Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 427-Powered Backdraft Racing RT4B Roadster.
The Shelby Cobra is an unmistakable icon in the collector-car realm. Originally developed by the British company AC Cars, it was produced from 1962 through 1967 and became known as a venerable muscle machine with Ford-derived power. This hand-built replica is styled after the 1965 Shelby Cobra but adds modern chassis underpinnings, an advanced braking system, an adjustable suspension, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. Most importantly, it receives thrust from a 519-horsepower big-block V8 for top-tier performance. This custom one-off roadster is being sold by a dealer in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the auction ends this Friday.
Starting life as a Backdraft Racing RT4B Black Edition, this roadster is a limited-production, hand-built component car. Backdraft Racing was founded in 2001 by two World Champion Racers and is based in Boynton Beach, Florida. Over the last 20 years, Backdraft has become known as a leader in custom replica cars, and it offers a suite of customization options for every build. Today’s Slate Blue feature car is loaded to the max with upgrades, including an optional GT body, ceramic side pipes, black headlight surrounds, dual roll bars, and a removable hood scoop. Footwork comes from 18-inch matte-black wheels shod in grippy Nitto radials.
The driver-centric cockpit offers dual buckets trimmed in diamond-stitched black leather, and all the right ingredients are present for an engaging driving experience such as a simple instrument panel with a 200-mph speedometer and a 10,000-rpm tachometer, safety harnesses, an upholstered center console, a carbon fiber dash face, and an Alcantara-rimmed steering wheel.
The heart of this one-off build is where the magic really happens: Power is plentiful, thanks to a big-block Ford 427cid V8 mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The powerplant has been upgraded with a Holley Terminator fuel-injection system, ceramic-coated headers, an aluminum radiator, and an auxiliary cooling fan. Output is rated at 519 horsepower at the rear wheels, which should move this lightweight roadster with authority and ease.
Of course, what speeds up must also slow down. Luckily, this Cobra has a strong set of four-wheel disc brakes for getting things back to a reasonable pace. Without a doubt, this RT4B replica roadster offers the ultimate in style and driving dynamics – along with the impressive performance that made the original Shelby Cobra such a home run among enthusiasts in the first place.
The auction for this Backdraft Racing RT4B Roadster ends Friday, September 29, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT)
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