Roster · living document
A Comprehensive Working List of Every Shelby Cobra Replica Manufacturer
This is a working list of companies that have built Shelby Cobra and AC Cobra replicas, kits, and continuations. It is a reference document rather than an article, and it changes as corrections arrive. Every entry carries a mark showing how well the record could be confirmed, and some of those marks say plainly that it could not be.
The story behind the list — where these cars came from, which companies became which other companies, and why so much of this survives only in conversation — is in the companion article, 120 Companies Built Cobra Replicas. Almost Nobody Wrote It Down.
Corrections go to roark@roarkpollock.com. Please say which entry you mean and, where you can, how you know.
I follow the evidence and take no manufacturer money. No company paid for an entry and none was left out for declining. I own an ERA 427 S/C.
How to read this roster
The five marks
- Confirmed
- Corroborated across independent sources.
- Partial
- Company and identity confirmed, some details unresolved.
- Community-documented
- Recorded firsthand by a named person in a club, forum, or registry, and not corroborated documentarily. A legitimate category, not a failure.
- Unverified
- Name established, details unconfirmed after searching.
- Not found
- Searched directly, and no reliable record found.
Build formats
- Kit
- Component or builder-assembled.
- Roller
- A rolling chassis supplied without engine or transmission.
- Turnkey-minus
- Complete but for the powertrain.
- Turnkey
- Delivered complete.
- Body-only
- Bodyshell supplier, no chassis.
- Chassis-only
- Chassis supplier, no body.
Licensed continuation builders 5 entries
| Company | Country | Founded | Status | People | Models | Notes and sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC AutoKraft LLC #CR-001 | United States Michigan | 2008 | unknown | — | — | US arm of the 2008 Acedes Heritage Series licence. Founding year approximate. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Partial |
| AC Cars Ltd #CR-002 | United Kingdom | 1901 | active | — | — | Company dates to 1901; Cobra-era production from 1962. The brand has passed through several separate owners rather than one continuous line. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Partial |
| AC Heritage #CR-003 | United Kingdom Brooklands, Weybridge | 1990or2007 Run A dates it to the 1990s; the prior census recorded 2007. Unresolved. | active | — | — | Holds original AC Thames Ditton and Autokraft tooling. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Partial |
| Autokraft #CR-004 | United Kingdom Brooklands | 1980or1986 Run A gives 1980, per Bonhams dating of the MkIV revival. The prior census recorded 1986. Unresolved. | closed closed 1996 | Brian Angliss | MkIV | Acquired most of the original AC tooling and built the MkIV. Bonhams | Confirmed |
| Shelby American, Inc. #CR-005 | United States Las Vegas, Nevada | 1962 | active | Carroll Shelby | 427 S/C, coil-over 427, 289 FIA, 289 slabside, Daytona Coupe | Continuation serial blocks: CSX4000 for the 427 S/C, CSX6000 coil-over 427, CSX7000 289 FIA, CSX8000 289 slabside street, CSX9000 Daytona Coupe. Justia — Shelby v. Superformance | Confirmed |
Currently producing — North America 12 entries
| Company | Country | Founded | Status | People | Models | Notes and sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B&B Manufacturing #CR-006 | United States Granby, Missouri | 1990 | unknown | Bryan Anderson, Barry McGill (to 2008) | — | Founding decade approximate. DIY Ford / CarTech | Partial |
| Backdraft Racing #CR-007 | United States Boynton Beach, Florida | 2001 | active | Tony Martin and Reg DoddorTony Marten and Reg Dodd The company's own spelling is Martin; secondary sources widely use Marten. Unresolved in the literature, though the official spelling is preferred. | RT3, RT4 | Cars built by TR-Tec in Durban, South Africa. Founded January 2001. Backdraft Racing Backdraft Racing South Africa | Confirmed |
| ERA Replica Automobiles #CR-008 | United States New Britain, Connecticut | 1981 | active | Peter Portante | 427 S/C, 289 FIA, 289 slabside | Cobra Authority | Confirmed |
| Everett-Morrison Motorcars #CR-009 | United States Baytown, Texas Relocated from Tampa, Florida around 2008. | 1983 | active | Buford Everett, Julie Fenimore (from 2007) | — | Cobra Authority | Confirmed |
| Factory Five Racing #CR-010 | United States Wareham, Massachusetts | 1995 | active | Dave Smith, Mark Smith | Mk4 Roadster, Mk5 Roadster, 289 USRRC, Type 65 Daytona Coupe | Claims that Contemporary's tooling passed to Factory Five are disputed between sources and are deliberately not stated here. Cobra Authority, quoting the TTAB opinion | Confirmed |
| Hurricane Roadsters #CR-011 | United States Lake City, Iowa Founded in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Closed 2008 and restarted 2010 in Iowa. | 2005 | active | — | — | Cobra Authority | Partial |
