Ultra rare Cobra car once worth £500 is now PRICELESS – the only car of its kind in existence today

A ONE-OF-A-KIND vintage Cobra sports car, once bought for a mere £500, has now reached the pinnacle of automotive prestige and become virtually priceless. This ultra-rare Shelby Cobra 427 Competition edition, the last of its kind, is set to dazzle classic car enthusiasts. It joins the world’s rarest motors at the prestigious Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace this September.

Back in the early 1960s, AC Cars, a British company, produced this beastly beauty, equipping its traditional sports car body with a roaring V-8 engine. This powerhouse allowed the Cobra to reach a blistering top speed of 190 mph. A performance so fierce that it reportedly led to the introduction of motorway speed limits in the UK, after one was caught doing over 180mph on the M1.

Only 19 of the 427 Competition models were ever made, making this car the stuff of legends. Originally sold for just £500 in 1966, its value has since skyrocketed, with collectors now considering it priceless. After a life on the racetrack, this particular Cobra spent 35 years in the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, quietly waiting for its moment to shine again.

Now, it will take centre stage alongside 60 of the world’s rarest cars at the Concours of Elegance, which runs from August 30 to September 1. A spokesperson for the event expressed their excitement, saying: "The Concours of Elegance is delighted to announce the latest star car that has joined its 2024 line-up: "A Shelby Cobra in ultra-rare 427 Competitio.