[Michael C Henry]

As I understand the 427 engine was succesfull in NASCAR and the 427 Cobra was a "what if" hot rodders dream. When the 427 cars started arriving at the shop emphasis was on the GT40's and the concern was to make something sellable out of these cars. They only got as high as 37 cars before the FIA authorities arrived to check their production to comply with homoligation rules (100 either built or a substantial point of being built) to qualify as "Manufactered" rule . They were told they could still compete as" "Prototype" . Race car technology had gone past the 427 Cobra. Thus the 427 SC Cobra was never ( oh what is the word?) by a Ford or Shelby team but was used by privateers. The emphasis was on the European FIA courses with their long straight aways where top speed was so important. The short coarses were its best showing, but even then when they would blast away from the compition in the short straightaways, then they would be overtaken in the corners. These stories are from my memories of reading the "Turd" article and a strory about John Morton in the now defunct Cobra magazine.