| Kirkham Motorsports #CR-012 | United States Provo, Utah | 1994or1995 Sources give 1994 or 1995. Unresolved. | active | David Kirkham, Thomas Kirkham | — | Bodies fabricated in Mielec, Poland. Cobra Authority | Confirmed |
| McGill Manufacturing #CR-013 | United States Granby, Missouri | 2008or2009 Sources give 2008 or 2009. Unresolved. | active | Barry McGill | — | Formed after Barry McGill left B&B Manufacturing in late 2008. The exact legal relationship between the two companies is unresolved. DIY Ford / CarTech | Confirmed |
| Shell Valley Classic Wheels #CR-014 | United States Platte Center, Nebraska | 1970or1971 1970 is the reading that names founder James Swoboda; 1971 is more widely repeated. Unresolved. | active | James Swoboda, Rich Anderson, Travis Roth (2009) | — | Acquired Midstates Classic Cars in 1999. Cobra Authority | Confirmed |
| Superformance LLC #CR-015 | United States Irvine, California | unknown | active | Lance Stander | MkII 289 slabside, 289 FIA/USRRC, MkIII 427 S/C | Founding year is disputed between sources and is deliberately not stated. Cars built by Hi-Tech Automotive in South Africa, and chassis receive official CSX serials. Reports 3,000+ MkIII and 6,500+ cars across all models — the only production figure on this roster that survived verification. Justia — Shelby v. Superformance Justia — Shelby v. Superformance Intl | Confirmed |
| Ultimate Classic Cars #CR-016 | United States Boerne, Texas | 2015 | active | Dennis Cahill | — | Bought the Lone Star Classics kit in 2015, then the company. Cobra Authority | Confirmed |
| Unique Motorcars #CR-017 | United States Gadsden, Alabama | 1976or1977 Sources give 1976 or 1977. Unresolved. | active | — | — | Highly assembled kit. Cobra Authority | Confirmed |
No longer producing — North America 18 entries
| Company | Country | Founded | Status | People | Models | Notes and sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arntz #CR-018 | United States South San Francisco, California | 1976or1978 Run A gives circa 1976; the prior census recorded 1978. Unresolved. | closed closed 1980 | Steve Arntz | — | Steve Arntz was formerly with Shelby. Frames supplied by Ron Butler. Cobra Authority | Confirmed |
| Aurora Cars Ltd also Aurora GRX #CR-019 | Canada Ontario | 1981 | closed closed 1984 | Wayne Stevenson, Erik Campbell-Smith | — | Ended in bankruptcy in 1984. Hagerty Media Daniel Schmitt & Co. | Confirmed |
| Auto Resolutions #CR-020 | United States Miami, Florida | 1996or1999 Run B gives 1996; Run A gives circa 1999. Unresolved. | closed | George Levin | — | Traded as Street Beasts. coachbuilt.com | Confirmed |
| Butler Racing #CR-021 | United States California | 1980 | closed closed 1994 | Ron Butler | — | Ron Butler was a former Shelby crew chief. Took over the Arntz business after its bankruptcy, having supplied its frames. Cobra Authority | Confirmed |
| Classic Motor Carriages also CMC #CR-022 | United States Miami, Florida | 1970 | closed closed 1994 | George Levin | — | Founding decade approximate. Acquired Fiberfab on 27 May 1983. The Florida Attorney General brought an action in 1994 which forced closure and $2.5M in compensation. coachbuilt.com Miami New Times | Confirmed |
| Classic Roadsters Ltd also Classic Roadsters II #CR-023 | United States Fargo, North Dakota Later Sauk Centre, Minnesota. | 1979 | closed closed 2007 | Gary Rutherford (IMAR Industries), Don Scott | — | Replica division sold 16 July 2003 to Don Scott of Minnesota Classic Motorsports, trading as Classic Roadsters II until December 2007. Cobra Authority | Community-documented |
| Contemporary Classic Motor Car Co. also CCX #CR-024 | United States [object Object] | 1978 | closed | Peter Bayer, Monty Gatti | — | Bodies moulded from an original 427 S/C. Serials in the CCX-3-#### and CCX33### forms. The disposition of its tooling after closure is disputed between sources and is not stated here. Cobra Authority | Confirmed |
| Fiberfab #CR-025 | United States | 1964 | closed closed 1983 | Warren \"Bud\" Goodwin | — | Acquired by Classic Motor Carriages on 27 May 1983. The name was later reused by an unrelated business, Factory Fiberfab US (2003, Daniel Richer), which is not a legal successor. motor-car.net Wikipedia | Confirmed |
| Hi-Tech Motorsports #CR-026 | United States Scottsdale and Chandler, Arizona | 1990 | closed | Tom D'Antonio | — | Founding decade approximate. Serials carry an HTR prefix. Unrelated to Hi-Tech Automotive of South Africa. Cobra Authority | Partial |
| Lone Star Classics #CR-027 | United States Fort Worth, Texas | unknown | closed closed 2015 | — | — | Kit bought in 2015, then the company, by Ultimate Classic Cars. Cobra Authority | Confirmed |
| Lust Cobra Corporation #CR-028 | United States Ventura, California | 1982 | closed closed 1985 | — | — | Cobra Authority | Unverified |
| Midstates Classic Cars & Parts #CR-029 | United States | unknown | absorbed closed 1999 into Shell Valley Classic Wheels | Bob Kallio | — | Cobra Authority | Confirmed |
| North American Fiberglass #CR-030 | United States Scottsdale, Arizona | unknown | closed closed 1989 | Jake Kube | — | Closure dated to the 1980s. Cobra Authority | Unverified |
