289 MKII Shelby "Slab Side" Cobra with 340HP | Superformance 

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For me, the slab side is the ultimate Gentleman’s Sports Car.

I spent a half day with a 427, and I'll never forget it. But...*this* is the ride to live with. Everything about the 427 was a brute and it's massive fun - but it's tiring to drive. Always noisy, more power than you can use (mostly!), and a tricky rig to drive fast. Love the Slab Side!

Hands down 289 AC cobra, been my favorite since it's beginning.

For me it would be the Mkll 289, such a classic and beautiful car compared to the ,in my opinion, the gaudy 427

I have a Shelby Cobra story I heard my late father tell several times at cocktail parties/backyard BBQ get togethers when I was a kid. My Dad was an Engineer out at Cape Canaveral in the 50's/60's/70's but for a few years in the mid 60's he took a job as I understand it as the Shelby Sales/Service Manager for the Orlando Ford dealership, who sold both Cobras and the Shelby Mustangs. Anyway to the story: One day a dentist walks into the showroom and inquires about the Cobra and was directed to my Dad. The dentist states he wants to buy a 427 Cobra. After talking to the dentist for several minutes and judging both his driving experience and financial wherewithal my Dad suggests the 289 might be a better choice. The Dentist is adamant that he wants the 427 so my Dad so okay I'll pull one around and we can go for a test drive. After my Dad took him on a very spirited test drive, upon returning to the dealer lot, the dentist, who is white as a ghost offers up that; Yes perhaps he should consider a 289 after all. To which my Dad responds...That was the 289!

Finally a channel on youtube that doesn't do just million dollar supercars but straight on Cars! Yes cars with big C! The new super, hyper gazilion dollar supercars are OK but ordinary people like me and most of folks around will never own those cars but these beauties are accesible to all of us. Damn these Cobras are supercars in their own right and have tons and tons of soul and character. They put you back where the driver was just an enthusiast or a sunday racer not an entrepreneur. Thanks for great content! It would be nice if you could visit Pete Brock and make a longer video with him talking about the cars that he helped to create.

Much more elegant than the 427

I just love it when RU-vid recommends this video, I watch it every time they do

Almost bought one of these, an original 289, white with red upholstery, wire wheels. 1969, I was driving in my Lotus Cortina through Ripon, Yorkshire, England at dusk when saw this thing in a showroom, Glovers of Ripon. I knew of the Cobra since I was in school in 1962, reading the first road tests in England. I wanted one! The car had 30000 miles on it and was immaculate. The salesman was prepared to take my Lotus in trade at a fair price. But still the repayments were a bit heavy for me at a stunning 14 pounds per month! - and the insurance premium killed the deal stone dead! Lost opportunities, my middle name! Much, much later I built a Cobra replica here in South Africa but the other version - the 427 SC shape. Ran that for 10 years 1992 -2002, as my daily driver! Fun and games. Superformance BTW was established by a South African who I knew from air rallying, the late Bobby Olthoff, ex-race driver in N.Carolina originally. They seem to have a classy product. When I hit the lottery I'll jump on a jet and come over to order one to my specs!

Contractually the originals were Shelby AC Cobras, not "Shelby Cobras". These Superformance versions, unlike the bloated and not-so-visually accurate 427 Superformance Cobras, are indeed very accurate-looking! What would make them PERFECT visually would be correct wire wheel knock-offs with the AC logo, and Lucas PL 700 tri-pod head lamps. Very nice cars indeed and if I come across a little more money I would like to get one!

Don't know why, but I regularly come back to this video. What a sculpture!

I'd love to own the 289 5 speed manual box. Simplicity at best, that i could do my own maintensnce, and rune ups, oil changes, etc. Thanks! Love you guys too!

The 289/302 slab side is the Perfect snake. What a cool car!!

Carroll Shelby said his favorite Cobra was the 289 Slap-side!

I still don't understand why you only have 55k subscribers. These videos are worthy of 1 million plus! Keep up the great work and episodes.....please!

I have been a Ford fanatic for well over 50 years. During that time it was not only building engines but thinking of modifications. Case in .302 small block with a set of 351 Windsor along with a little machine work Will have that puppy breathing real nicely.

Love this video series you’re doing with Doug and superformance!

Another great video. I used to live not too far from Thames Ditton (Surrey, England) where the AC factory was. The 289 is such a pretty, delicate looking car, and to look at, it's my favourite drop top Cobra. But the Daytona Coupe is just one of my all time favourite cars. Keep up the great work :)

From 1968 to 1972, I had every issue of Road and Track. The classified adds had original 289s going for $3500 (cool million today), and 427s at a paltry $5000, which this then teenager could not afford … I shed a tear whenever I think of that! But they were just used cars back then.

