The Shelby Cobra was a simple idea: In the early 1960′s, the Europeans built finely-balanced, light chassis with brilliant, precise steering. The Americans built muscular cars with brutally powerful engines that could just erase straight lines of asphalt. Why not drop a big American engine onto a balanced Euro-style chassis? It made a lot of sense.

Carroll Shelby then carved one of the sleekest, most curvaceous bodies the world has ever seen – still to this day, 50 years later.

It was a legend, but that was fifty years ago. It’s been a long time since you could get an authentic Cobra. Sure, there are plenty of kit car imitators, but an authentic Shelby? If you find a willing buyer, be prepared to part with a large wad of cash. They don’t build them anymore.

Soon, though, they will. With the 50th anniversary of the Cobra coming up, Carroll Shelby’s company is prepared to build just 50 more of those curvaceous bodies. However, these won’t be exact copies of the 1960?s version. They’re just shells — no drivetrain. You’ll need to drop in your own engine and gearbox, though any competent shop could do that for you. They’ll have modern disc brakes and safety gear, and an upgraded, supple leather interior, which the original cars could only dream of.

The Cobra bodies will be available in either fibreglass ($69 000 / R500 000) or aluminum ($135 000 / R950 000). But for many, a new Cobra, built by Shelby and with no prior owners is virtually priceless.