Why the Shelby 289 Cobra is more fun to drive than a 427 Cobra 

Shellby him self said it was his favorite car

I'm a big guy (6'6") and don't fit in a 289. My 427 Cobra I purchased in 1968 is fairly comfortable except it gets hot. Even did several 22 hour raleys. I drove it as my every day car and put almost 50,000 miles on it in the first 4 years I owned it. The heat didn't bother me much when I was in my 20s but it does now in my 70s.

Yay, finally someone talking about the 289! It's just so right. Those skinny tires make for low rolling drag too. Love it.

I remember seeing an original 1950's AC Ace Bristol with a straight 6 with 3 Weber carbs at a car show. It had pretty good performance in it's own right, Then there was Siata 208 S at another car show and it had a Fiat V-8 engine, it looked just like an AC and had excellent performance also.

Dan Gurney had said that the 289 was a beautifully balanced car to drive in comparison to the 427 SC.

I'm in the camp of- more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. I like to work a lighter car to get my thrills rather than just pushing the accelerator pedal harder.

This is alot like the original Countach versus the ones made at the end of the run with all the vents, flares, body kit everything. Through the 80s the Anniversary models were preferred but the further we get away from it's period of manufacturer the more desirable and collectable the earlier more simple cars have become.

Yes, everyone has preferences. I built a 427SC replica to duplicate the original's performance with a late 427 side-oiler, a close ratio top loader, and a Jag rear suspension. The first engine I used had 10:1 compression, while the second used 11.5:1. Little things make a big difference. The higher compression resulted in substantially more engine braking, which made getting off the throttle in a corner as critical as getting on it. I've seen beautiful continuation cars with 427 9:1 compression - a neutered version. A 289 would be a much more balanced and somewhat tamer car to drive, while a true high performance 427 was an animal. That's what I preferred. Came with the associated hearing loss from both the exhaust and tire noise, but that's the price of admission. If I were to do it over again, I'd use the same engine and transmission, only with an aluminum block and lighter body. Should weigh in at a little over 2,250lbs. I'd say they're all fun, and, a very unique experience.

I love my ERA 289 slabside

so if i built a factory five roadster i would put a 302 or 347 in it with a T5 transmission to keep the weight down. a lot of people put a 408w or 427w in it with a tko600 or the new tkx transmission but that makes it heavier. sure its more powerful but also heavier.

I met an original owner of a 289 Cobra at a car meet, Hank Williams. He raced his Cobra (google him). He even has the hardtop option, a rare piece. He fired it up at the car show, it sound so mean. There's videos of him and his Cobra on RU-vid. I asked if I could take a picture of him and the car and he politely obliged, even posed next to the car with his elbow on the windshield frame. So cool of him!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! A totally accurate and well produced and historically appropriate correct video. Given the marriage between power to weight, balance and handling with the exceptional HO engine. This little stinker is extraordinary in many ways. Least we say the same for 'Daytona'. With similar configuration. What's so ironic I once read. Is that it was indicated Shelby himself preferred the 289. Most people couldn't really, and practically deal with 'a' 427 in a 2500lbs car. Same article also mentioned Shelby was not particularly fond of manuals. Article indicated Shelby considered manuals were not that efficient. And a distraction in road racing. Just wish I still had article to send. Your channel is terrific, extremely appropriate, and really understands the origins of many (legendary) cars. And doesn't follow bigger is better!!

Always wanted a 427, that being said I also always wanted a 66 mustang 289, so I wouldn’t pass on a 289 either, awesome motor

Superformance has a version of this and it appears to be a really fantastic car. A comment under one video of a 289 replica for sale I saw was from a guy who had both a 427 replica and 289 replica. He installed the 363 Ford 302-based crate engine (rated at 500 horsepower)and said it was faster and much more 'friendly' to drive than his big-block replica.

A well balanced car is always fun to drive. Probably why the transverse leaf spring worked so well to keep the rear tires on the tarmac. The leaf spring provided a good communication link between the rear tires that didn't get messed up by power and balance issues. A perfect example of synergistic engineering. Can only imagine driving the 289 but I know what it feels like.... that's synergy of power and balance... thanks for confirming the 289 is more fun to drive Steven Gagnon

A dog? Not to normal people. True story written about in a Shelby book: A famous California dealer in the mid 60s was selling Cobras. A guy comes in looking to buy one. The salesman asks if he wanted a 427 or 289. He didn't know so they decided to take a car out for a drive with the salesman driving. He hit the gas hard a few times and run through the gears and the guy tells the salesman "This is too fast, maybe I should look at the 289 version." The salesman answers, this IS the 289.

