There’s a 7.3L Godzilla V8 in Superformance’s latest Shelby Cobra MKIII R replica



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The Shelby Cobra is one of the most iconic track weapons ever created. Racing legend Carroll Shelby made waves as his creation quickly became a symbol of raw American power, and in 1965 when the all-new Mark III chassis incorporated a massive 7.0-liter Ford V8 into the mixture, it became evident that powerful large-displacement engines were a keystone in the vehicle’s development.

In 1967, the original 427 Cobra ceased production. Many companies have tried to produce a worthy replica; however, a reproduce manufacturer stands out: Superformance. Now Superformance has revealed its latest creation based on the same high displacement principle that the original 427 Cobra was built by tucking Ford’s 7.3-liter Godzilla engine under the hood.

As expected, the Superformance MKIII R shares a striking resemblance to the original MKIII Cobra: its body shape, curves and overall profile match the eye-catching parts of the five-decade-old design. However, Superformance calls it the “new generation of Cobra for a new generation of owner,” which means the design and platform have been updated to reflect a customer demanding a more modernized approach to the classic car.

Under the hood is the most intriguing part of the whole project: Ford’s 7.3-liter V8, affectionately known as “Godzilla.” The pushrod box engine, which was originally built for gas-powered versions of Ford’s F-250 and F-350 pickup trucks, produces a respectable 430 horsepower and factory torque of 475 lb-ft. . We know he’s capable of a lot more with a little bit of forced induction, maybe even enough to give Shelby’s Super Snake a run for its money.

To manage the transplant, they contacted Vlado Jancev of the California-based V’s Performance tuner store. From Jancev’s interview with Rare car network, fitting Ford’s Godzilla into the MKIII R was surprisingly easy – the width is quite similar to GM’s LS platform, although the height required some modest modifications to the intake manifold. The engine is then mated to a Tremec five-speed manual transmission and transmits power exclusively to the rear wheels, as Carroll Shelby intended.

Of course, other modern bits are fitted to the updated Cobra. For example, behind the Halibrand-style wheels are large Wilwood brakes that perfectly hide the Bilstein coil springs behind them. Visual upgrades include a front splitter, rear apron, fender vents, pops of black paint on the car’s gorgeous ruby ​​red coat, and more.

The interior has also been updated, as you might expect. Black leather adorns the seats and transmission tunnel, while body-colored double stitching lends a sleek appeal. Modern electronic gauges are plastered on the flat-faced dashboard, and a push-button start reinforces the “classic car of today” philosophy.

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