This is a genuine AC Cobra 212 S/C (212 is the cubic inch displacement of the engine and S/C stands for Street & Competition).
Built in 2000 at the Brooklands AC factory, the Cobra was built to the very highest spec using world-first, pioneering technology. At the time AC declared that the AC Cobra 212 S/C to be the fastest production car in the world, but they never went on to officially test this notion.
Only two were built: mine as right hand drive and another one which was left hand drive and shipped to the US.
My Cobra has a 3.5L twin turbo Lotus V8 engine and a single-mould, Formula 1 grade carbon fibre body – the first of its kind in the world.
The Cobra looks, sounds and drives like nothing else out there!
My actual Cobra was reviewed and featured in the UK's best TV car programmes and magazines. This includes Top Gear as well as Jeremy Clarkson’s All-Time Top 100 Cars. It was also featured in Car magazine, Evo, Octane and Top Gear magazine. In 2001, the UK’s first ever NASCAR race was held the Rockingham Speedway. My Cobra was the pace car at the start of the race. The car is also mentioned on AC's own website. Full links to videos further down in the advert.
If you are looking for a unique and genuine AC Cobra with blistering performance, star-studded reviews and impeccable history then you might just have found your dream car!
I am not a dealer but a car enthusiast. I have always dreamed of owning a genuine AC Cobra and jumped at the opportunity to buy this one. It's been everything I ever dreamed of and much more. The first thing to say is that the car sounds phenomenal. The original, 'soft' exhaust has been replaced at great cost to one that brings out the true character of the Lotus V8 engine. It screams in full throttle with a deep V8 rumble and then pops and bangs on deceleration - its intoxicating. I have owned around fifteen V8s and this is the best sounding car by far.
Specification
- Built at the Brooklands factory of AC in 2000
- Only 2 were built
- 3.5 litre twin- turbo Lotus V8 / 350 bhp at 6500 rpm (from the Lotus Esprit)
- 32 valve DOHC / Multipoint fuel injection / compression ratio of 8:1
- Weighs 900kg / power to weight ratio of 390bhp per tonne / 295 lb ft of torque at 4,000 rpm
- 0-60 in 4.0 secs / limited to 155 mph
- Pioneering Formula 1 grade Carbon fibre body (world's first single mould carbon fibre body)
- Carbon fibre hard top with bespoke racing side windows and full tonneau cover
- Black Alcantara seats and dash
- Six speed, close-ratio Tremec T56 racing gearbox
- Twin Garrett turbos
- BTR Hydratrak LSD (final drive ratio 3.73:1 to the rear axle)
- AP Racing dual circuit servo-assisted ventilated discs all round
- Low inertia double plate AP racing clutch
- Power assisted rack and pinion steering
- Double wishbone suspension
- Original 15" Halibrand wheels with genuine spinners and correct Avon tyres
- In-built intercom system with headphones
- Covered only 22,400 miles from new with a full and detailed ownership and service history
- MOT to 10 Oct 2024
- The car has been featured in a whole host of TV and magazine features.
- Number plate: X577 HRD
Development of the AC Cobra 212 S/C
Every motoring era tends to have it’s Concorde moment, such as the Ford Model T that started the mass-produced automotive revolution back in the early 20th century.
One machine that always comes up in conversation around the topic of all-time classics is the AC Cobra. A light weight, powerful car with fly like handling and blistering performance. The Cobra exploded onto the world’s racing platform in the 1960s. The Cobra was an instant hit and beat the likes of the ever-dominant Ferraris, Maseratis, Astons and Jaguars. The Cobra racked up wins in the world’s most prestigious races, such as Le Mann (as the Shelby Daytona), Sebring, Daytona and SCCA.
Such wins helped immortalise the Cobra’s legendary, cult-like status.
The oldest car maker in Britain, AC was founded by the Weller Brothers in West Norwood, London back in 1902. From humble beginnings, the AC brand slowly grew and produced a variety of models before it struck upon its watershed moment, the Cobra.
The Cobra was light and powerful thanks to an aluminium V8 engine courtesy of Ford via the involvement of legendary automotive racer and designer, Caroll Shelby.
At the time Shelby was looking for a suitable partner to develop a light-weight, precise handling car into one capable of housing a powerful V8 engine. Shelby approached AC and together they re-designed AC’s already race successful Ace model. The Ace’s aluminium body was redesigned to make it wider and stronger. The new creation, termed the Cobra, could now house a V8 engine as well as bigger wheels & tyres and beefed up suspension and steering.
The subsequent race successes in the Cobra formed the basis of a car that would go on to become an automotive icon. This in turn produced the foundations on which one off AC Cobras would be built later down the line. These one-off specials became increasingly rare and one of the rarest of these is the AC Cobra 212 SC. Only two of these were ever built. One now resides in the United States in left-hand drive configuration whilst the other, in right-hand drive specification, is now offered for sale here.