| Pacific Coast Cobra #CR-031 | United States Redlands, California | 1984 | closed | — | — | Cobra Authority | Community-documented |
| Pacific Roadsters #CR-032 | United States Salem, Oregon | 2002 | closed closed 2018 | — | — | Cobra Authority | Community-documented |
| Red Stallion Ltd also Eagle #CR-033 | United States California | 1976 | closed closed 1980 | — | — | Cobra Authority | Unverified |
| Street Beasts #CR-034 | United States Miami, Florida | 1999 | closed closed 2010 | George Levin | — | Plant and moulds auctioned in 2011. Miami New Times | Confirmed |
| West Coast Cobra Inc. also West Coast Dreams #CR-035 | Canada Amherstburg, Ontario | 1987 | closed closed 2003 | Vern J. Redel, Deborah L. Redel | — | Corporations Canada #2212811, incorporated 6 July 1987, dissolved 3 March 2003. Run A treats the Sterling Heights, Michigan address as the same operation's US marketing presence; Run B argues for two identities and a record split. Primary registry evidence favours a single entity, and the question stays open. Hagerty Marketplace Factory Five forum recorded by Vern Redel | Confirmed |
United Kingdom 39 entries
| Company | Country | Founded | Status | People | Models | Notes and sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 427 Motor Company #CR-036 | United Kingdom | 2000 | closed | — | — | Decade approximate. A node in the Dax succession. Totalkitcar recorded by Steve Hole | Partial |
| AK Sportscars #CR-037 | United Kingdom Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | 1991or1992 Run A gives 1991/92; an earlier search gave 1992. Unresolved. | active | Ken Freeman, Alan Frew | — | The brand was KF before AK. UK Cobra Replica Club | Confirmed |
| Autotrak (Cobretti) Ltd #CR-038 | United Kingdom Morden, Surrey | 1999 | active | Bob Busbridge, Martin Busbridge | — | Bonhams | Confirmed |
| BRA – Beribo Replica Automobiles #CR-039 | United Kingdom Doncaster, South Yorkshire Later Cheriton Bishop, Devon. | unknown | closed | John Berry, Peter Ibbotson, Rodney Rushton | Cobra 289 | Cobra Club forum, reproducing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole | Partial |
| Brightwheel Replicas #CR-040 | United Kingdom Christchurch, Dorset | 1986 | closed closed 1989 | Ken Cook | Viper | Accounts of what happened to the Viper afterwards are contested between living individuals, with both sides self-published. This roster records companies, dates, and products, and does not characterise that dispute. German Wikipedia, citing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole | Confirmed |
| CK Automotive #CR-041 | United Kingdom Maidstone | 1989 | closed closed 1998 | Bob Egginton | — | Trading through Automotive Systems Developments. German Wikipedia, citing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole | Partial |
| Classic Replicas #CR-042 | United Kingdom Christchurch, Dorset | 1989 | closed closed 2001 | Ken Cook | — | Closure year approximate. German Wikipedia, citing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole | Confirmed |
| Cobretti Engineering #CR-043 | United Kingdom Sutton, Surrey Wallington 1992, then Morden 1999. | 1987or1989 Run A gives 1987/88; other sources give 1989. Unresolved. | active | Bob Busbridge, Martin Busbridge | Viper | Bonhams | Confirmed |
| Crendon Replicas #CR-044 | United Kingdom Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire Moved to Wellington, Somerset after the December 2016 change of ownership to Anthony Hale of Absolute Horsepower, using the original tooling. | 1988or1990 Run A dates it to the late 1980s; Run B gives 1990. Unresolved. | active | John Kerr, Anthony Hale (from December 2016) | — | Totalkitcar recorded by Steve Hole UK Cobra Replica Club | Confirmed |
| Dax / DJ Sportscars International #CR-045 | United Kingdom North Weald, Essex | 1968 | active | — | — | The first British company to build a kit-based AC 427 Cobra replica. Dax 427 production passed to John Kox of JK Sports Cars on 15 August 2017. UK Cobra Replica Club | Confirmed |
| Fiero Factory #CR-046 | United Kingdom Tardebigge, Bromsgrove | unknown | unknown | — | Euro 427 | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Partial |
| Gardner Douglas Sports Cars #CR-047 | United Kingdom Grantham and Bottesford | 1990 | active | Andy Burrows | — | Totalkitcar recorded by Steve Hole | Confirmed |
| GE Engineering #CR-048 | United Kingdom | 1988 | closed | — | — | Built the GE 427. Successor to Gravetti, predecessor to CK Automotive. German Wikipedia, citing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole | Partial |
| Gravetti Engineering #CR-049 | United Kingdom Staplecross, East Sussex Later Sandhurst, Mere, Wincanton, and Bristol. | 1984 | closed closed 1988 | Nigel Gravett | — | Incorporated 18 July 1984; dissolved 12 July 1993. German Wikipedia, citing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole | Confirmed |