Peter: it is NOT a "Shelby Cobra", despite that constant chorus coming out of the United States. Carroll Shelby was very successful at supressing and undermining AC Cars Ltd. of Thames-Ditton, Surrey, south of London. Why? He wanted to take ALL the credit, so he went as far in the 1980s, to actually say that AC had been but a mere "subcontractor" from whom he had "bought some parts". That 289-powered "Shelby Cobra" you test drove for the video has a 1961 Ruddspeed AC Ace body, with small flares added by AC's styling department to accommodate 205-225 tires. The racing Tojeiro chassis, suspension, Supperlegera frame, interior, etc, are all 100% AC. Carroll Shelby had nothing to do with any of these things. When Carroll Shelby signed in England his original contract with AC Managing Director Charles Hurlock, on February 5, 1962, it was stipulated that the cars would be "AC-badged", and be known as the "Shelby AC Cobra". At first Shelby grudgingly placed "Shelby AC Cobra" badges on the car, but with the word "Shelby" in lettering twice as large as the word "Cobra"...and the AC logo in the middle was even smaller than that on a key fob! Shelby, at first, was obliged to give AC some credit, because Hurlock was letting him have early cars on credit. However, as soon as he started selling some cars and a cash flow started coming in, 'Ol |Shel reneged on his contract and would only put snake badges on Cobras sold in the United States. Rather than cancel the contract, AC retaliated by selling all non-CSX Cobras not exported to Shelby (COB and COX prefixes), as "AC Cobras" only. Thus Cobras made for the British home market, continental Europe, Australia and Canada, were AC-badged and the word "Shelby" was only mentioned on the third page of the owner's manual. Jay Leno, who knows a thing or two about cars, once called Carroll Shelby in one of his videos, "A CON MAN". While a strong accusation, how can one argue with it when we see how 'Ol Shel violated his contract with AC? He also, during the 1980s, was caught red-handed by the Los Angeles Times. They exposed and derailed his scheme to create dozens of counterfeit 1965 Cobra 427 chassis supposedly made by AC in 1965, by using the fabrication services of a reputable restorer of real Shelby AC Cobras. The original AC records from the sixties showed that those chassis had never been built. How about another Shelby caper, where he ordered a couple of alloy Kirkham Cobras and then, once delivered to him, gave the driver a lot of blarney about the cheque being on the way, but in fact 'Ol Shel had no intention of ever paying... As far as he was concerned, those two cars were owed to him because Kirkham had been making money off HIS car... It goes without saying that people can't just violate contracts that they sign and decide what is theirs and what isn't... In closing, Peter, how about calling the cars by their legal, contractual and FAIR name? The original Shelby AC Cobras ALL had two parents--not one.

You are one of the best car companies and knowledge base of cars out there. I am confused why you do not have more subscribers. Makes no sense.

I still think the 427 is preferable (not a controversial opinion, obviously) BUT...the 289 has a lot going for it. 1. It's just more balanced; a little less weight up front. 2. It's the original. 3. It still has that chunky V-8 rumble at idle, and probably revs higher than the 427. 4. You're slightly less likely to end up a gooey mess on the side of an oak tree. 5. It's half the cost and 90% of the worth of its beastly 427 brother.

A small point about the 289/271 hp HiPo Ford engines used by Shelby. After his modifications (intake, headers, etc), he rated the engines at 306 hp.

Totally agree, love them stock and plain so much nicer

It would be fun to do that survey where you say Cobra. My guess is 90% of people would think of a snake. Still, I think you are right in your analysis. :)

Nice video , thank you ! ♥️😎

A true icon!!! 👍👍🙂

I think the 289 is perfect. I had that engine in my '65 Mustang.

Still want a 427 though (not 428), kinda like the black one you have that's not for sale... narrow hip, rear exhaust, no bar, no scoop... classy.

Peter Great review of that little donkey. Awesome story and I agree buggy chassis rock. All the best

👍 Great and very informative vid - I shall consider myself educated for the better - that thing looks far better than the 427 and is the one that I'd have - luv it - cheerz 👌

The first AC's came with a 260. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The special rally version of the Falcon and Comet and early AC Cobra sports cars used a high-performance version of the 260 with higher compression, hotter camshaft timing, and a four-barrel carburetor. This engine was rated (SAE gross) 260 hp (194 kW) @ 5800 rpm and 269 lb·ft (365 N·m) @ 4800 rpm. "The 289 Cobras could never produce the power available from the Chevy 327, but the AC was lighter than the vett. Ken Miles won SCCA's Class B championship in a 289, but that was probably due to his skill driving. The "tunnel port heads" on a 289 helped it breath on the GT40 that had the most powerful 289

I can't imagine getting in to it very often or very long with a big block in that tiny car, think of it as a life preserving tactic. Small block is plenty for the quality of pavement I see.

