And the list of vehicles one can choose from is staggering...

The Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera; this futuristic wedge on wheels boasts an abundance of carbon fiber, a 530-horsepower V-10 power-plant with an 8,000-rpm redline, a robotized sequential E-gear transmission and permanent four-wheel drive with viscous traction. The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano; the strikingly modern Pininfarina design has an insanely powerful, Enzo-derived 620-horsepower V-12 engine and a high-tech Formula One-inspired gearbox. The Porsche 911 Turbo; the iconic all-wheel-drive, four-season supercar/daily driver only produces 480 horsepower from its diminutive 3.6 liter, turbocharged 6-cylinder motor yet it can out-handle and out-brake just about anything else on wheels, rain or shine. Amazing vehicles all with capabilities that far exceed those of most drivers. Unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to simply walk into the exotic car store of his or her choice, slap the financial equivalent of a second home on the manager’s desk and drive off in a cloud of tire smoke. But believe it or not, that might not be so bad.

With all due respect to the aforementioned automobiles, whose science fiction-like mechanical accoutrements give them the ability to do everything just short of flying—and according to the engineers, that’s not too far behind—there’s a huge chunk of the visceral driving experience that’s lost when the basic, most primitive elements are removed. In a nutshell, too much can actually be too much. You’ve all heard of the KISS principle—Keep It Simple, Stupid; why should sports cars be any different?

Since automobiles are ultimately boiled down to their numbers, perhaps an equation is the best way to illustrate this point. However, my equation is far different than that of any statistician’s; LW+BE+SW = BA+IB+EH = ME.

Replacing the symbols with the appropriate words, you get: Light Weight + Big Engine + Short Wheelbase = Brutal Acceleration + Insane Braking + Excellent Handling = Maximum Enjoyment. When it comes to an awesome driving experience, what more could you possibly ask for? But just in case the equation has thrown you for a loop, let’s break it down further. And as we were all taught in our elementary school math classes, that requires simplification to the lowest common denominator. In this instance, that process will leave us with just one word: COBRA.

Arguably the most famous sports car since the inception of motorized transport, it’s impossible to discuss the speedy snake without mentioning the man responsible for its creation, chicken farmer-turned-racecar driver Carroll Shelby. In 1961, when Shelby’s successful auto racing career (Sports Illustrated’s “Sports Car Driver of the Year” in 1956 and 1957, victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959, and USAC champion in 1960 are just a few of the highlights) was permanently black flagged due to a heart condition, he switched to the design/construction side of auto racing.

Upon learning that AC Cars (from Thames Ditton, England) had lost its engine supplier for their small two-seat roadster, Shelby sent a letter to the company’s owner, Charles Hurlock, proposing that production of the chassis continue for a brand new sports car, to be powered by an American V8. Having raced an Allard (lightweight British body, powerful American engine) Shelby had experience with hybrids. If executed properly, Shelby knew that the formula would result in a world-beating new automobile. Shortly thereafter, at his Southern California hot rod shop, Shelby stuffed one of Ford’s new lightweight HiPo 260-cubic-inch small block motors into the AC engine bay and mated it to a Borg-Warner four speed transmission. The new car was essentially finished. All the automotive Frankenstein needed was a name. Shelby routinely kept a pen and pad by his bed to jot down spur-of-the-moment ideas. When he awoke one morning, a single word was printed on the top page. Thus, the Cobra was born.

The newly badged little beast was sent into battle immediately. Although the initial outings weren’t flawless, Shelby and company knew they had a winner on their hands—it just needed some refining. A tremendous amount of development would follow and each subsequent race would lead to tweaks and tinkering that would eventually result in one of the most, if not the most, ferocious cars to ever patrol the track or street. And when Shelby decided to yank out the 260 to shoehorn in a 427 NASCAR block that was laying around his shop—look out—dynamite was unleashed!

Fast forward 40-some-odd years. If imitation truly is the sincerest form of flattery then ‘ol Shel’ oughtta be mighty proud, as the Cobra is, unquestionably, the most replicated automobile on the planet. To list, compare and contrast all the companies who currently offer a version of the Shelby Cobra would necessitate a manuscript the size of the San Francisco Yellow Pages—way more space than I’ve been allotted. That said, I’ll cover three of the more popular variants and let you take it from there.

FACTORY FIVE RACING

The world’s largest manufacturer of component cars (also called kit cars), Factory Five currently offers four different kits, two of which are Cobra-esque: the Mk3 Roadster and the Challenge Car.

While easily the least expensive of the vehicles I tested ($12,990 for the kit), don’t confuse affordable with cheap, because the Mk3 is anything but. Originally, the Mk3 kit was designed to work with the running gear from any 1987-2004 Mustang GT. After extensive development, Factory Five has made it so that customers can chose between the proven donor parts or opt for all new equipment (engine, drive-train and suspension). The result is a vehicle that can be custom-tailored to perfectly fit the builder’s needs. For those with no desire to ever turn a wrench, well-constructed completed vehicles are readily available in the automotive marketplace (eBay always has a few for sale), starting in the mid-$20,000 range.

Enthusiasts seeking a dedicated track machine will definitely want the Challenge Car. Essentially, a professional racing version of the Mk3 Roadster, the Challenge Car is built to exacting standards, thereby assuring conformity to the rules and regulations of the various classes it is eligible to compete in, such as SCCA GT-1 and NASA Pro Racing’s FFR Challenge series. The standard kit comes with all the necessary safety modifications, including a welded-in, SCCA-approved roll cage, Fuel Safe racing fuel cell with bladder, vintage-look competition windscreen and Kirkey aluminum racing seat. Just add the aforementioned 1987-2004 Ford Mustang mechanicals and you’re ready to go racing! For more information, check out: www.FactoryFive.com or call (508) 291-3443.

SUPERFORMANCE

The Superformance MkIII is widely considered the best Cobra replica currently available. After a long legal battle with Shelby American, the two sides settled their differences and the Superformance automobiles are now fully authorized by the Man, himself; Carroll Shelby has given the South African-built roadsters a glowing endorsement and all are now welcome at just about every Shelby Owner’s Club meeting around the globe.

$41,900 gets you an “everything included” roller minus the engine and drive-train. And when it comes to motor/transmission options, there are plenty to choose from—from relatively demure 410 horsepower aluminum 327 power-plants to totally off-the-hook, modern day “original” 550 horsepower 427-cubic-inch racing motors. Competition-spec motors from Jack Roush are routinely found beneath the hood of Superformance automobiles.

Turn-key Superformance MkIII’s usually sticker out in the high-$60K range but again, lightly used examples can often be found starting in the mid-$50K’s. For more information, check out www.Superformance.com or call 1-(800) 297-6253.