AC COBRA 260/COBRA 289/AC 289

2-seater sports.

Not for the sybarite is Carroll Shelby's cross-pollinated Ace with American Ford engine. It'll take you to 100mph in 14secs, and there are disc brakes, but even with some extra reinforcement the old 1953 chassis is working hard. UK-available from 1964 but not many sold over here, so expect to pay for a good one. Cam-and-peg steering on 4.2-litre '260' and early Cobra 289s; thereafter rack-and-pinion. AC289 (as opposed to Cobra 289) has coil-sprung chassis, plus more flared wings.