There are certain key touchpoints that characterised the original AC Cobras, and have continued to do so for the various evocations that evolved since: brutal and uncompromising performance, ground-shaking noise, and old-school racer vibes. The fresh DAX Cobra you see here adds a further dimension to the formula: luxury.

 A money-no-object five-year build by an Aston Martin quality control engineer, you can see the high-end influences throughout – from the Aston Martin paint (that’s Ultramarine Black, which is actually a very dark blue, with a Meteorite Grey stripe) to the oversize Aston fuel filler and sumptuous interior retrim in Bridge of Weir leather. Power comes from a tuned Chevy small block, stroked to 383ci, mated to a Tremec manual ’box, and the performance really is breathtaking.

The car’s built to be used too, with substantial brakes and very efficient cooling – it’s happy to potter around town, although of course it really prefers to be out on the open road exploring the full reaches of the rev range – which is all sung back to you with bellowing gusto through those raucous side pipes.

 With a neat removable hatchback roof from 427 Hardtops, it’s a Cobra you can enjoy in all weathers as well. Beautifully finished and with a very high spec, this is genuinely one of the nicest Cobras we’ve seen.
 
 

 

 

The profile of a Cobra is unmistakable, it has so much road presence. And this one stands out even more than most, thanks to its glorious Aston Martin paintwork and delectable Image split-rim wheels (which, incidentally, measure 8.5x18” up front and a meaty 10.5x18” out back). The paint is fabulous and in outstanding condition – hardly surprising, as this car has covered just 2,600 miles since being built – and the panel gaps of the composite bodywork are uniformly good throughout. All of the chrome trim is fresh so that’s unmarked and unpatinated too, and the light lenses and window glass are good. The hardtop has an opening tailgate to access the boot; inside the boot we find a battery cut-off switch and battery connectors as well as some lovely carpet and a Lifeline fire extinguisher.

 Inside the cabin it’s all sublimely finished, with the seats, dash and doorcards trimmed in wonderfully soft Bridge of Weir leather – we understand this work was carried out by someone from the Aston Martin trim shop, hence the incredible quality of the work. (Even the harness mounts on the rear deck are trimmed in leather!) The dials all work correctly, the speedo incorporating a digital milometer. As well as the Moto-Lita steering wheel and aluminium stalks and switchgear, there’s a pair of 4-point Willans harnesses, two 12v sockets either side of the trans tunnel, and a USB port in the dash on the passenger side – so all mod-cons are taken care of. Naturally there’s no stereo as you’d never hear it… the raucous symphony of that surprisingly revvy and highly tractable V8 is all the soundtrack you could ever need.
 
 

 

A Cobra ought to have a muscular V8, and this one’s highly impressive: a Roadcraft-built 1975-code Chevrolet 350ci small block, fully rebuilt and stroked to 383ci (that’s 6.3-litres), along with an Edelbrock Performer carburettor, Edelbrock heads, MSD Pro billet distributor, MSD 6AL ignition, ARP bolts throughout, and a K&N drop filter (to clear the lowline bonnet), plus an Odyssey race battery. The motor’s mated to a Tremec TKO 500 5-speed manual, with a McLeod twin-plate clutch, billet flywheel and rebuilt Jaguar LSD. With a supremely planted suspension setup and some seriously impressive brakes, this is a machine that’s been built for epic performance which is exploitable and highly enjoyable.
 
 Summary

It’s truly impressive to find a machine built for such impressive performance to also be so sumptuously finished, and this Cobra is jewel-like in the details. The list of unique components is lengthy, including (but not limited to) the stainless brake fluid reservoir and washer bottle, chromed fuel tank and radiator bracket, stainless fog and reverse light holder mounted with billet brackets, stainless brake pipe clamps, billet aluminium hood and boot stay supports, and plenty more.

Every single detail on this car has clearly been carefully considered, painstakingly researched and meticulously developed; an entity that’s so much more than the sum of its parts – and when the parts are this impressive to begin with, that really is saying something. If you’ve been on the lookout for a Cobra, stop looking. This is the one.

BEFORE YOU BUY 

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following: 

✓ The seller of this vehicle is registered as a business seller. And you are covered by Car & Classic’s Terms and Conditions. 

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted. Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates. 

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind. 

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing. 

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✓ We also  check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and  it's always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer. 

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or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it's worth checking beforehand. If requested we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]