1962-65 Exoto AC Cobra 260 & 289 Archives | Exoto

Hard-top | Red/Red on Black

MRDavidson — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 05:36:45 +0000

The post Hard-top | Red/Red on Black appeared first on Exoto.

First Racing Cobra | 1962 L.A. Times Grand Prix | Bill Krause | Finish Line Plus

MRDavidson — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:24:05 +0000

The second Cobra ever produced was the first Cobra ever raced. Peter Brock put the early development miles on chassis CSX2002 before the younger and more aggressive Bill Krause took over driving duties. Modified only with higher compression and Spaulding Flamethrower ignition, the 260 c.i. engine was virtually stock. Fat exhaust pipes hung below the door sills, and air scoops were added to cool the brake discs, and a roll bar installed. Add a little more ventilation in the bonnet and a small racing screen, and you have yourself a racing Cobra 260! These modifications were more than sufficient for performance. Reliability would prove to be another matter.

That the Cobra was allowed to race at Riverside at all is attributable to Shelby’s ability to charm. SCCA rules required that production cars must have been built in minimum numbers… and the Cobra far from met this criteria. The race stewards had received a great number of entries by Corvette 327 drivers, however, and opened up a class for them. Partly as a result of their curiosity and partly as a result of Shelby’s gift of persuasion, the race organizers let the Cobra start.

At the start, Krause hounded the leading Corvettes. As he grew comfortable pushing the Cobra in competition, he pulled ahead of the field and by the end of an hour had a mile and a half lead! But in its maiden race, a rear hub carrier broke, putting the Shelby American team out of the race. It didn’t take a genius to realize, however, what the future held for the Cobra once the bugs had been worked out.

The post First Racing Cobra | 1962 L.A. Times Grand Prix | Bill Krause | Finish Line Plus appeared first on Exoto.

Second, 1963 Road America 500 | Ken Miles, Bob Holbert

MRDavidson — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:40:36 +0000

The post Second, 1963 Road America 500 | Ken Miles, Bob Holbert appeared first on Exoto.

First Cobra Victory | 1963 Riverside SCCA | Dave MacDonald

MRDavidson — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 00:31:04 +0000

For 1963, Shelby hired a young tiger by the name of Dave MacDonald. He was anxious to get a full-time professional ride and happily accepted what Shelby was able to pay. The Californian was already well aware of the Cobra’s potential, having watched Cobra taillights show the way around Riverside for an hour in 1962. In that race, Shelby had seen his potential and was willing to take a chance with the relatively unknown driver.

When the regional races at Riverside were held in January 1963, Shelby and his team had worked the bugs out of the Cobra and could sense that their first victory was just around the corner. MacDonald, together with teammate Ken Miles, trounced the Corvettes, driving off into the distance. The pair of Cobras were simply the class of the field. So much so, that Miles took advantage of his massive performance advantage to stop in the pits for a drink only to exit and re-pass the Corvettes without even breaking a sweat.

Driving his first race in a Cobra, MacDonald earned the Cobra its first of many victories… and on the following day he brought home the Cobra’s second victory! The future was looking bright… very bright!

The post First Cobra Victory | 1963 Riverside SCCA | Dave MacDonald appeared first on Exoto.

First Racing Cobra | 1962 L.A. Times Grand Prix | Bill Krause

MRDavidson — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 00:17:17 +0000

The post First Racing Cobra | 1962 L.A. Times Grand Prix | Bill Krause appeared first on Exoto.