| About Cobra 1953-1990 |
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| October 1953 AC Ace, based on Tojeiro twin-tube chassis and with AC engine,unveiled at Earls Court Motor Show, London. 1956 AC Ace available with Bristol six-cylinder engine. 1952 Ford lightweight small-block VS engine programme started in USA. December 1960 Carroll Shelby races for the last time, at Riverside; plans to build sports car. March 1961 British Ford six-cylinder engine tried in Ace as supplies of Bristol engine threatened by Bristol switching to Chrysler VS power. September 1961 Shelby contacts AC with ideas for V8-engined sports car based on AC Ace. November 1961 First lightweight' Ford V8 engines delivered to AC via Shelby Winter 1961-62 AC and Shelby working on first Cobra prototype in Thames Ditton. January 1962 Prototype Cobra runs for the first time, at Silverstone, probably with 221cu in engine. February 1962 Engine removed and first prototype, chassis no. CSX2OOO, shipped to Shelby in Santa Fe Springs. Car fitted with 260 engine at Riverside. April 1962 Cobra introduced to press and first shown in public at New York Motor show May 1962 First magazine tests of prototype Cobra appear. July 1962 First three 'production' Cobras completed and shipped to USA;further cars followed soon after, all using 260 V8's. October 1962 First Cobra raced for first time, by Billy Krause at Riverside before he retired. January 1963 First 289 Cobra completed, chassis no.CSX2075. January 1963 Cobra's first race win, at Riverside. March 1963 First production rack and pinion Cobra completed,chassis no. CSX2127. June 1963 Two Cobra' entered at Le Mans:one retired;the other finished seventh. Late 1963 AC Ace ceases production. October 1963 First 427 engined prototype built November 1963 First right hand drive Cobra delivered to UK November 1963 Work' started on racing coupe project this became Daytona coupe. February 1964 First Daytona coupe, based on chassis no. CSX2257, tested at Riverside. Took three GT class wins during 1964, and fourth overall at Le Mans. March 1964 Ken Miles raced prototype 427, on leaf-spring chassis no. C5X2166, at Sebring; crashed in practice, and was retired from race. April 1964 AC tested own 259 coupe at Le Mans. on leaf-spring chassis no. 'A95'. November 1964 Leaf-spring chassis production for export stopped. December 1964 Second 427 prototype 'Flip-Top', on chassis no. CSX2l9S, debuted by Miles at Nassau Speed Weeks. January 1965 Production 427 announced, with totally re designed coil-spring chassis and heavily revised body. Coil-spring chassis no's, start at CSX3OOl. March 1965 Leaf-spring chassis production ended completely after 655 cars built. Early 1965 Work in hand on 427 'Super Coup 'in USA and UK, but project eventually abandoned (no. CSX3054) finally completed by private owner, 1980. 1965 Daytona coupes won World Manufacturers Championship for GT cars, with six GT class wins. October 1965 AC showed Frua-bodied AC 428 at Earls Court UK. May 1966 AC start producing 289-engined version of coil-spring chassis for European market. February 1968 Five special long-wheelbase chassis built for Paramount Pictures. February 1969 Final coil-spring car completed in European series, after a total of 348 built. 1969 Eight 427-type coil-spring-type chassis built by AC for US-based electric car project, on chassis EFX50l-505; several later converted to 427 replicas. 1980 Autokraft MK4 introduced based ,on original coil-spring' Cobra chassis and body tooling. February 1982 Autokraft granted rights to use logo on MK4; soon after, Brian Angliss bought controlling interest in AC Cars Ltd. October 1987 Ford buy controlling interest in AC from Angliss. Mid 1990 Ford announce intentions to close AC Cars Ltd, but Angliss fights decision and continues building AC Mk4 Cobra. |
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