| Hawk Cars #CR-050 | United Kingdom Frant, East Sussex | 1980 | active | Gerry Hawkridge | 289 | Founding decade approximate. Cobra Club forum, reproducing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole | Confirmed |
| Invicta Replicas #CR-051 | United Kingdom Hawkhurst, Kent | 1985 | closed | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| JK Sports Cars Ltd #CR-052 | United Kingdom | 2017 | active | John Kox | Dax 427 | Took over Dax 427 production on 15 August 2017. UK Cobra Replica Club | Confirmed |
| KD Kit Cars #CR-053 | United Kingdom Wakefield, West Yorkshire | 1991 | closed closed 1996 | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| King / Libra Cars #CR-054 | United Kingdom Wrexham, Wales | 1985 | closed | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| L.R. Roadsters #CR-055 | United Kingdom Chingford Newmarket from 1986. | 1984 | closed closed 1994 | Adrian Cocking | — | First node in the L.R. Roadsters, Ram, Realm chain. German Wikipedia, citing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole | Confirmed |
| Legendary Sportscars #CR-056 | United Kingdom Manchester | 1994 | closed closed 2001 | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Madgwick Cars #CR-057 | United Kingdom Pagham | 2003or2004 Run B gives from 2003; Run A gives by 2004. Unresolved. | active | — | — | Acquired Southern Roadcraft. Iconic Auctioneers | Confirmed |
| Magnum Engineering also Fieldbay #CR-058 | United Kingdom Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire | 1986or1987 Run B gives 1986; Run A gives 1987. Unresolved. | closed closed 2009 | Mike Broad | — | Totalkitcar recorded by Steve Hole | Confirmed |
| Metaline Ltd #CR-059 | United Kingdom Wisbech, Cambridgeshire | 1981 | closed closed 2006 | Howard Brooker | — | Took a mould from an original 427. Cobra Club forum, reproducing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole | Community-documented |
| Pilgrim Motorsports #CR-060 | United Kingdom Henfield, West Sussex | 1985 | active | — | Sumo | Designs from 1980, production from 1985. Produced the GRP bodies for Southern Roadcraft's SR V8, which in turn inspired the Sumo. Totalkitcar recorded by Steve Hole | Confirmed |
| RAM Automotive #CR-061 | United Kingdom Cardiff Later Witham. | 1994 | closed closed 2000 | Adrian Cocking | — | Chassis co-designed with Formula One constructor Adrian Reynard. Middle node in the L.R. Roadsters, Ram, Realm chain. German Wikipedia, citing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole Classic Driver | Confirmed |
| Realm Engineering #CR-062 | United Kingdom Honeybourne, near Evesham | 2000 | active | Adrian Cocking | — | RAM and Realm are one continuous company under one principal, not two separate businesses. German Wikipedia, citing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole Classic Driver | Confirmed |
| Roadcraft UK #CR-063 | United Kingdom Lancing, West Sussex | 1994 | closed closed 1999 | Geoff Mills | — | A node in the Southern Roadcraft succession. Totalkitcar recorded by Steve Hole | Confirmed |
| RV Dynamics #CR-064 | United Kingdom Feering, Colchester, Essex | 1995 | closed closed 2008 | Roy Sellwood, Vince Wright | — | Run B cautions that this is a branding and concept successor to Unique Autocraft, not an engineering continuation. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Partial |
| RW Kitcars Ltd #CR-065 | United Kingdom Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire | 1983 | closed closed 2000 | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Sheldonhurst Ltd #CR-066 | United Kingdom Tyseley, Birmingham | 1984 | closed closed 1986 | — | — | Ken Cook acted as an agent in 1985, before founding Brightwheel Replicas. German Wikipedia, citing Steve Hole recorded by Steve Hole | Partial |
| Southern Roadcraft #CR-067 | United Kingdom Brighton and Pagham | 1984or1985 Run B gives 1984; Run A gives 1985. Unresolved. | absorbed into Madgwick Cars | Ian Nicholls and Brian NichollsorIan Nichols and Brian Nichols Sources differ on the founders' surname: Nicholls or Nichols. Unresolved. | SR V8 | Chassis originally by New Zealand engineer Pat Hansen. Bodies produced by Pilgrim. Iconic Auctioneers Totalkitcar recorded by Steve Hole | Confirmed |
| Sports Car Services #CR-068 | United Kingdom Peterborough | 1980 | closed | — | — | Decade approximate. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Sports Power Drive also SPD #CR-069 | United Kingdom Kingswinford, Staffordshire | 1999 | closed closed 2001 | Steve Griffiths | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| T & A Sports Cars #CR-070 | United Kingdom Woodston, Peterborough | 1990 | unknown | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| TI Motors #CR-071 | United Kingdom Shefford, Bedfordshire | 1985 | closed closed 1987 | Tim Ivory | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Tyler Industrial Mouldings Ltd #CR-072 | United Kingdom Kent | 1994 | closed closed 1998 | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Unique Autocraft #CR-073 | United Kingdom Harlow, Essex | 1981 | closed closed 1993 | — | Python | The Python used a steel chassis with a 92-inch wheelbase and Jaguar suspension. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Confirmed |