Hey Shawn, thanks for doing all these videos. I love all the Superformance cars but this one absolutely speaks to me. I've already got my wife on-board for getting one. The classic aspect of the Slabside really does it for me. My dad has a complete collection of Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and Road and Track magazines dating from 1954 to present and I grew up reading them in the 70's and remember the 60's issues of the magazines and the Cobra piquing my interest back then. My dad had a '64 Jag e-type and loved that car but said the Cobras were almost impossible to get back in the day. I can't afford an e-type in perfect condition but Superformance allows me to get the 289 Cobra. Pretty amazing. Thanks again for putting the video out. It's the most comprehensive one available on the internet. Aden

If I was going to have a Cobra this is the one I’d have (being English of course) fantastic machine 😎

Once again a great video. Just a fun car, in this form Superformance just knocks it outta the park Cheers Shawn !

Even if you are being paid by superformance we don't care still great content that we love watching.

The slabside AC is pretty slick. I've always loved the look of the British sports cars. It probably wouldn't take much to increase the horsepower on one of those. And some changes to the exhaust to make it sound meaner would be a plus. But my favorite is the Grand Sport. Then the AC. Then the 427 Cobra. After that the Daytona and the gt40. Lets face it... All the Superformance cars are crazy cool. Great video man. I'm starting to think that I'll start a go fund me page myself. lol

I admit I'm 64 so my priorities are...more refined...than they once were so that 289 is the one for me. After that my very first car-love a dark green 67 Mustang (I saw that review you did and subscribed). Oh and the 67s were dark moss green, they didn't use highland green until 68. I first saw one when they first came out before I was even into cars and I fell in car-love. After that, I'd replace my 66 Chevelle SS that I had in the early 70s. I really liked this review. You get cars both the way I used to and the way I do now so I can relate. Thanks for the memories.

Great video and what a great little car. I don’t know if I can choose just one of the superformance cars. They are all amazing and a dream.

427 all the way - the headers alone are like something from the Saturn V rocket! As for the hair, you're not alone, Shawn - at least you get the sun shining on it, unlike here in Scotland where I have to coat my scalp in Rain X!! Tell Doug Campbell that his ancestors made the right move getting the hell outta here! Off to take my '67 Mustang out for it's last blast before winter hibernation - you can't beat the good old Ford V8 for that addictive GRRRRRROWL!!! Great show as always :@)

Peter Brock's redesign of the Daytona Coupe sold by Superformance is the ultimate. Peter's red daily driver makes my heart sing. Oh-yeah!!!

My wife would have liked this one better than my Superformance MKIII, it would remind her of when we first met in my 70 wire wheeled MG B in 1975 , still have her ( my Wife ) she is a keeper ! 😁

This one calls to me. Love the purity and simplicity of the original.

Love the way you drive: Left hand on the wheel at 11:30, right hand resting on the gear shift.

I'm enjoying your reviews of the Superformance cars. My choice would be the Corvette Grand Sport because of my love for Corvettes. Your review of the slab side Cobra reminds me of the first Cobra I saw. In 1965 I was shopping for a car at the McClure Ford dealership in Troy, Pennsylvania and they had a white 289 Cobra on their sales floor. I found that to be one fabulous car and would have loved to buy it. Sadly the $7,500 price far exceeded the $1,000 used car I was looking at. I think that Superformance is doing a fantastic job of building cars that are true to the original designs and that they continue heritage. I only wish I could afford to pay for one of them.

I know this is an older video, but it just came up for me. I have a bit of Shelby and Cobra backgroynd from the 1960s. I owned and drove several GT500s and GT350s on the street back then and raced a 427 Cobra in SCCA A Production for a year or two, then moving to an L88 Corvette in 1969. I also got to drive an original Grand Sport Corvette (although only briefly, and not on a track) in 69 or early 70. The Grand Sport was one of the rwo roadsters, and still had the original 377 ci engine with four 58DCOE side draft Weber carburetors - definitely a lightweight beast! The 427 Cobra was an ecciting car to drive, and demanded both a very high skill level and total cpncentration to drive well. The 289 Cobra, while also capable of strong performance, was much more tractable, and probably a bit more pleasurable as a "normal" street car, especially for drivers who are not at the skill level of a high ranked race driver. I had a good friend, Don Roberts, who won the SCCA B Production national championship 3 years in a row in a 289 Cobra, and that car could really move! I alsi got to drive one of the LeMans backup GT40s, could have bought it for $8,500, but it was just not suitable at all for even occasional street usr and I wasn't willing to commit the money necessary to race at that level. Oversll, although my preference would be a 427 Cobra, I would likely go for a 289 as a better all around street car - light, decent handling, still a great power to weight ratio, and lots of flun to fling around twisty roads when the moid grabs you (which it still does, even in my 70s).

