The AC Cobra is a distinctive two door roadster produced in England during the nineteen sixties. The initial cars were fitted with a straight 6 engine, a common feature for limited produced cars of the era; although by the time the Cobra was produced it was considerably mature in its life. Shortly afterwards the engine was changed to a Chrysler V8. The body of the car was composed of aluminium body panels and steel tubing.

In the early sixties Carroll Shelby contacted AC hoping they would build a car which was fitted with a V8 engine. After AC agreed, they stated it was conditional on a suitable engine being found to fit in the car, and therefore contacted Chevrolet. Chevrolet did not feel it a worthwhile endeavour as the new car would compete with the Chevrolet Corvette. AC then turned to Ford for the engine, who supplied AC with a new small block V8; suiting both parties as Ford wanted a car in direct competition with Chevrolet.  The car and new engine was sent to Carroll Shelby in L.A. Production of the car proved straight forward as the changes needed were already made due to the previous Zephyr engine used in the Cobra.

The AC Cobra was produced for six years, between nineteen sixty one and nineteen sixty seven. Although the car remains iconic and distinctive, the car was not successful financially which lead to the cease of exporting to Ford and Shelby. The AC marque continued to trade for a number of years after the Cobra was withdrew, but went into bankruptcy late in the nineteen seventies.