The open body is typical of British sports cars from the 1960s and is equipped with a large-displacement American V8 engine. The AC Cobra is attractive for its massive style not found in modern cars and its dynamic driving that is not bound by electronic controls.

Replicas, called reproduction cars, are still being produced by more than 10 companies around the world, but the original was manufactured from 1962 to 1967 (until 1969 in the United States and Europe). The strongest version of the car is the AC Shelby Cobra 427. The engine is a 7-liter OHV with 425 PS in the standard version and 485 PS in the competition version for racing. The body has been thoroughly strengthened to handle that power. It has been boldly updated with a double wishbone suspension and front and rear over fenders that have increased the overall width by 175 mm.

The race did not meet the homologation deadline, and Shelby did not enter the works team, but the car's 0-60 time was in the 12-second range, and its snake dash with its tail swinging from side to side when starting captivated speed junkies around the world. The 427 S/C is a competition model that has been detuned for use on public roads and fitted with a front windshield, and is highly sought after around the world as a collector's item not only for its speed, but also for its rarity.