One of my all time favorite cars.

Love them all.....and owned a new '64 289.....Lord I wish I had been able to keep it all these years

427 cobra body but with the original 289 engine & cam with AFR heads / 600 Holly duel inlet double pumper & 5-speed overdrive with 3.08 gear !

Superformance give this man a Cobra he's earned it! Awesome videos.

Greetings from Hong Kong. My favourite Shelby, great post. need to get one.

Being from the UK this was so interesting. Very cool recreating this classic of the modified AC Ace by Carroll Shelby.

Best looking Cobra IMO

Great video. I have a 427. I want a 289 slab side.Make mine white with a red interior. Doug is a great guy! He knows his Shelbys.

289 Cobra is really all a weekend wanderer needs. Even Mr Shelby said that the 427 was too much engine for the AC platform unless you are going to track it. A glide through the winding roads is all I ever wanted and the 289 fits the bill. But yes I may go hypo with the 289 just for kicks. 😁 🏁

Great video! Thanks Shawn...

GT40 , DAYTONA Coupe , CORVETTE , 427, last 289.... Good Video.....good Shelby insight...!

Great sports car, laid back vibe 💯💯

Simply beautifull, love it!

Balance, balance, balance. All the component's complement one another. My dream car.

Beautiful car! I have the 427 Cobra myself.

This 289 MKII "slab side" is far and away my favorite. A fun little driving machine with plenty of power.

Great review, down to earth and honest.

I remember seeing one of these back in the early sixties. I remember it had AC written on both the clutch and brake pedal and also on the steering wheel. I had no idea what it was. I was about 11 years old.

Great stuff Shawn!

As a 13 yr o!d who sent off for and received the promo package from Ford, that 289 is my dream car.

I would have to pick the 289 MKII as my favorite. The thing just does it for me from the performance to the style.

For me it's this one right here. Usable fun power, great balance.

After owning a High Performance business for 5 years, I got to drive several Cobra repilicas. And I love the big blocks. But, honestly, it wears you out! A big HP car is not for an everyday driver. If you are NOT planning on driving it much? Go for the 427. If you want to drive it frequently, an OG is the way to go! Carroll's daily favorite was a C4 automatic OG! His reason? "I want to have fun!"

Nice AC for sure love them all but I’m with you I’m the proud owner of an AC cobra with an 428 CJ and I gotta say ever time I go for an ride I fall in love with it all over🤗🤗🤗 thanks for sharing

Legend then, now and long into the future

Loving this

Being British I love this and of course the Gt 40 which we designed, for me Gt 40 first, Corvette, Cobra 🐍 427, but the 289 is cool as not show off!! All amazing, you got to get a wig that would be very funny!!! 👍👍 Great as always man!

At 74, and the way I drive now, it would be the slab side originally. Love them all btw.

I'll never afford any of these gems but either the 427 cobra or the Mkii would be great. Not sure but it looks like you're cruising around Simi valley. Nice ride.

Great vid for this awesome Cobra.

One day when I grow up, I'll get one in guardsman blue or silver. Cobra badges and a 302. These cars are soo cool.

Great vid for great Cobra !

Doug is spot on, that would be my everyday car. Sweet !!!

There is something to be said for flying under the radar in a slab side 289! 👍🏽👍🏽

