Before Shelby came along, AC was just another cool British sports car manufacturer, but that all changed in a big way when Carroll Shelby himself contacted the company in 1961, asking if it could build him a car capable of housing a V8 engine. The rest, as they say, is history, and since then, original Shelby Cobra models are worth considerable amounts of money, spawning countless kit cars, an all-electric remake, and even a recreation sporting a carbon fiber body. Now, the company that started it all is set to debut a brand new version of the two-seat roadster dubbed the AC Cobra GT, once again with Ford power underhood.
The AC Cobra GT won’t be fully revealed until the spring of 2023, but we do know a few things about it, as well as what it will look like – for the most part. AC Cars has been working on the new Cobra GT for three years to this point, modernizing its classic roadster in a number of ways while also retaining the classic profile that made the original car such an important part of automotive history.
The new AC Cobra GT is designed to be more of a grand touring machine with a high level of refinement, riding on a brand new extruded aluminium space frame chassis created specifically for the car by Icona Design Group and Cecomp Spa in Italy, as well as carbon fiber and aluminum bodywork. Power comes from a supercharged Ford 5.0L V8 Coyote engine that generates 654 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque, which is mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or 10-speed automatic. Larger than the original and weighing in at just 3,300 pounds, the AC Cobra GT will sprint to 60 miles-per-hour in 3.6 seconds, according to the manufacturer.
Unlike the car that provided inspiration for it, the new Cobra GT will also feature a host of amenities, including power windows, air conditioning, in-car entertainment, and a removable hardtop, which should make it more pleasant to drive across longer distances. AC hasn’t yet revealed pricing for this reborn classic, but that – along with full specifications – will be released when it’s unveiled in a few months.
We’ll have more on the Cobra GT soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Cobra news and continuous Ford news coverage.
Comments
This has potential!
About time Ford, build cars and trucks that we want not what you think that we should have!
Ford isn’t building it. Read the article: “Now, the company that started it all is set to debut a brand new version of the two-seat roadster dubbed the AC Cobra GT, once again with Ford power underhood.”
That would be AC Cars.
Well, first of all, the car that Carrol Shelby used was the AC Ace, a four cylinder British car built by AC Cars. It didn’t become a “Cobra” until Shelby replaced the four banger with a 260 CI Ford V8 and called it a “Cobra”. Later versions used both the 289 and 427 CI V8s. I would be curious to know who currently owns the rights to the Cobra name as Ford and Shelby American, as well as a multitude of replica kit car manufacturers, have had legal issues over the use of the name in the past.
Actually, BLKSN8K, your oh so cute and clever alias notwithstanding, the original AC Ace roadster had a Bristol 6 cylinder engine which was really a copy of a BMW 6 cylinder, never a 4 cylinder. Ever.
Less time coming up with clever names and more time doing homework. Google, Wikipedia, etc.
Before Shelby came along the ‘AC’ was an ‘AC’. Not an AC Cobra. The AC only became a Cobra AFTER Shelby married the AC with a Ford V8.
I saw a redesigned and updated Cobra somewhere on a feed and it was very nicely done. It was using a Coyote motor and I can’t recall the transmission and rear end, but it was all updated. No mention of availability or cost.
I’ve been thinking about something like this for a while now, nice to see it become a reality. I’d be surprised if it wasn’t priced out of my reach. Still, fantasizing about a British racing green with a tan leather interior color combination kept my imagination intertained while working at the plant that night! Thanks