The AC Cobra, marketed in the United States as the Shelby Cobra and AC Shelby Cobra, it is a sport car produced by the British company AC Cars and powered by a Ford V8 engine. It was produced intermittently in the United Kingdom and later in the United States from 1962.

Within a year of the arrival of the 20-horsepower Touring Car, John Weller’s invention, it was decided to produce three-wheeled commercial vehicles.

This was called the Autocarrier (from which AC was later derived) and in 1904 the company name was changed to Autocar and Accessories Ltd.

In 1913, the company began production of its first four-wheeled car, 10 horsepower AC Light Car, but this was stopped by the outbreak of the First World War.

The company’s reputation grows because of the reliability and easy manoeuverability led to the 25th London Bicycle Regiment being fitted with modified AutoCarriers, Maxim guns were mounted and others converted into ammunition carriers. The Ministry of war asked the Weller brothers to design and build a prototype of the light armored car.

AC Cars took part in numerous car races and made its mark in the world of motor racing.

The company has built two custom AC Cobras for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was the first time this type of car had taken part in the famous French endurance race.

Drivers Ninian Sanderson and Peter Bolton were behind the wheel, while the other was driven by Ed Hugus, who was in charge of the car’s race development in America, and shared the wheel with Briton Peter Jopp.

The AC ACE continued to race successfully, in Bristol finishing 10th at Le Mans in 1957 and 8th and 9th in 1958. In 1959, an AC Ace finished 7th overall and 1st in the GT2.0 ltr class.

The cars continue to be produced to this day, boasting an incredible track record and multiple race finishes.