The fearsome AC Cobra is a car that every petrolhead dreams about owning or at least driving. The brainchild of the prolific Carroll Shelby, it saw the marriage of a pert British roadster with a brutish American V8. Since less than a thousand original Cobras were produced, as you can imagine, finding one is tough. However, thanks to firms such as Factory Five Racing, there are plenty of excellent replicas around that not only emulate but improve upon the original's already eye-widening performance. This Factory Five-built machine has done 32,000 miles, highlighting that it's not a car that must be carefully tucked away and brought out when the stars align. No, you can drive it as often as you desire and dare.

Exterior and Interior

This 1965 Factory Five Ford Cobra Replica showcases the iconic Cobra muscular lines in a red paint job that's complemented by a set of matte gray racing stripes running down the top of the car. Furthermore, you'll find the black alloy wheels wrapped in medium-profile tires lend the car a particularly impressive stance that tastefully straddles the line between classic and modern. As you've no doubt gleaned, this is an open-topped car with no convertible top. However, there is a set of dual roll bars to ensure adequate safety. And yes, the car is road-legal, as evidenced by its full set of lighting that includes turn indicators and proper headlamps. Open a door and enter the two-seat cabin, or hop over the side since the car sits low to the ground. The choice is yours. Either way, you'll enter a black cabin with two leather-trimmed low-back seats. Each seat sports a Simpson racing harness with Cobra branding to keep you firmly in place. If you're the driver, you'll be gripping a Sparco flat-bottomed steering wheel and shifting gears via a black and red Cobra-motif gear knob. Ahead of you lies a set of Pro Comp Ultra-Lite gauges from Auto Meter, indicating revs and speed. The center console hosts five more gauges that tell you the fuel level, coolant temperature, oil temperature, oil pressure, and battery voltage. If you're the passenger, there isn't much to do apart from sit down, hold on, and be quiet.

Engine

This 1965 Factory Five Ford Cobra Replica enjoys a massive 408ci Kicker V8 under its hood that sends power to the rear wheels via a manual transmission. There's no traction control or driver aids of any sort here, so you'd better have proper control over your right foot. This isn't a car for lead-footed, ham-fisted drivers. Treat it with respect, and it will reward you with the time of your life. Braking is provided by a set of discs on all wheels, with slotted and drilled rotors, for optimal performance even under extended periods of hard driving. Finally, you'll enjoy the V8's beautiful soundtrack via the set of dual side exit exhaust pipes.