In 1997, AC decided to shift away from the labour-intensive aluminium bodied Cobras. They developed a pioneering Formula 1 grade carbon fibre, single mould body – the first of its kind in the world. They called this the Carbon Road Series (CRS). 37 CRS Cobras were made. These housed a 5.0 Ford V8 engine producing 225 bhp with a power to weight ratio of 211 bhp/tonne and 0-60 in 5.5 secs. The engines were mated to a 5 speed Tremec gearbox.
AC then decided to make a limited edition, fire breathing version of the CRS Cobra. The AC Cobra 212 S/C was thus born and only two were ever made. This 212 S/C Cobra featured a super light-weight 3.5L twin turbo Lotus V8 engine mated to a 6 speed racing Tremec T56 gearbox. The car produces 350 bhp with 0-60 in only 4 secs and a power to weight ratio of 390bhp per tonne. At the time a ‘normal’ CRS with the Ford V8 would cost in the region of £45,000 whereas the 212 S/C cost £70,000 – a 35% mark up!
Right from when the first Cobra was made in the 1960s to this present day, various different companies continue to offer replica Cobras. Such is the draw of this amazing, iconic car. However, very very few people can say that they own a real Cobra let alone one as rare and highly acclaimed as the Cobra 212 S/C.
TV and magazine features
In October 2000, my Cobra 212 S/C was launched as the centrepiece on AC’s stand at the British International Motorshow at the NEC. It was given the once over by a very young Richard Hammond.
My actual Cobra car was then given a full 6-minute feature on Top Gear with a real Cobra snake as a prop!
The Cobra was also featured in Jeremy Clarkson’s All-Time Top 100 Cars. In fact the episode starts with Jeremy in the Cobra. The Cobra has also been driven by Damon Hill, Mark Blundell and Tiff Needell for features in Car, Evo, Octane and Top Gear magazines. Furthermore, my Cobra was included in Trevor Legate’s book: Cobra – The first 40 Years.
In 2001, the UK’s first ever NASCAR race was held the Rockingham Speedway. My Cobra was the pace car at the start of the race!
My Cobra is also featured on AC's own website.
Even Melinda Messenger posed with the car (see photo)!
Please see the links below:
Top Gear 2001 feature:
Clarkson top 100 cars:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5usc4k
Richard Hammond checks out the Cobra at 2000 NEC Motor Show:
UK’s first ever NASCAR event at Rockingham Race Track in 2001 with my Cobra as the pace car. Video below, watch at 41mins 35 seconds and 44m 44s.
AC's own website featuring my Cobra (click on the year 2000 in the history section):
Ownership & Service History
My Cobra has a full and unbroken service history and I have all the invoices for the maintenance works listed below. I also have a whole host of original AC info on the Cobra, as well as correspondence with AC, magazine features, events participation, all old MOTs, membership info etc etc. See the photos of the sheer volume of information accompanying the car.
The first registered keeper at DVLA was AC themselves in 2000. This would have allowed the car to be used and driven for promotional purposes.
The first actual owner of the cobra was a Mr Ehab Allam of Hull, who acquired the vehicle on 7 Jan 2004. He changed the number plate from ‘X577 HRD’ to ’15 EA’. Mr Allum had the Cobra serviced regularly at JCT600 Ferrari specialist in Leeds.
In 2007, Mr Allam sold the Cobra to Mr James Malone of London. Mr Malone kept the car for five years, having it maintained fastidiously by Sinclaire Motorsport, Bill Shepard and the Ferrari specialist – DK Engineering. During Mr Malone’s ownership he also had a custom carbon fibre hardtop installed as well as a new communications headset system. He also had the exhaust system rebuilt to enhance the sound. Brand new genuine Halibran wheels and Avon tyres were also fitted. Mr Malone added a private plate to the car – X811 DDN. In 2010, Mr Malone drove the Cobra to Le Mans – its spiritual home! He sold the Cobra in 2012 at the Bonhams car auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
From Bonhams, the Cobra was bought by avid car collector – Anthony (Tony) Robinson of West Sussex. Mr Robinson is known to have famously housed over 100 rare cars in his collection. He kept the Cobra for 10 years, in which time the car covered barely 500 miles. During his ownership Mr Robinson had the car fully serviced by Bell & Colville and had the gearbox and clutch rebuilt by renowned specialist Gant Speed Engineering. He also had the interior re-trimmed in its original black Alcantara. Between 2018 – 2021, Mr Robinson had the Cobra stationed and stored at the supercar specialist – Premier GT.
I bought the car in November 2022. During my ownership I have had the car serviced at renowned racing specialist Northampton Motorsport. I have also had a bespoke set of Perspex side windows added with adjustable cut outs. Together with the hard top the side windows make the car weatherproof.
Summary
Find me another genuine AC Cobra this special and with this level of media coverage and provenance. And I think I have priced the car very sensibly. I could easily have asked for over £100k.
No part exchange - thank you.
My Cobra can be viewed in the Northampton area.
You can call me on 0788 758 0506 with any questions.