Shelby Cobra
HI

This is a 1964 Factory Five MKII Replica Cobra. After spending nearly a year, rebuilding the engine and correcting a multitude of chassis, electrical and drive train issues, we were fortunate enough to be part of a display of six (2) replica Cobras at the 2018 First Hawaiian Bank, International Auto Show, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Just two weeks after the show, the car was wrecked. The driver/owner was was heading east bound toward Honolulu, and as he turned southward to gas up for a charity cruise, to support the Hawaii food Bank, his foot slipped off the brake and hit the accelerator, causing the Factory Five MKII, to accelerate forward, just enough to strike the concrete curbing, along the center median, with enough force to snap the upper control arm on the driver's side of the vehicle. The broken control arm resulted in a total loss of steering and loss of control of the vehicle at approximately 35 MPH. The car continued out of control, heading at a 45 degree angle, across the center grass median, and across the two (2) opposing lanes of northbound traffic. Very fortunately the vehicle did not strike any other vehicles, nor did any northbound traffic strike the MKII. The car continued in a southeasterly direction, sliding broadside, into the opposing guard rail. The impact with the guard rail caused the battery to tear loose from its mount in the boot, which caused the positive battery cable to also tear through the aluminum sheet metal in the floor of the boot. The impact also caused the fuel line to rupture and begin leaking, between the gas tank and the inline fuel pump. The car caught fire when the shorted battery cable, ignited the leaking fuel. The driver extinguished the fire, using the onboard dry chemical extinguisher, carried on the transmission tunnel, between the seats. The driver sustained two (2) cracked ribs and a sprained left knee, from the impact with the guard rail. The insurance company considered the car to be a total loss.