Every other day we hear about some special edition of a particular model, and to be hones they are all rubbish. There is nothing special about them; they are just normal models with some extra bells and whistles. Now, here’s something truly worthy of the title Special Edition: the Shelby 289 FIA Cobra 50th Anniversary.
It’s been built by Shelby American as a tribute to the 289 Ford-powered 1964 World Manufacturers Championship-winning Cobra. 50 units of this very special car will be built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the remarkable victory, each featuring “Viking Blue” paint work with FIA stripes and roundels, a black FIA interior, special billet anniversary badges, and original style wheels among other options.
The new FIA Cobra models remain loyal to the original design in terms of body and suspension, but features modern brakes, a stronger frame and the bodies are available in either aluminum or fiberglass. What’s more, the small block Ford V8 features a complete exhaust system – to become street-legal, presumably – while there are other amenities such as a special fitted car cover and optional detachable steering wheel. Each car is built to order and delivered as a rolling chassis, less drive train, with a Shelby American issued MSO.
The essence of the Cobra is, however, intact in the new models. Shelby engineers took care so the partial modernization of the iconic car does not take away from the exhilarating drive and the uniquely wayward handling that are the characteristics of the Cobra. The FIA Cobra 50th Anniversary Edition is priced from $94,995 for a fiberglass or $159,995 for an aluminum bodied car, excluding drive train.