| XCS Designs #CR-074 | United Kingdom Essex and Sutton, Surrey | 2013 | active | Harvey Rice | — | Active by November 2013, with input from John Tojeiro and Peter Walker. UK Cobra Replica Club | Confirmed |
Europe 18 entries
| Company | Country | Founded | Status | People | Models | Notes and sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACE France #CR-075 | France | unknown | unknown | — | — | 289 slabside on a Hawk bodyshell with a proprietary chassis. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Community-documented |
| Classic-Car Janssen #CR-076 | Germany Lüdenscheid | 1980 | closed closed 1993 | — | — | Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Cobra Kuhn also Carl Kuhn Nachf. #CR-077 | Germany Krefeld | 1985 | closed closed 1989 | — | — | Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Hülcher Auto Technik also HAT #CR-078 | Germany Etzenricht | 1990 | closed closed 1999 | — | — | Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Künzli Sports Cars #CR-079 | Switzerland Winterthur | 1980 | closed closed 1989 | — | — | Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Lorenz & Rankl also LR #CR-080 | Germany Wolfratshausen | 1984 | closed closed 1991 | — | — | Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Lorico Sport Cars GmbH #CR-081 | Germany Michelau in Steigerwald | 1988 | closed closed 1994 | — | — | Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Mohr Automobile GmbH #CR-082 | Germany Straubenhardt-Feldrennach | 1985 | closed closed 1996 | — | — | One of two German entries with corroboration independent of the Steve Hole vein. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Partial |
| Phoenix Cobra also CMD Classic Motors Design #CR-083 | Germany Düsseldorf | 1985 | closed closed 1993 | — | — | Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Replicas Vasko #CR-084 | Spain | 1996 | closed closed 1998 | — | — | Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Rexer Automotives #CR-085 | Estonia Tallinn | unknown | unknown | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| RH Products #CR-086 | Germany Münsing | 1990 | closed closed 1992 | Robert Hillmann | — | Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Saier also Automobilbau Alexander Saier #CR-087 | Germany Sonnenbühl | 1984 | closed closed 1997 | Alexander Saier | — | One of two German entries with corroboration independent of the Steve Hole vein. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Partial |
| Stallion Cars GmbH #CR-088 | Germany Nuremberg | 1985 | closed closed 2001 | Gunnar Haberstroh | — | Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Tomaszo PS #CR-089 | Austria Achau | 1977 | closed closed 1993 | Wilhelm Tomaszovits | — | Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| TPS Switzerland #CR-090 | Switzerland | unknown | unknown | — | — | 289 slabside using a BRA bodyshell on an H&S 80mm tubular chassis. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Community-documented |
| Weineck Cobra & Motorenbau #CR-092 | Germany Bad Gandersheim | 2000 | active | Claus-Dieter Weineck, Nicole Kessler | — | Known for unusually large-displacement engines. Not to be confused with Weinem of Switzerland. German Wikipedia | Confirmed |
| Weinem Automobile #CR-091 | Switzerland Horgen | 1972 | closed closed 1989 | — | — | Not to be confused with Weineck of Germany. Rests on motor-car.net and German Wikipedia, both derived from Steve Hole's A-Z of Kit Cars. That is one upstream source, not two, which is why this entry is not marked Confirmed however many places the name appears. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
Rest of world 33 entries
| Company | Country | Founded | Status | People | Models | Notes and sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC #CR-108 | Brazil | unknown | unknown | — | — | Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Unverified |
| AC Coxx #CR-121 | Argentina Olivos, Buenos Aires | unknown | unknown | Ezequiel de Cristofaro | — | FIA-style, modelled on CSX 2260. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Partial |
| Almac #CR-106 | New Zealand Upper Hutt Later Matamata. New ownership from 2024. | 1971 | active | Alex McDonald | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Confirmed |
| Americar Veículos Especiais Ltda #CR-109 | Brazil Santo André, São Paulo | unknown | unknown | — | — | First Cobra completed in 2000, using a Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 rated to 230 cv. Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Partial |
| Ardent Kits #CR-099 | Australia South East Queensland | unknown | active | — | — | Successor to Harrison Cobra Kits. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Confirmed |
| Carkrafts #CR-122 | Argentina | unknown | unknown | — | — | Builds complete cars in-house on a seamless chrome four-inch tubular chassis. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Confirmed |
