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Perfect cure for snake bite June 15, 2004 The new Ford Shelby Cobra concept car has drawn raves from enthusiasts and no wonder. It is the kind of car that guys who love cars used to draw on their desks in study hall — fast and sleek with a big, powerful motor. In this case, a 6.1-liter dual-overhead cam V10 pumping out 605 HP, and over 500 lbs. ft. of torque. The Cobra doesn't have a lot of curves. The most notable ones are the big, seven spoke, one-piece racing wheels shod with BFGoodrich® slicks, 275/40R18 in front and 345/35R19 in the rear. A glance at the massive tires under the bulging fenders and the exposed aerodynamic aids tells you that this is a serious racing machine. It's a design in which the power train, the space frame and suspension dictate the architecture of the body. 
Every line of the car's body — and every line written about the car — evokes the name and genius of Carroll Shelby. As all true car guys know, Shelby is the man who created the original Cobra, the car that gave Ford the World Championship for Sports Cars and established Cobra as an icon of power and speed.Shelby was involved with the project from the start, and remained involved every step of the way. Shelby says he is extremely pleased with the new car — and enthusiasts' reaction to it. "If we were starting the Cobra today from scratch, this is the way it would look and feel," Shelby says of the new Cobra concept car, which boasts an ideal 50/50 front-to-rear weight balance, achieved in part with the use of a six-speed transaxle borrowed from the new Ford GT. The car blends cutting-edge performance technology with stark functionality. No top, no side windows, radio or sound system. No outside door handles. Leaving out those "extras" helped keep weight down close to the 3000-pound mark. "That's the formula. A massive motor in a tiny, lightweight car," says Shelby. And lots and lots of grip, thanks to those massive BFGoodrich gumballs Photos courtesy Fast-Autos.net 
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