When someone mentions the words “Shelby” or “Cobra", two things come to mind: big power and mind blowing performance. Taking a small car and shoehorning a high performance V8 between its fenders is a way of life for American hot rodders, but nobody did it better than Ol Shel. And the great thing about today is we can take a timeless design, sprinkle in a few modern components, add some advanced engineering and create an out-of-this-world custom which maximizes both speed and appeal. This 1965 Cobra, which began life at Factory Five Racing and is currently owned by The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson, is the ultimate car for someone who wants a pro-built piece without the hassle of tracking down parts and waiting for someone to bolt them together! If you’re one of the growing number of enthusiasts who wants to walk in, write a check and drive away the proud owner of a top notch classic, RK Motors Charlotte has you covered!

When this roadster was chosen as a tribute, nothing was overlooked or forgotten as the car was assembled over a two year period to be as close to an authentic 1965 Cobra as possible. And believe me, all that hard work really paid off because the car’s smooth and solid fiberglass body would definitely give an original aluminum roadster a serious run for its money. Of course Factory Five has long been applauded for their great fiberglass work, and this car is no exception as its virtually flawless gelcoat doesn’t have a wave or ripple anywhere. Additionally, the typical tight gaps found on all Factory Five projects result in excellent panel fit and a smooth canvas for a Porsche Artic Silver Metallic basecoat and a traditional black Cobra stripe. And completing the car’s head turning good looks is a set of correct reproduction PS Engineering wheels which spin fresh 235/60/15 front and 275/50/15 rear BF Goodrich Radial T/As around authentic wing nut center caps that are equipped with functional safety wires.

The difference between winning the game and being relegated to a forgotten casualty of kit car has-beens is a direct result of detail and accuracy. This car, which features a correct frame, a correct aluminum trunk panel and correct aluminum engine bay panels, is the kind of build that looks good from any distance and performs well under any circumstances. The glass, including correct visors is brand new and the driver side exterior mirror appears correct to 1965. New headlights and tail lights present as if they could be original equipment. And jet-hot coated side pipes wrap the exact appearance and profile of an original Cobra in years of weather-proof reliability. Behind the driver seat you’ll find a traditional roll bar that’s finished in the same flat black hue as the car’s traditional bumperettes. And even small things like mesh grilles, accurate fender gills and a correct aluminum fuel filler look good and feel original. Spend five minutes getting up close and personal with this roadster and it becomes very apparent it was built to mimic a true Cobra in every way possible.

But enough about the trim, the real measure of any contender is muscle and performance, and I assure you this tribute won’t disappoint. With a 351 Windsor block that’s been stroked to 383 cubic inches, this quick Cobra will come out on top of any back country street war, staged or not! The top end of that awesome stroker block is beefed up by a 750 Demon carburetor, an Edelbrock RPM aluminum intake and World Product Jack Roush heads. An MSD Distributor provides the spark via high quality Taylor plug wires while a hydraulic cam, hydraulic lifters and roller tip rockers turn compression into power. Cooling isn’t an issue as a Ron Davis Racing aluminum radiator and an aluminum water pump keep everything in check. Just under the hood a Cobra air filter and Cobra valve covers inversely complement the black on silver exterior paint. The clean, flat black engine bay is completed by aluminum pulleys and braided hoses which add just the right amount of detail and bright work. And a look underneath the car shows the continuation of that clean black and metal theme with the black frame and suspension components contrasting the natural finish metal floorpan.

One of the best things about buying a completed project is the modern technology already incorporated into its DNA. It’s almost as if this car has been trained its whole life to compete and become the pride of the whole Cobra community. Bolted behind its hot small block engine is a modern TKO 5-speed performance transmission. That transmission feeds power to a proven Mustang 8.8 inch rear axle housing which is complete with tall 3.73 gears. When this drivetrain is combined with Factory Five’s modern Mustang 5.0 based suspension, the result is a car that’s insanely fun to drive because of its low power to weight ratio but doesn’t need to stop at every gas station in the process. However, if you do need to stop, power assisted front disc brakes provide excellent resistance to the 383’s big power.

You can’t win any battle without being equipped with the best tools and skills available; and the inside of this Cobra is one of the most complete and accurate Factory Five interiors we’ve ever seen. You’ll find new correct bucket seats finished in black leather with four point Simpson harnesses. A correct reproduction dash houses correct Smiths gauges and features the correct 8,000 RPM no redline tachometer. New carpet is protected by Cobra floor mats. And details include a replica wood and aluminum steering wheel, a chrome shifter and hand brake and a new chrome fire extinguisher. Behind the cockpit a fully carpeted trunk houses only the battery and retains much of its usability. I haven’t seen many replicas that are this well done and have this level of detail. From top to bottom, nothing has been overlooked inside or out.

Carefully assembled, flawless in condition and equipped with the hardware to deliver the ride of your life, this Cobra is sure to satisfy anyone in the market for the complete package. Why waste your valuable time waiting for a car to be built when we have everything you could ever want sitting in our showroom? You simply can’t miss this opportunity to own this turn-key Factory Five car that’s just as nice as an original Cobra, and probably more fun to drive, at a fraction of the price!