Classic AC Cobras get 230kW electric hearts

September 2, 2020September 8, 2020 Iain Curry 3793 Views ac cobra, classic car ev, electric cobra

Would an all-electric AC Cobra have the great Carroll Shelby spinning in his grave or blown away with cutting-edge tech in that evocative body shape?

While we’ll never know, few can begrudge AC Cars (England) for jumping on the current bandwagon of fitting zero-emissions electric power into a classic body style.

In recent years Jaguar’s done so with its E-Type Zero; Aston Martin Works slung an electric drivetrain into a 1970 DB6 Volante, and third party companies have electrified the likes of a 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V and 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback with Tesla Model S tech.

Limited to 58 units (a nod to 58 years since the Cobra’s inception), the AC Cobra Series 1 Electric features the same delicious curvaceous styling as seen on the first AC Cobra 289 of 1962. Its old-school ladder frame chassis remains, albeit adapted to fit the electric drive components and battery.

A 54kWh battery is mounted up front, while a 230kW/500Nm electric motor spins the rear wheels. AC Cars claims weight is under 1250kg – good for an EV – while range is a reasonable 240-kilometres. Battery charge capacity is 6kW.

But the EV’s performance won’t get Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake fans frothing. A 0-100km/h time of 6.7-seconds is more grass snake than super snake, while price will also be a substantial hurdle for traditionalists.

AC Cars says the before on-roads cost is a chunky £138,000 ($206,000), which eclipses its petrol-powered Cobra 378 Superblower MKIV with 433kW 6.2-litre blown V8. So what’s your flavour? Cruising in silence with zero emissions or punching a hole in the ozone layer while having a shouty conversation with your passenger?

Should you go the Series 1 Electric route, AC Cars promises a “a high-grade composite body in the 1962 style,” wire wheels and “traditional AC Cobra interior.” Sensibly, the likes of suspension, brakes and steering are modern offerings for safety reasons. Colour choices are Electric Blue, Electric Black, Electric White and Electric Green.

Falcon Electric in England’s Midlands is the electric vehicle conversion specialist trusted with fitting the EV hardware, with reports last month suggesting two examples were currently in the workshop undergoing final fitments.

AC Cars says deliveries will start in the final quarter of this year.

Iain Curry

A motoring writer and photographer for two decades, Iain started in print magazines in London as editor of Performance BMW and features writer for BMW Car, GT Porsche and 4Drive magazines. His love of motor sport and high performance petrol cars was rudely interrupted in 2011 when he was one of the first journalists to drive BMW's 1 Series ActiveE EV, and has been testing hybrids, PHEVs and EVs for Australian newspapers ever since. Based near Noosa in Queensland, his weekly newspaper articles cover new vehicle reviews and consumer advice, while his photography is regularly seen on the pages of glossy magazines.