Finally bought the car of my dreams! 66 Shelby Cobra!!!

I really never thought I'd own one of these but I finally got it! I've dreamed of owning a Shelby Cobra since I was a kid and I saw my first one. Of course over the years they quickly became un-affordable. Nowadays you probably can't touch a real one for a half million dollars. Fortunately for us Cobra fans there are several companies now replicating this awesome car. Many of them very true to the real thing...and even some of those are very expensive. Fortunately the market seems to have an abundance of these cars right now due to all the companies that have been making them along with the poor economy. Over the last three months I bet I have looked at over 100, mostly on eBay. I have bid on several although it was mostly just trying to steal one at a very low price. I finally decided what I would be willing to spend to get one and was able to start making some more serious bids. That's when I came across this car! I absolutely fell in love with this car at first site. It's kinda like our Mavericks. It's different. I always loved Mavericks because you don't see them everywhere. Well, I've never seen another Cobra that looks like this one. The colors, the removable hardtop, and wheels set it apart from any I have ever seen. I had bid on the car but let it go when I didn't think I was going to be able to hang. The auction ended not meeting his reserve. I did a little research on the car including contacting the company that built it from the ground up. I knew I wanted it badly but still thought it would be out of reach. What the heck. I contacted him and made an offer which was going to be the absolute best I could do. He responded back that it wasn't what he wanted but he would consider it. Turns out he was a dealer and took it in trade on another car he had just sold. Lucky for me he wasn't in love with the car and wasn't even a Ford guy. Has a garage full of nice Chevies. I cringe as I say that. Anyway, I kept looking at other cars thinking the conversation was over. About 3 days later he contacted me back saying if I still wanted it he would sell it for my offer since he just found another car he wanted to pick up. WOW!!! The scramble was one!!! I did some checking up on him quickly just to make sure he was legit. After I talked to him on the phone a few times I felt very good about him and the entire deal. I arranged my financing and sent him a deposit to hold it until I could get there to pick it up. I really didn't want to get it shipped because too many things could happen. About 10 days after I sent my deposit I went and got it. DAMN!!! That was a LONG 10 days!!! Anyway, I have it now and it's just an awesome car. It's only had 3100 miles put on it since it was built in 2000. It's a Shell Valley replica and was built fully by the company. It was used by them as their company show car until they decided to sell it in 2001. I showed them the photos and they said it was unchanged since they sold it. The chassis is all powder coated and simply needs a little cleaning and polishing. The body and paint is amazing. It has a 460 in it with a C6 tranny. I was really wanting one with an automatic. It has a mild cam in it and sounds great! Makes it very easy to drive which is what I wanted. I'm not so sure I like the 460 because I've always been a small block guy but it may grow on me. If not I can solve that down the road. I wanted a nice cruiser that would turn some heads. This car fits that bill. The hard top looks awesome on it and makes it drivable in any weather.
Now for the sad news. I will soon be offering my blue Shelby Maverick up for sale. I simply don't have enough storage room for the cars I have plus the ones I am working on. And I have no doubt that it will be put on the back burner for a while and I hate to see it just stored away somewhere. It will help me put some of the money back I used to by the Cobra with also. I'm not getting out of the Maverick business by no means. I'm currently working on a low mileage silver Stallion. Hope to start on my Sprint next, then have another Grabber (the '71 I purchased in 1974) to do after that...IF I live long enough to get all of these done. I have two sons and a grandson that will most likely get the Mavericks some time in the future..."WHEN" I'm dead and gone.
Anyway, meet my new addition!!

 

i saw the pictures on facebook. great car!

 

Thanks! :Handshake

 

Congrats .... I wouldn't mind having a Cobra!

 

Ray, that looks amazing! Good job on staying with it! Enjoy it!

 

Ray,that is awesome!!! I to always wanted one, even sold my 90 must GT with 19k original miles about 10 yrs ago to buy a Factory Five kit, put it in my house instead maybe some day when I'm old like youJK because I'm right behind you now. Congrats, leave the top off and fly.

 

Very Nice! Now..if I could only find a Pantera...I'd be as happy as you.

 

That is one beautiful Cobra, Ray

Very happy for you

 

Awesome car... Congrat's

 

Very nice! Wish I could afford one. I've always dreamed of owning one...

 

Beautiful!! Glad it worked out for you. I hope to see it in person someday.

 

Nice car. Going to be shocking to see your blue Shelby Maverick go up for sale.

 

Thanks Ward.
I looked very heavily at a Factory Five kit also...along with a couple others. To make another long story short I decided it was best to buy one already built so I could start enjoying it immediately. I couldn't buy a kit for what I got this car for not to mention the couple of years of labor I would have to put into it after hours.

 

Yes, a Pantera would be awesome as well. A friend of mine wanted one real bad until he sat in one that we found for sale at an auction a couple years ago. I laughed my butt off watching him climb in and out of it. Wasn't an easy task for him since he's a pretty stocky guy. He hasn't mentioned one since.

 

Thanks guys! I appreciate it very much.