Review by CoMod Lotus of the Carrera DIGITAL 132 Shelby Cobra 289 "No.21" (Art. No. 30651)
The (Shelby) Cobra is probably one of the most recognizable vehicles.
Almost everyone knows someone who has owned or has owned a Cobra. My friend Pierre had one, the junior manager of our Ford dealership has one, and so on. Of course, in most cases, it's not a real Cobra, but one of the countless real or fake replicas that have been in production for over 40 years.
Interestingly, the majority of Cobras I've seen over the years have one thing in common: They're metallic blue, and a large portion of them have white racing stripes.
Why that is? I have no idea. Probably because the killer machine looks simply awesome in this paint job. Or could you imagine a Cobra with a GULF, WARSTEINER, JÄGERMEISTER, MARTINI, or RED BULL livery? Exactly.
Then I can just stick PRIL flowers and “NO THANKS TO NUCLEAR POWER” stickers on my car.
But where does this preference for the blue and white paint come from?
Possibly from the original vehicle for the latest Cobra model from CARRERA:
The legendary Cobra CSX 2345 from 1964/65. In 1965, Shelby factory driver Bob Bondurant won the Rossfeld Hill Climb in Berchtesgaden in the "Grand Touring Vehicles over 2000cc" class. Relatively unknown in Germany, Bondurant is a racing legend in the USA. From 1953 to 1965, he was virtually unbeatable in both open and closed Ford Cobras.
Back then, CSX 2345 won virtually everything in its class under various Shelby factory drivers: Brands Hatch, Targa Florio, Spa, Nürburgring, Tourist Trophy, and more. The car is now owned by Steve Volk and is on display at the Shelby Museum in Chaparral Court. It has not been restored to this day and remains in its original condition from 1965, when it was returned to the USA after the Rossfeld race, then sold, and immediately mothballed.
Here is a link to the museum, just browse the “Collection”:
shelbyamericancollection.org
Comparing the pictures of the original with the Carrera model, you'll notice a few small differences in the body: the front air intake under the large nose, the slightly smaller air vents on the side. Unfortunately, this cannot be avoided due to production reasons, as it isn't possible to create a separate mold for each car. And the original Cobras all differ in various details. Otherwise, the model is no different from the original! The Cobra's handling is well-known: thanks to its low center of gravity and weight, the car corners very well, but it tends to judder in the corners due to the tires' very high grip. Grinding the tires helps, but on the straights, the car fully exploits its high speed.
Overall, for me the most beautiful Cobra after the UNI-Repro!
The (Shelby) Cobra is probably one of the most recognizable vehicles.
Almost everyone knows someone who has owned or has owned a Cobra. My friend Pierre had one, the junior manager of our Ford dealership has one, and so on. Of course, in most cases, it's not a real Cobra, but one of the countless real or fake replicas that have been in production for over 40 years.
Interestingly, the majority of Cobras I've seen over the years have one thing in common: They're metallic blue, and a large portion of them have white racing stripes.
Why that is? I have no idea. Probably because the killer machine looks simply awesome in this paint job. Or could you imagine a Cobra with a GULF, WARSTEINER, JÄGERMEISTER, MARTINI, or RED BULL livery? Exactly.
Then I can just stick PRIL flowers and “NO THANKS TO NUCLEAR POWER” stickers on my car.
But where does this preference for the blue and white paint come from?
Possibly from the original vehicle for the latest Cobra model from CARRERA:
The legendary Cobra CSX 2345 from 1964/65. In 1965, Shelby factory driver Bob Bondurant won the Rossfeld Hill Climb in Berchtesgaden in the "Grand Touring Vehicles over 2000cc" class. Relatively unknown in Germany, Bondurant is a racing legend in the USA. From 1953 to 1965, he was virtually unbeatable in both open and closed Ford Cobras.
Back then, CSX 2345 won virtually everything in its class under various Shelby factory drivers: Brands Hatch, Targa Florio, Spa, Nürburgring, Tourist Trophy, and more. The car is now owned by Steve Volk and is on display at the Shelby Museum in Chaparral Court. It has not been restored to this day and remains in its original condition from 1965, when it was returned to the USA after the Rossfeld race, then sold, and immediately mothballed.
Here is a link to the museum, just browse the “Collection”:
shelbyamericancollection.org
Comparing the pictures of the original with the Carrera model, you'll notice a few small differences in the body: the front air intake under the large nose, the slightly smaller air vents on the side. Unfortunately, this cannot be avoided due to production reasons, as it isn't possible to create a separate mold for each car. And the original Cobras all differ in various details. Otherwise, the model is no different from the original! The Cobra's handling is well-known: thanks to its low center of gravity and weight, the car corners very well, but it tends to judder in the corners due to the tires' very high grip. Grinding the tires helps, but on the straights, the car fully exploits its high speed.
Overall, for me the most beautiful Cobra after the UNI-Repro!
