The original Shelby Cobra left an indelible imprint on the automotive landscape. This nimble English roadster, powered by a raucous Ford V-8, set new performance standards, won countless races, and became an iconic supercar. The Shelby Cobra was only in production for six short years and only 1,000 cars were ever made, but Cobra aficionados yearned for and revered these cars. Then, beginning in the late 1970s, companies manufactured and sold Cobra replicas as a kit car, so enthusiasts could build one in the garage, and other companies eventually offered complete rolling chassis as well as complete new cars.
Author D. Brian Smith, former editor-in-chief of Kit Car magazine, shows you each crucial step in assembling a modern Cobra replica, and in particular, he profiles assembling the most popular Cobra kit car, the Factory Five Cobra Mk4. He guides you through selecting the right Cobra kit car for a particular budget and performance goals, and then shows how to plan, budget, and use the necessary tools. Detailed step-by-step captions and photos show you how to assemble each major component group of the car so you assemble a strong running, reliable, and safe Cobra replica.
Also included in this informative guide is how to buy a pre-owned Cobra replica. It shows you how to inspect, evaluate, and test drive used Cobra kit cars for those who prefer to purchase an already assembled one. 
This is an excellent book for anyone that has an interest in building a kit Cobra or any other kit car, for that matter. The build principles are all very similar. D. Brian Smith has done a great job walking us through the various stages of build-up that are required to complete a car that is somewhat complex and requires a fair amount of ability, knowledge, and money. Brian has covered all aspects of the build which makes this a good book for anyone thinking about doing one of these cars. Brian used a Factory Five car for his build, which is a good car to use because the kits are well made. There are many Cobra kits on the market today, so there are a lot of choices. The photography is good and the process is logical and easy to follow. I would like to have seen more manufacturers mentioned, but I realize there are only so many pages, and there is a lot of material to cover. So overall, I think this is a well thought out book and if you just want to know about what is required, or if you really want to build one of these cars, then you will find this book to be a valuable resource.
I heard about this book (and met the author) while attending a car show at the Huntington Beach Pier in April 2012, came home and placed an order before it was released. Waiting was hard, but worth it. While the book focuses on the authors build of a Factory Five Roadster, the information it contains easily translates to other builds. If you are looking for a “basic how to bend fuel/brake lines etc. book” this isn’t the book for you. However, if you are looking at building a replica of an American classic automobile and already have basic mechanical skills, this book will be a great reference. We have already built our Roadster, but I enjoyed the book and glad that we have it in our library.
Ray
I am currently building my 4th Factory Five Racing “Roadster” and bought this book on a whim. The authors know what they are doing and show it with great instructions and illustrations. Even though I am on my 4th, I still learned from this book – just wish it was around for number 1. Highly recommend this book if you are contemplating building one.
I have been watching my friends and brother in-law build kit cars for the past 20 years and so this book caught my eye. Very well written, clear and detailed. If and when I actually do build my own — this is the book for me to get the final product a Cobra. Excellent job Brian.
If your looking to build a Cobra kit car this book is for you. Lots of pics and info.Great info on Factory Five kit cars.
This is a fun and inspiring guide to a Factory Five Cobra home build project. Whether you’re in the midst of a build or just daydreaming about one, DB Smith has put together a unique and wonderful resource. And the father and son partnership idea is brilliant! Highly recommended!
Got it for my husband and I am in the “driver seat”. He loves it and I am wife of the year. He said Mr. Smith is very detailed oriented and thorough and easy to follow. It was the best present of the year, except now he wants the real deal.
D. Brian Smith did an outstanding job presenting and articulating the complex process of building a Cobra Kit Car. Any auto enthusiast would learn from the tips and recommendations found in this book! Way to go D. Brian and Car Tech Inc.
Hi folks-
I have never written a review before, so please bear with me. I bought this book, because I hope to someday build myself a Factory Five Roadster replica. I already have the build manual from Factory Five, but I bought this book to see what I could learn. Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised at the wealth of information, great details, tips, and techniques. There are a large number of photos to supplement the advice, and each picture complements the dialog nicely.
I would best describe this book almost like a couple of car guys sitting in the mancave drinking a few cold beverages, talking about how to build their cars, while passing around pictures of how their car came together. I keep my copy next to my chair and look at it often. It is a wonderful resource, and I am using it as I put my own build plan together.
I highly recommend it for anyone on the fence about building one of these amazing cars, or who is already thinking about building one of these cars. I learned that it is truly possible to make yourself a beautiful machine with a reasonable amount of talent, a good plan, and a modest amount of tools. Mr. Smith and his father did an amazing job building a stunning car, and were kind enough to document it for us!
Congratulations to both Mr. Smiths on their fine book. I wish you much success!!
Regards,
Steve
I am thinking of building a Cobra replica and found this book to be very informative. Easy read, well organized, good pictures and a nice build to boost. Would recommend it for anyone comtemplating building a cobra replica.