp built by Lorrtec Race Engines
12.1:1 compression, all steel internals, JE/Mahle
Alloy cylinder heads C5AE-6090F
Dry sump lubrication
Holley four-barrel Carburettor
Ford four-speed Toploader gearbox with oil cooler
Auburn13/45 limited-slip differential – disc-type with oil cooler

For more details see HTP

Extremely competitive and ready to race in any event, this Cobra is sold with its FIA passport (valid until 2029) and Belgian road registration papers (Cobra CSX 3120 1965). A hardtop and removable right and left silencers (for road use) are included in the sale.