1965 Backdraft Racing Cobra Replica

1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Replica — Backdraft Build, Roush 427SR, Signed by Chip Foose

The 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 is the car that defined what an American sports car could be. Carroll Shelby took an AC Ace body, dropped a big-block Ford V8 into it, and produced something so raw and fast that even Ferrari took notice. The original 427 Cobra — known internally as the S/C, for Semi-Competition — weighed around 2,500 pounds and could hit 60 miles per hour in under four seconds by mid-1960s standards. Ford officially ended Cobra production in 1967, and only 356 of the 427-powered cars were ever built. That scarcity, combined with the car's motorsport legacy, pushed original 427 Cobra prices into seven-figure territory decades ago.

What Backdraft Racing built in response is the most serious answer to that problem. Founded in South Africa and later operating out of the United States, Backdraft Racing produces Cobra replicas designed to satisfy buyers who want the shape, the feel, and the performance of a 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 without the fragility and expense of an original. Their cars are built on steel tube-frame chassis with independent suspension at all four corners — something the original 427 Cobras never had — and are engineered to accept modern drivetrain components without compromise. This particular example goes several steps further than a standard Backdraft build, pairing the car with a Roush 427SR engine, period-correct visual details, and a signature from legendary automotive designer Chip Foose. It is a car that was put together with a clear purpose: maximum driving experience in the body of an American icon.

Key details
VIN / chassis: AA9BMAAHV91CN1037

Offered by Skyway Classics, 10420 Portal Crossing, Bradenton, FL 34212. Taxes, title and fees not included.

Photos courtesy of Skyway Classics.