Very cool!!!! 👍👍

Never alter an original. But it's those wide body mods, that make the AC Cobra design something special and iconic. There's no mistaking one of those for anything else. The slab side looks similar to numerous other European/English sports cars from that era. If I had the $, I'd order a superperfomance cobra, but with a small block 289. More than enough horsepower in that engine with a few modern upgrades.

yep

Hmmmm… I can’t weigh in on a cobra, but I am running a stroked 400 small block in my 68 firebird, a 302 in my 66 fastback, and a 351 in a 70 cougar. I love the small blocks, in those “pony cars”. I’m way more interested in road rally’s than drag racing and I love the way they handle. For my purposes I can make a ton of power out of those things, not by todays HP wars standards, but I really don’t need to feed 1000hp to keep my foot in the fun zone…lol I am a bigger fan of the Daytona coupe than the cobras, but this is a stunning peice of automotive history, right there!

*Legendary Motorcar* Amazing vehicles, thank-you sir for taking the time to show us. God Bless.

Glad youlike the 289. I much prefer a big block in everything, give me a 427.

There is a Guardian Angel for everyone you Know!!! The AC Shelby Cobra has the Original Angel of car Kindness that never ends on its Shoulder.

The 289 is plenty for that little roadster.I wouldn't mind a good replica w/ a Coyote fuelie.That car looks cool even w/ the white walls!!

Bravo ,le bleu de cette cobra est presque beau.

Took my Cobra (289) outta gear and coasted the line..... spring little Cobra.

The Cobra legend is the 289 Cobra

The whole mystique of the 427 is the power to size to weight ratio. W/o that, the cobra would just be a nice blip in racing history. The 289 is a vicious little viper. It’s a hell of a lot of fun to drive. But, by the time they stopped breaking these cars, due to the power they shoehorned into them, they were basically into the bigger cars. The 289 is a Great piece of history. & when they finally got it mostly sorted out(those 5 FIA cars) they were nearly unbeatable. I think a well sorted 289 is as great as an experience as any 427. But there’s a bit of history to get you there.

my cousin had one back in the 60's car was a POS but it would fly

I read somewhere that the 289 was only a few 10ths of a second slower than the 427, true or not true?

I like the ecotech Cobra.

Don’t forget that the Ford 289 also powered the Ford GT!

😍 👍

Just a great weight distribution form front to back. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Seven. Hundred. Thousand?!? 😵‍💫

289 if built right can do 10,000 rpm's

I’d take the 289 any day, and a slab side to boot and they’re only original once.👍

Anyone who says the 289 Cobra is a dog has clearly never driven one. But let's face it, nearly any V8 powered car could peel out with 70 series tires. Especially one that weighs 2500 lb.

Agreed the 289 is the pick, I had 550hp cobra that was constantly trying to swap ends. It was a pig

You are correct, you can't compare a 63 Cobra to a 63 Corvette. The Cobra is a hand built import with a Ford motor, and less than a 1,000 were ever produced. The C2 Corvette is an American made , mass produced sports car, with over 100,000 being produced. Personally I'd rather have a Cobra. So I could sell it and afford to build a garage full of corvettes that will blow it's doors off...

What of the 260

Ford 289s were way more fun than 427's! The big 427's are touchy and the excess power will put you into the ditch in short order.

wow

------------------------ ' would twist a Corvette go'n into a corner.....like a pretzel ' .....carrollShelby

The 427 is what makes the ac ace and the ac cobra different cars

nothing more fun than a 427.

I rather stick with the 427. It's bigger and more powerful.

how EASY is it to rip those mufflers off ?

Nice muffler...

Your OPINION is just That .... an Opinion ! : ))

Come on 1/2 mil no way

Hello I Completely DISAGREE with your Comment . I have Owned BOTH REAL Cobras . I DO agree that the 289 cars are more Historically Significant in world Racing History . The 289 IS a Very Fun car to drive , that goes with out saying . BUT There is NO comparison to the RUSH , The POWER the Incredible Acceleration and the Handling of the BIG block 427 cars . The Sound alone is Breath taking . Like they have said for decades " There is NO substitute for CUBIC INCH POWER . I love Both Cars . But If I had only one Choice , The 427 would reign . Enjoy the Ride : ))

Peeling out from the stop sign with those skinny bias ply tires was a real bone-headed move

Ac Cobra 427 has too heavy engine in the nose. Difficult to handle all that power unless you are going to race of course.

hope full you don´t crash in to something, safty in that is "ZERO"

more fun than a FE 427 YEAH RIGHT FUNNY

looks nice, but after you get T-boned by an SUV, you will curse the day you bought it