Item No .: 20030716" Line
: 2015 Online Store
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289 Shelby Cobra was added to the 132 line in 2012. The first model was the hardtop coupe in the famous white paint scheme with blue stripes. It was modeled after the No. 4 Cobra that competed at Le Mans in 1963. Since then, only the open-top versions have been added to the CARRERA lineup. The reason? There are only two original vehicles with hardtops.
This model is the second closed-top Cobra. At first glance, the car looks somewhat toy-like with its green paint scheme. However, the car in this paint scheme has a real-life counterpart:
Just like the white-and-blue Shelby, the green No. 3 competed at Le Mans. In 1963, two racing teams each entered one car there for the first time. Carol Shelby, however, had to acknowledge that in international endurance races and on high-speed circuits, the car’s outstanding power-to-weight ratio and the resulting acceleration capabilities were far less important than its ability to maintain full throttle and its high top speed. As early as the beginning of the 1960s, aerodynamically sophisticated coupes with low drag were considered the most powerful weapons in racing.
Despite having hardtops installed, the two Mk II Cobras fielded were at a massive disadvantage on the long Mulsanne Straight compared to the fast Ferraris. The Cobra driven by Bolton/Sanderson and fielded by AC Cars finished only 7th (behind 6 Ferraris), but took third place in the GT class and won the 4–5-liter class. The No. 4 car, driven by Ed Hugus and Peter Jopp, retired from the race.
The CARRERA model is based on this very Cobra from AC Motors, with chassis No. CSX2131. Externally, the model differs from the original only in minor details. The biggest difference from the real car lies in its inner workings (or as we slot car racers say: in the driver’s setup): This model is left-hand drive, whereas the original No. 3 was one of the rare right-hand drive cars built in 1963 for the British market. In terms of handling, the car is well-known: excellent acceleration and high speed on the straights, strong tire grip, and thus excellent tracking. In terms of driving performance, it’s no match for a modern DTM car, but among its peers, it’s a beautiful and fast car to drive.
Best regards,
CoMod Lotus
P.S.: If you’d ever like to know what a Le Mans Cobra sounds like in a race: Here you go!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dst60YfGpSg