I think the term slab side comes from the flat fender lips. Someone needs to mention Ed Hugus, without Mr Hugus it's very possible, if not likely, there would be no Cobra. Hugus is even the one who brought up and then offered to contact AC Cars for Shelby in the very beginning. Ed and Carroll were friends from previous racing days. As Carroll didn't have the money to lift the Cobra to it's future glory Ed bankrolled the first Cobras- starting with CSX2001- ASSEMBLED them in his European Cars / Continental Cars dealership in Pittsburgh, PA, and made the first retail sale to the general public in 1962. It COULD BE that the first 19 cars were done this way. The prototype CSX2000 was built and retained by Shelby until 2016. Early on Ed had cars that weren't selling, they just sat there begging for a buyer- can you imagine? Ford purchased two of them for "evaluation". At some point Ed and Carroll had somewhat of a falling out with Carroll getting paranoid that Ed might have thoughts of stealing away the concept, which Ed NEVER had on his mind. In reality, Mr Hugus had the connections, had the money, helped originate the idea, knew the owners of AC cars, and had no more to do but transplant an American V8 into a good looking British roadster. But his word was his word. Hardly the first time an American V8 went out and crushed the European cars. That was done well before the Cobra. Look up the Lance Reventlow Scarab and Max Balchowsky's Old Yeller. Too bad about the Scarab, one of the most beautiful cars ever built. Not taking away anything from Shelby though, he pulled it off. Not sure he gave enough credit to some others who helped him though. That said, I'd take the 289 HiPo engine Cobra "slabside" any day of the week- if I couldn't have the Scarab. This brings to mind Bruce Meyer, car collector extraordinaire who now owns CSX2001. Does anyone know why it's painted black with Halibrand style wheels? Not very original... This car was red with wire wheels when first built. If you search youtube for CSX2001 you'll find a home movie posted by a Sandra Milo- presumably a family member to Dr Richard Milo, the original buyer of CSX2001. Rather looks like Ed Hugus driving the car at the 4:56 mark? Note the unusual roll "bar", that is the way it was originally built as Ed wanted to delay delivery in order to race the car locally first. But anyway, the car was traded back to Hugus for a Porsche and CSX2001 then went racing in Europe shortly thereafter.

Nice green color!👍

I don't prefer the slab side but I love this car I drove one when I was thirteen once awesome. catches rubber in all four gears and can do drift turns super easy.

Great series. I'd have a hard time choosing between this beauty and the 302/427 beast. I think side by side, I'd go for class over crass... only the old suspension would give me pause.

i love the classic look, a 427 looks to fancy. This little sucker is all i need for motoring

Great video. Great cars.

Great car. Love the British Racing Green. Now days the gaudy 427 kit car is at every car show and it makes this one stand out as clean and elegant.

I would take this car over the 427 but my very first would prob be the gt 40, I’ve always loved those. Great video Shawn thanks👍🏻

I'm English, what do you think! It appears,from your description, that this is a very well built car and very affordable when compared to the genuine vehicle. Thanks to all

Carroll Shelby said himself that his favourite Cobra was the MK2 because it felt like a true sports car and it was more fun to drive than the MK3 427

thanks for sharing.

Every time you visit superformance i go nuts all over again

Still a beautiful car...such a classic.

1 of each please!! I'm with you, I'd start with a 427.

My favorite would be the 289 cars both the slab side and the FIA.

The Slab Side Cobra wins hands down in my book, it has the grace and elegance of a thoroughbred.

I rode in an original ac aluminum body with a 289. That was in 1967 when I started in a clinical psychology graduate school. The ac cobra had wire wheels and no top and belonged to a fellow graduate student. We got together because I had just rebuilt the engine in a ‘58 MGA with no top that was similar body size and style. That cobra was fast and lots of acceleration snap. A year later he and his wife were driving back from her parents home in another nearby town in fog when they rear ended a car stalled car with no lights on the country two lane highway. They were OK but as front end was smashed up into firewall. Wrecker towed it to junkyard. No insurance! I picked them up that night Can’t remember when or if he got it back but I never saw the car again.

I think I like the OG, aside from the fact that all the cars they make are incredible. OG is like a sleeper savage.

I always wanted a Cobra based on the AC Aceca. I’m not much of an open top kinda guy so the Aceca was always the “Cobra” I wanted

delish combination

god its soooo beautiful

Reminds me of a 1967 Austin Healey 3000 I had back when it was almost new.

Mk2-put my order in for the one you drove, just as is !

That ac is awesome and I'm a chev guy! Shout out to King of the mountain Peter Brock!

Then grow your beard ...gonna have to rewatch those vids now... but what a great ride.. it can and won’t get you in trouble!!!

289 because it way more fun to drive a slower car fast than a fast car slow. Soon or later the Holy Chit factor will bite you and keep you broke.

I think I'd have to go with the British Racing Green "O.G." Cobra. It's just a neat little roadster with get up and go! And it's part of the Shelby legacy. As for the 427, it's a great car but I'd probably wrap it around a tree in a heartbeat!

I would hate to have to make a choice between the 427 and this car, but quite frankly I believe I would like this car as it sits.

Doug, you guys still better be arround when I'm grown up, because I plan to buy a 289 co ta from you guys.

Sweet cars. Love little cars with lots of power. Name brand or not great cars

More slides on this car love it

The Shelby may be gone now (original), but AC Cobra is not. They are a body builder.