One-of-four AC Cobra MkII 347 | PH Auction Block

Exciting times ahead for the AC Cobra, with powertrains on offer from fully electric to Ford Ecoboost. The new Roadster GT is the big news, however, with a new, stiffer platform, a stunning interior overhaul, and Mustang power. Complete with the option of a 10-speed auto and a 660hp supercharger upgrade, if desired. 

So that’s the new-school Cobra, and mighty fun it sounds as well. But before AC embarked on that era, it returned to its roots for a very limited run of cars last year. Just four of these MkII Cobras were made; this is the second, and it comes to auction with just over 300 miles driven. Whoever places the winning bid will be the first registered keeper after AC. For fans of iconic British sports cars, it’s an opportunity that borders on the unrepeatable. 

Because this isn’t a homage, or a recreation, or a restomod – this is a Cobra, built by AC, to as close to the specifications of a MkII as it was possible to make half a century later. So it still sits on a ladder frame chassis and leaf springs – because that’s how they were in 1965 – and 400hp reaches the rear Avon radials via a five-speed manual gearbox. Muscle car experiences won’t come much more traditional; only this time around it’s just been built. 

Look at that engine, too – proper V8 under there. While the Ford-built Coyote 5.0 is a great engine, if you’re calling a car a 347 then it should really boast 347 cubic inches, or 5.7 litres, and that’s exactly what’s in the Cobra. While larger than the original 289 cubic-inch, 4.7-litre lump, the design is evolved from that engine for the most authentic experience possible. It’s iron-blocked, built in North Carolina, and uses Holley fuel injection. Like we said, proper V8. 

And it’s all in a MkII Cobra, arguably the prettiest of them all. Through motorsport and roadgoing replicas, Cobras have become ubiquitous in classic circles, but the originals weren’t made for very long at all – just the five years from 1962 to 1967. The MkII, if you’ll excuse the phrase, represents a sweet spot of the three, as pretty and as dainty as the first (where the MkIII is a tad OTT), but ditching the original’s steering box with rack and pinion. So you’ll hopefully end up somewhere near your intended direction. 

The Cobra MkII 347 has spent the last few days drawing the crowds at the London Concours. As expected given the age and mileage, it is to all intents and purposes a brand-new car, complete with fantastic Pearl White paint and an interior unashamedly focused on the driving. A dream-grade Cobra, basically, before it all got a bit silly with stripes and tyre writing and ugly rollover hoops. And it’s the kind of AC Cobra that’ll never be made again; probably a thought many have had before, though now it’s the reality. It’s a brand-new, bona fide icon, and how often is there the chance to bid on one of those?