| Classic Car #CR-110 | Brazil | unknown | unknown | — | — | Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Unverified |
| Classic Revival #CR-100 | Australia West Gosford, New South Wales | 1989 | active | — | CR-427 Kobra | Composite shell on a custom high-tensile steel chassis. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Confirmed |
| Cobra Motorsport Argentina #CR-123 | Argentina Pilar, Buenos Aires | unknown | unknown | Hugo Gallego | Cobra 302, Cobra 427, AC Bristol style | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Confirmed |
| Cobramotorsport also Autoweld Equipamentos #CR-111 | Brazil Santana de Parnaíba, São Paulo | 1991 | unknown | — | — | Building since a 1991 factory. Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Partial |
| DRB Sportscars #CR-101 | Australia Yatala, Queensland | 1973 | active | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Confirmed |
| G-Force Sports Cars #CR-102 | Australia Perth, Western Australia | 1990 | active | — | — | Founding decade approximate. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Confirmed |
| Garage AS #CR-112 | Brazil | unknown | unknown | — | — | Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Unverified |
| Garden Sound #CR-113 | Brazil | unknown | unknown | — | — | Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Unverified |
| Glaspac #CR-114 | Brazil | 1981 | unknown | — | — | Run B confirms a Cobra launched in 1981; Run A has it as list-derived only. Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Partial |
| Harrison Cobra Kits also Venom Custom Fabrications #CR-103 | Australia Tweed Heads South and Slacks Creek, Queensland | unknown | absorbed into Ardent Kits | — | — | Unrelated to Venom Cars of South Africa. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Partial |
| Hi-Tech Automotive #CR-093 | South Africa Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha | 1985 | active | Jimmy Price | — | Founding decade approximate. Builds Superformance, Backdraft via TR-Tec, Shelby South Africa, and the AC 378GT Zagato. Sold the Cobra FIA body mould to Riverside Racers FIA in Canada. Unrelated to Hi-Tech Motorsports of Arizona. CNN Wikipedia | Confirmed |
| HotSnake #CR-115 | Brazil | unknown | unknown | — | — | Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Unverified |
| John Ohlsen Developments Ltd #CR-107 | New Zealand Auckland | 1990 | closed closed 1998 | John Ohlsen | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Kit Car Centre also KCC #CR-094 | South Africa | unknown | unknown | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Community-documented |
| Michel Motorsport also Michel · DC #CR-124 | Philippines Quezon City | 1977 | unknown | Gonzalo Syquia | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Newtrack #CR-116 | Brazil | unknown | unknown | — | — | Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Unverified |
| Pantera #CR-117 | Brazil | unknown | unknown | — | — | Unrelated to the De Tomaso Pantera. Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Unverified |
| Performance Cars #CR-095 | South Africa Durban | 2000 | unknown | — | — | Decade approximate. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| PMC #CR-118 | Brazil | unknown | unknown | — | — | Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Unverified |
| PT Marvia Graha Motor #CR-125 | Indonesia Jakarta | 1988 | closed closed 1998 | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| Python Vehicles Australia #CR-104 | Australia Melbourne | 1979 | active | — | — | Unrelated to the Unique Autocraft Python of the United Kingdom. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Confirmed |
| QSH #CR-119 | Brazil | unknown | unknown | — | — | Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Unverified |
| Robnell Sports Cars Pty Ltd #CR-105 | Australia | 1988 | unknown | — | — | motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Partial |
| Shamrock Automotive #CR-096 | South Africa Cape Town | 1984 | unknown | Les Hayden | — | Recorded by the founder himself in a dated Club Cobra post. No documentary corroboration located, which is the ordinary condition for a small builder of this period rather than a mark against the account. Club Cobra recorded by Les Hayden, founder | Community-documented |
| TR-Tec (Pty) Ltd #CR-097 | South Africa Durban (Prospecton) | 2002 | active | Tony Martin | — | Incorporated January 2002. Builds Backdraft Racing cars. Backdraft Racing South Africa | Confirmed |
| Venom Cars #CR-098 | South Africa Boksburg | 2003 | closed closed 2009 | Eugen (surname unresolved) | — | Unrelated to Venom Custom Fabrications of Australia. motor-car.net (Steve Hole-derived) | Unverified |
| WW Trevis #CR-120 | Brazil | unknown | unknown | — | — | Derives from Lexicar Brasil alone. One national reference republished in many places is still one source. Lexicar Brasil | Unverified |
Corporate succession
Companies that became other companies
Where a chain is shown, the tooling, the name, or both moved on. These are the chains established so far.
