Sometimes it takes a second and third look. I have to admit that American cars are generally not that high in my favour. A Shelby Cobra was no exception, quite the opposite.
But a good friend showed me a different side to these cars and on a second and third look I discovered many of the beautiful things that I appreciate so much in other vehicles. Beautifully designed details paired with a breathtaking, curvy silhouette result in something very special.
The Shelby Cobra has an almost brutal appearance, but you can see the pure power and speed in it and yet it also looks elegant in a strange way. An American dream that looks best in the classic blue paintwork with the white vertical stripes.
The Shelby Cobra has been known to a wider audience since the film Le Mans 66 – Ford vs Ferrari and the story of the small car manufacturer of former racing driver Carroll Shelby, as portrayed in the film, testifies to a great dedication and passion for fast cars and motor racing in particular.
As a winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959 with a Jaguar D-Type, Carroll Shelby naturally had the necessary background and know-how to know what it takes to win races and championships, first with his Cobra in the important racing events in North America and then later with the Ford GT40 in Europe. But that’s another story.
Back to the Cobra. The Shelby Cobra is an icon of automotive history, and not just American history. The legend and history of Shelby American Automobiles are surrounded by myths and sometimes fairy tales. But in the end, it is also an example of what has always characterised the United States of America, the land of opportunity.
Like so many stories in America in those years, the Shelby Cobra story began in the backyard of a hot rod shop in Venice in 1962, just as Apple conquered the world from the shadows of a garage a few years later. The founders’ belief and self-confidence must have been truly unshakeable – the American dream come true.
For me, the Shelby Cobra is a design icon of a special kind, pure power packed into a beautiful shell, a breathtaking sound, beautifully designed round instruments and a dashboard with delicate toggle switches round off the picture.
Nowadays you see many Cobras at historic motorsport meetings, especially at the legendary Spa Six Hours Race, which was dominated by the Cobras and the Jaguar E-Type Lightweight before an armada of Ford GT40s took over the pace and decided the victories among themselves. At today’s historic racing events, the Shelby Cobras apparently have to start with a hardtop for safety reasons, which detracts a little from the beautiful silhouette, but the sound remains great and the drift angles are no less impressive.
It is always a pleasure to experience and photograph these magnificent American automobiles. Find out more about our photographer Ralph Lüker.
