MacG Racing, the UK’s only distributor of the current AC Cobra brand, will be launching the first right-hand-drive MK VI at The Performance Car Show this month.

• First ever right hand drive AC Cobra MK VI to be launched by the UK’s first and sole distributors, MacG Racing
• Come and see the unveiling of this 437hp V8 supercharged sports car for the UK market in Hall 19 on stand 19210
• FIA Homologated GT4 race car to follow
• Each car is handmade according to customer specification and continues the heritage of one of Britain’s oldest car manufacturers
• Get your tickets at www.performancecarshow.com today

MacG Racing, the UK’s only distributor of the current AC Cobra brand, will be launching the first right-hand-drive MK VI at The Performance Car Show this month.

Handbuilt in Germany, this is the first chance for petrolheads to see this version of the exquisite and powerful AC Cobra. AC Cars is one of the UK’s oldest car manufacturers and was first established in 1901 when John Weller set up a garage in London to realise a passion for building cars. 

It was in 1903 that Weller, with the backing of wealthy businessman John Portwine, helped bring the concept to reality as Weller debuted two versions of his ‘Autocar’ at the British Motor Show that year – in a twin-cylinder 10-horsepower and a four-cylinder 20-horsepower configuration. For the first time in 1915, the abbreviation AC was used, and in November of that year a new company was formed called Autocarriers Limited.

Fast-forward 101 years and the latest iteration of the venerable AC Cobra, will be one of the stars of the Performance Car Show. The Mk VI’s engine is a 6.2-litre, 434bhp V8, enabling the stunning car to go from 0-62mph in just 3.7 seconds and reaching a top speed of 173mph (278 km/h). The car is fully homologated for worldwide sales and meets all current emission Standards. Information will also be available on an FIA Homologated GT4 race car currently in development.

MacG Racing, a family run motorsport and engineering team with over 15 years experience of running vehicles in various national level championships, will be launching the car as part of its overall activity at the Performance Car Show in January.

Richard MacGregor of MacG Racing, said: “The AC Cobra is an iconic model which has remained extremely popular throughout its different versions. The MK VI retains all of the beauty and charm of the original AC Cobras, with a modern update.

“Previously only available in left hand drive, we are thrilled that we can now launch a version better suited to British roads and can’t wait to introduce the right hand drive version of this incredible machine at the Performance Car Show in January. Our Racing Team are also excited about our involvement in the development of the GT4 version and being able to race it in due course”

This is just one of the many highlights at the Performance Car Show. Visitors will also be treated to an exciting range of cars on the Autocar and Pistonheads.com stand, including a Ford GT, Aston Martin DB11 and Honda NSX.

In addition, there will be a very special display of rarefied road-going and race Sierra RS500 Cosworths to mark the iconic performance car’s 30th anniversary.

It's the 50th anniversary of the Cobra Daytona coupe, and you can still buy(ish) them new.

Back in 1964, the Cobra was all dominant – except at such high-speed European circuits as Le Mans. Carroll Shelby duly tasked designer Peter Brock with penning a sleeker body and the resulting Cobra Daytona Coupes beat Ferrari to the 1965 FIA Sports Car Championship. 

Only six cars were constructed in period, which will be assembled for the first time ever at the upcoming Goodwood Revival meeting, September 11-13. 

Unsurprisingly, these Shelby masterpieces very rarely come to market and, when they do, they fetch a fortune – the last one to sell fetched a cool $7.25million. A genuine derivative is, however, available brand new from just £99,800 plus VAT – here’s the story…….

The current CSX9000 Series Daytona Coupe was developed directly from the original Coupes by Brock and fellow designer Bob Negstad. 

They combine the mouth-watering shape of those original cars with the very latest in engineering technology, as a result of which they were sanctioned by the late, great Carroll Shelby and subsequently adopted as an official Shelby product.

The current (MKII) version benefits from numerous upgrades, including: a better gearbox (Tremec Magnum); improved suspension option with Öhlins adjustable dampers; stainless steel side-mounted exhausts; deep-dished 15” FIA wheels or 18” race-style ones; greater interior space; better air conditioning controls; and exterior door handles. 

The body is manufactured from polyvinyl ester and there is a wide choice of engines as follows: Ford motorsport ones from 289 to 427ci in capacity and 380 to 550bhp in output, and a 520bhp version of GM’s popular LS3 unit.