An authoritative exploration of well-known car designer Carroll Shelby’s first generation of Cobras.

The story of how Carroll Shelby created the Cobra automobile in the early 1960s is a fascinating account of numerous people and events converging to produce something truly extraordinary. The result was a complete revitalization of a previously obsolete British sports car that went on to win the 1965 World Manufacturers GT Championship. Today the Shelby Cobra is still one of the most recognized automobile names, and designs, in the world.

This book brings to life the story of the first Ford-powered roadsters that today are referred to as Mark I leaf-spring Cobras. Seasoned Cobraphiles, as well as newcomers, will enjoy the hundreds of anecdotes about the people who built these first Cobras—and those who had the foresight to buy them. Drawing on his own research and hundreds of new interviews, Robert Walker uncovers a wealth of unpublished stories, photographs, and documents that color the story. He also rightfully credits the hardworking craftsmen that aided Carroll Shelby in bringing his visions to life. With more than fourteen hundred images, Shelby Cobras is a comprehensive look at some of the twentieth century’s most distinctive automobiles.