Fiberfab (1964, Warren Goodwin)→
Classic Motor Carriages (acquired 27 May 1983, Miami, to 1994)→
Auto Resolutions (George Levin)→
Street Beasts (to 2010; plant and moulds auctioned 2011)
Arntz (Steve Arntz, from ~1976/78)→
Butler Racing (Ron Butler, 1980–1994, having supplied Arntz's frames)
Midstates Classic Cars (Bob Kallio)→
Shell Valley (acquired 1999; Swoboda → Anderson → Roth 2009)
Lone Star Classics→
Ultimate Classic Cars (Dennis Cahill, kit bought 2015, then the company)
B&B Manufacturing→
McGill Manufacturing (Barry McGill departs late 2008; exact legal relationship unresolved)
L.R. Roadsters (Chingford, 1984)→
Ram Automotive (Cardiff, Witham, 1994)→
Realm Engineering (Honeybourne, 2000) — one company, one principal, Adrian Cocking, across four decades
Dax / DJ Sportscars (1968)→
427 Motor Company→
JK Sports Cars (John Kox, 15 August 2017)
Southern Roadcraft (Nicholls brothers, 1984/85)→
Roadcraft UK (Geoff Mills, 1994–1999)→
Madgwick Cars (2003/04)
Gravetti Engineering (Nigel Gravett, 1984–88)→
GE Engineering→
CK Automotive (Bob Egginton, 1989–1998)
Sheldonhurst (1984–86; Ken Cook an agent in 1985)→
Brightwheel Replicas (1986–89)→
Classic Replicas (1989–~2001)
Unique Autocraft Python (1981–93)→
RV Dynamics (1995–2008 — branding and concept succession, not engineering continuation)
Harrison Cobra Kits (Queensland)→
Ardent Kits (South East Queensland)
Hi-Tech Automotive→
Riverside Racers FIA (Canada — Cobra FIA body mould; cars sold as Superformance MkII, and in the UK as "AC Classic")
Classic Roadsters Ltd (Gary Rutherford, Fargo ND, IMAR Industries)→
Don Scott / Minnesota Classic Motorsports (replica division sold 16 July 2003)→
Classic Roadsters II (to December 2007)
Name collisions
Different companies with confusingly similar names
- Hi-Tech
- Hi-Tech Motorsports of Scottsdale, Arizona (Tom D'Antonio, defunct) against Hi-Tech Automotive of Port Elizabeth, South Africa (Jimmy Price, active). Different continents, different founders, unrelated.
- Python
- The Unique Autocraft Python of Harlow, Essex against Python Vehicles of Melbourne. A third unrelated US "Python" by Kelly Motors is not a Cobra at all.
- Weineck / Weinem
- Weineck of Bad Gandersheim, Germany, from 2000, against Weinem of Horgen, Switzerland, 1972 to 1989. One letter apart, different countries and eras.
- Stallion
- Stallion Cars GmbH of Nuremberg against Red Stallion Ltd of California. "Stallion-style" is also used as a body descriptor, not a company.
- Venom
- Venom Custom Fabrications of Brisbane against Venom Cars of Boksburg. Unrelated.
- The "Classic-" companies
- Classic Revival (Australia), Classic Replicas (UK), Classic Roadsters (US), and Classic Motor Carriages (US). Four companies, three continents, routinely conflated.
- Roadcraft
- Southern Roadcraft and Roadcraft UK are successor and predecessor rather than a true collision, but they are frequently confused.
Trading name against corporate name. Cobretti trades as Autotrak (Cobretti) Ltd. Dax appears via 427 Motor Company and JK Sports Cars. Southern Roadcraft sits under Madgwick. Gravetti became GE Engineering and then CK Automotive.
Reference
Serial and VIN conventions
- Shelby originals
- CSX2xxx for the 289, CSX3xxx for the 427 and 428.
- Shelby continuation
- CSX4000, CSX6000, CSX7000, CSX8000, CSX9000.
- ERA
- Three-digit ERA### registry number. Longer CA###### forms appear in listings.
- Contemporary
- CCX-3-#### or CCX33###, for example CCX33950 and CCX-3-3422.
- Hi-Tech Motorsports (Arizona)
- HTR prefix, for example HTR65C0019.
- Backdraft
- An internal BDR number, stamped separately from the 17-digit VIN.
- Superformance
- Chassis-number scheme documented on the Superformance Owners Forum.
- West Coast Cobra
- Non-standard assembled-vehicle numbers. No clean prefix.
Reading a number backwards
- CSX2 / CSX3
- An original Shelby, or a duplicated fake.
- CSX4 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
- Shelby continuation or a licensed builder.
