Made right in California, this year the Shelby Cobra 427 is celebrating six decades of being one of its era’s most intimidating sports cars. 2025’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will celebrate this historic anniversary with a special Cobra display on the show field, honoring its rich legacy of design, evolutionary performance and speed.
The “big block Cobra” has more than earned its iconic status ever since the day it was introduced and started winning races. It was so named after the Ford 427 cubic inch V8 engine which propelled it to dominate SCCA racing, setting performance benchmarks that eventually stood for years.
Concours Chairman Sandra Button said, “Carroll had a strong personal connection to Pebble Beach, racing and winning here in the 1950s and later sharing his cars at the Concours, so we are honored to feature his Cobras this year. The design, performance, and historic wins of these iconic race cars highlight the legendary pairing of Carroll and Shelby American with AC Cars and Ford Motor Company.”
Thanks to his revolutionary work with high performance sports cars including the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40, Carroll Shelby had become an automotive legend in his own time. However he had found success even earlier as a racing driver, scoring numerous triumphs including the last Pebble Beach Road Race and at Le Mans while competing in Formula 1. His is a true story of steely grit and determination, even against the odds.
Debuting in 1962, the Shelby Cobra paired its AC Ace chassis with Ford 260 V8 power, while a bigger 289 cubic inch engine came later on. The Cobra 427 became its ultimate evolution in 1965, featuring the powerful namesake 427 cubic inch engine along with dynamic capabilities to match, courtesy of a new chassis and coilover suspension.
Edsel B. Ford II said, “Ford’s ‘Total Performance’ era of the 1960s was epic, equaled only today with the company’s global motorsport program. Carroll Shelby was vital to our dominance in the sixties and his 427 Cobra put an exclamation point on that success! I am delighted that these iconic cars will be celebrated on this anniversary year.”
Carroll Shelby’s grandson Aaron Shelby, who also sits on the board of Carroll Shelby International and will be a most suitable representative for the Shelby community at the celebration, added, “The Shelby Cobra remains an automotive icon even 60 years after its introduction. Few cars have achieved the fame and staying power of the Shelby Cobra. Not only does it represent performance, this sportscar represents American ingenuity! Simple but effective, it was created with grit and determination.”
Four 427 Cobra versions were eventually produced, these being the “Comp” (competition), S/C (semi-competition), Street and Narrow Hip. They will be proudly displayed on the lawn at Pebble Beach alongside both the first and final production Cobras.
1962 Shelby Cobra 289 First Production Roadster
The first Shelby Cobra Production Roadster sold to a customer, this Cobra’s standing remains proud as the only one to compete in the Tour de France Automobile. Menacingly finished in black right down to its wheels, it was initially powered by the 260 cubic inch V8, before receiving the stronger 289 engine later on in life.
1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Narrow Hip Roadster
This Shelby Cobra 427 from 1966 features a narrower tracked version of the standard Cobra chassis, and became renowned for its uncommon design and powerful engine. Shelby American only produced 32 “Narrow Hip” 427 Cobras, and this example is one of only ten cars still remaining in their unmodified original configuration.
1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Competition Roadster
Also produced in 1966 & distinguished by its compact racing aero screen, this Cobra 427 Competition Roadster capably took on SCCA events at famous tracks including Meadowdale, Wilmont Hills, and Road America. It significantly retains all of its original components including the body, drivetrain, and chassis, while looking rather gorgeous in its combination of blue painted bodywork with gold wheels.
1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster
A road-going version from 1966, this particular Shelby Cobra has been recognized as one of the most authentic of all street Cobra 427s, featuring completely original componentry throughout.
1967 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C Roadster
Produced for the 1967 model year, this is one of only 29 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C Roadsters ever made – one of the most revered Cobra models of all time, as it embodied the Competition’s more hardcore motorsport character in a road usable variant.
1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster
The final Shelby Cobra 427 ever produced, this 1967 Roadster has received an extensive restoration encompassing all original components, including its hardware, wiring, vinyl, leather and more.
Carroll Shelby’s remarkable automotive vision will be honoured by this compactly curated yet highly significant display of Cobras, highlighting the Shelby Cobra 427 legacy’s key elements, right along with its transformative impact on motorsports that continues to be celebrated even today.
