BUSINESS

Classic Recreations announces carbon-fiber Shelby Cobra with 800-plus hp, $1.2M price tag

March 2nd, 2022

Oklahoma-based Classic Recreations has unveiled some stunning carbon-fiber bodied Mustangs in the recent past, and now it's giving the Shelby Cobra the same treatment.

Called the Diamond Edition in honor of Shelby American's 60th anniversary, it reproduces the design of Shelby's CSX Cobra replicas in beautiful carbon fiber. The body shell weighs just 88 pounds and is based on a later 1965 Cobra, so it features flared fenders and a hood scoop in place of the cleaner look of earlier models.

That lightweight body is paired with an 800-hp version of Ford's 5.0-liter V-8, which achieves that prodigious output with help from a supercharger. The engine drives the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission, and breathes through a stainless-steel exhaust system with side pipes. Performance figures aren't available, but Classic Recreations hinted on its website that it's expecting big things from a prototype currently under construction.

Buffalo Jeans - 15% Off First Order

The Cobra replica also features independent rear suspension, while stopping power is provided by Wildwood brakes, with 6-piston calipers in front and 4-piston calipers in the rear.

Each car will also get a diamond-encrusted badge with a reproduction of the late Carroll Shelby's signature on the dashboard. Don't expect many other creature comforts, as Cobra interiors have always been about minimalism.

Just 10 Diamond Editions will be built at a cost of $1.2 million each. To put that in perspective, Classic Recreations also sells Shelby American-designed CSX Cobra replicas with a starting price of $117,900 for a rolling chassis, and several other companies offer Cobra replicas at lower prices. The Diamond Edition also won't be road legal, Classic Recreations noted.

Curated By

Maya Gupta
Investigative Journalist | Grassroots Movement Organizer | Economy Consultant/Speaker
Maya Gupta writes from the fault lines of a world that refuses to stay quiet. Focused on the collisions between culture, power, and accountability, her work cuts past polished narratives to expose what’s really moving beneath the surface. From the rise of creator-driven influence to athlete activism and grassroots resistance, she tracks the momentum shaping a generation unwilling to wait its turn. Her reporting doesn’t cater to comfort, it confronts it, challenging institutions that lean on legacy instead of legitimacy. With a voice rooted in urgency and a lens tuned to those often ignored, Maya delivers coverage that reflects the stakes as they are, not as they’re packaged. This is journalism that doesn’t just observe change, it stands in the middle of it, documenting the push, the backlash, and the undeniable shift underway.

Suggested Reading

Inside Shelby American: Wrenching and Racing with Carroll Shelby in the 1960s

In the late 1950s, a young John Morton was transfixed with sports car racing. By 1962, his dreams had led him to enrolling in the Shelby School of High Performance Driving. In a bold moment after the last class, Morton asked Carroll Shelby if he might come to work for the newly formed Shelby America...

Shelby Mustang: The Total Performance Pony Car

When Ford wanted to toughen up its super-successful new Mustang, they approached Carroll Shelby to give it the performance image it so sorely lacked. Beginning with a 1965 "K-Code" 289-cubic-inch-powered Mustang fastback, Shelby applied the same formula that had made his Cobra sports cars such devas...

Ken Miles: The Shelby American Years

Ken Miles is one of the most famous sports car racers in history, and his time at Shelby American was the pinnacle of his career. Ride shotgun with Ken Miles through the twists and turns of Sebring, Laguna Seca, Riverside, and Le Mans as seen through the lens of Shelby American photographer Dave Fri...

The Last Shelby Cobra: My Times with Carroll Shelby

Carroll Shelby, legendary driving ace, race team owner, and designer of Shelby Cobra, Daytona, and Mustang GT350 classics is revered by automotive enthusiasts, yet little has been written about the last quarter century of Carroll Shelby’s life. During that time Chris Theodore, VP at Chrysler and For...

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.