- CCX…
- Contemporary.
- ERA###
- ERA Replica Automobiles.
- HTR…
- Hi-Tech Motorsports of Arizona.
- BDR plate
- Backdraft.
- A plain 17-digit assembled-vehicle VIN
- Many US kit builders. Resolve it from the maker's plate in the engine bay.
A caution on inferring production from serials. The high Shelby CSX numbers — the CSX7900s and CSX8950 to CSX8999 — are out-of-sequence 50th-anniversary commemoratives. They are invalid as production upper bounds. Serial inference works for sequential streams, not for the CSX blocks.
Most 1970s and 1980s US and German conventions are not yet researched.
Excluded and disputed
Companies removed, and companies that are not manufacturers
- Finch Restorations
- Removed. Builds SS100 Jaguar, C-type, D-type, and Ferrari Testa Rossa recreations. The company's own site shows no Cobra programme. Carried in error on an earlier list.
- Pace
- Removed. No evidence found that it existed as a Cobra manufacturer. Listed in the United Kingdom section above with a Not found mark so the correction stays visible.
- Cobra Restorers
- Not a manufacturer. Chuck Gutke, 1977, Kennesaw, Georgia. Restores original cars, has built ERA replicas, and sells ERA and Kirkham cars. No house mould, chassis jig, or own-branded car found.
- JC Autosports
- Not a manufacturer. A build agent for AK Sportscars rather than an original marque.
- The Cobra Shop
- Not a manufacturer. A modified-vehicle torsional and beam testing facility.
- Sterling Replicars
- Role unclear. Held pending reclassification.
Contribute
How to send a correction
Email roark@roarkpollock.com. The most useful corrections name the entry, say what is wrong, and say how you know — whether that is a document, a car you own, or having been there.
Firsthand accounts are welcome and are recorded as such. An entry marked Community-documented carries the name of the person who recorded it, because for a great many of these companies that is the only record there will ever be.
Corrections are credited by name unless you ask otherwise.
Leads
Named but not yet rostered
Twenty-one US directory names, single-source and untraced. They are deliberately excluded from the roster count. Several are likely assemblers, dealers, or body-only suppliers rather than manufacturers.
All Pro Cars (Muncy PA) · Antique & Collectible Autos (Buffalo NY) · Boss Replica Motors (Burlington ON) · C-F Enterprises / Cal Ace (Long Beach CA) · Cobras N Vettes (Glendale AZ) · DNA Autoworks (Bel Air MD) · Emerson MotorSports / BeyondCobra (Redding CA) · FII Roadsters (Crofton MD) · Gibbon Fiberglass (Ringgold VA, body-only) · Group Five / Cobrette (Mesa AZ) · GTA MotorWorks (Los Angeles, body-only aluminium) · Hunter's Kit Car Mfg (Belleview FL) · JBL Motorsports (Fallbrook CA) · Johnex Cobras (Niagara Falls NY) · Metz Motor Cars (Mount Dora FL) · Monster Miata (Seattle WA, conversion) · Pacific Roadster (Salem OR) · Power Performance Motor Cars (Des Moines IA) · Premier Motor Sports (Kansas City KS) · Tri-State Motorsports (Brownstown PA) · Matt Adams / VSE (Carmel Valley CA)
Also unresolved: Riverside Racers FIA (Canada) · DBR DB 427SC · DMS Cobra · HS Cobra · Excalibur JAC Cobra · Marsh Roadster (South Africa) · Alternative Cars Ltd (New Zealand) · Race-Classics, Fahrzeugbau Drengenberg, and Cobra-Süd (Germany, likely assemblers).
Countries that returned nothing
Japan, Mexico, Chile, the Nordics, Ireland, Czechia, Poland, and the Middle East were searched only lightly, and only in English. That is absence of evidence, not evidence of absence, and it is the most likely place for this roster to be badly incomplete.
Change log
What has changed, newest first
August 29, 2026
First publication. 125 entities across 16 countries, merged from two
independent deep-research runs onto a single canonical CR-### identifier series after the two
runs were found to have assigned conflicting identifiers to different companies. Twenty
unresolved source conflicts recorded as conflicts rather than resolved. Finch Restorations and
"Pace" removed. Cobra Restorers, JC Autosports, The Cobra Shop, Sterling Replicars, and GR
Sports Cars reclassified as non-manufacturers. Backdraft Racing corrected to Boynton Beach,
Florida. RAM and Realm Engineering recorded as one continuous company rather than two.
Sources
Method
Each entry links its own sources. Two independent deep-research passes were run against the same brief and then reconciled, with disagreements recorded rather than resolved by preference.
One caution carried from that reconciliation. Several widely-used references trace back to a single upstream compilation, which means two sources agreeing is not always two sources. Where entries rest on that shared vein they are marked Partial or Unverified rather than Confirmed, however many places the name appears.