Production turned out to be simple, as AC had already made most of the modifications needed to fit the V8 when they decided to use the Ford 2.6L, including the drastic Ace front changes. The most important modification was to install a stronger rear differential to deal with increased horsepower. A Salisbury 4HU unit with internal brake discs (to reduce unsprung weight) was chosen over the old one. The new differential was the same one that fitted the Jaguar E-Type. In the production version, the internal brakes returned to the wheels to cut costs. The only modification to the front of the first Cobra compared to the Ace 2.6l was the steering gear, which was moved backwards to accommodate the wide V8 engine.

The first 75 Cobra Mark I (including the prototype) was powered by the 4.2 L engine. The remaining 51 Mark I received a larger version of the Ford Windsor engine, the 4.7 L V8. At the end of 1962 Alan Turner, chief engineer at AC, made a major change to the front of the car, and was able to equip it with rack and pinion steering, maintaining the suspension by transverse blades. The new car went into production in 1963 and was called the Mark II. The steering arms came from the MGB while the new steering column came from the Beetle. About 528 Mark II Snakes were produced until the summer of 1965.

In 1963 the Cobra began to lose its supremacy in racing. Shelby tried to power it with the 390 cubic inch Ford FE engine. Ken Miles drove a Mark II with this engine, and
The new car was designed in cooperation with Ford in Detroit. A new chassis was built using 4-inch (instead of 3 ") tubing and spring suspension. The new car also had wider fenders and a larger air intake for the radiator. It was powered by the Ford 427 (7.0) engine. L) with 425hp, which provided a top speed of 262km / h) in the conventional model and 485hp and 180 miles per hour in the competition model The Cobra Mark III began production on January 1, 1965, two prototypes were sent to the US in October 1964, to be finished at Shelby's workshop. Although impressive cars, the car was a financial failure and did not sell well. In fact to save costs many Cobras were equipped with a cheaper version of the 427 (the 428 ), intended for use on roads rather than in competition.Approximately 300 cars were shipped to the US between 1965 and 1966, including the competition version.27 cars were sold in Europe with the most powerful engine and fenderest fenders. drills, referred to as AC 289. Unfortunately the Mark III was not approved in 1965, and the Shelby team did not race with them. However many were used by independents, winning several races throughout the 1970s. Interestingly, 31 unsold racing cars were "unprepared" and sold as street versions, and named S / C (semi competition). Today they are the rarest and most valuable versions and can sell for over a million and a half dollars.

The AC 427 had 1,372 mm front gauge and 1,346 mm rear gauge. Its fuel tank had a capacity of 18 gallons.

AC Cobras had a long career on the track. Shelby wanted to build a "Corvette Grip", and weighing almost 500 kg less than the Chevrolet Corvette, the lightweight car was just that. The Cobra was perhaps too successful as a sports car, and is said to have contributed to the implementation of speed limits in the UK. An AC Cobra Coupe hit 185 miles per hour on Highway M in 1964, driven by Jack Sears and Peter Bolton during performance tests before that year's Le Mans 24h race.

However, government officials cited the highest rate of death accidents in the early 1960s as the main reason, and the adventures of AC Cars only highlighted this risk.

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