Kirkham Cobra 427

Kirkham Cobra, Bué near Sancerre 2017.

Kirkham Motorsports, North Provo, Utah, USA.  With their beautiful aluminium bodies these Cobra replicas are amongst the most desirable in the World.  The aluminium bodies are actually made in Poland in an old MiG fighter jet factory whilst the rest of the car is built in Utah.  Founded by David Kirkham the company stared in 1994.  Since then they have built over 800 replica 427s and 289s. The most popular are the big block Shelby American Ford V8 powered cars which make a magnificent sound.  Very desirable replicas of the sixties Shelby Cobra. They supply the cars either with original or uprated suspension and brakes.  Saw this one in France and I think the owner said it had a 550hp engine but they go up to 650hp.

1965 Ford Mustang 289

Christian Odin, 1965 Ford Mustang 289, Tour Auto, 1st  Special Stage 2016.

Pour plus de photos du Tour Auto 2016, suivez ce lien.

For more photos of the 2016 Tour Auto, follow this link.

Ford, Dearborn, USA.  The first Mustangs appeared in 1964, even if they were referred to as 1965 models and were either 2 door hardtops or convertibles.  Driver train components were from the Ford Galaxy but the car was designed to have universal appeal, including to women, with bucket seats, room for 4 people and a $2,500 price tag.  The basic model had a low power 2.8 litre 6 cylinder engine but the 289 had a 4.7 litre V8 with better performance.  Top speed for the 289 was a little under120 mph and it had a 0-60mph time of a little over 8 seconds.   It was immediately a successful car with huge sales for Ford and the term "Pony Car" was created for it and its imitators.  The Mustang made its public debut as the pace car at the Indy 500 in 1964 and a convertible appeared in the film Goldfinger.  They were immediately raced and rallied worldwide.  In 1964 the Alan Mann entered Mustang 289 won its class and finished eighth overall in the Tour de France Auto driven by Peter Procter and Andrew Cowan.  The Mustang emblem on the front of the car has become a true automotive icon.