1966 Shelby Cobra "427SC" ERA Roadster (ERA Replica Automobiles) - 4-Speed / Dual-Quad 428 Power
If you know Cobras, you know ERA is one of the names enthusiasts actually respect. This roadster has the right look, the right stance, and the right hardware-finished in a deep metallic navy/blue with bold white Le Mans stripes, side-exit pipes, quick-jack bumpers, and the classic roll bar. It's the kind of car that makes people stop mid-sentence at Cars & Coffee.
Per the ERA ID plate, this is an ERA Replica Automobiles (New Britain, Connecticut, USA) build with model designation 427SC, showing a date of manufacture 6/98. From there, the spec list reads like exactly what you want: dual-quads, a Toploader 4-speed, and the visual/driver details that make these cars so addictive.
Highlights
ERA Replica Automobiles 427SC Roadster (ERA plate present)
ERA built in New Britain, Connecticut
Date of manufacture shown on plate: 6/98
Deep blue paint with white Le Mans stripes
Roll bar, wind wings, and side curtains
Side-exit exhaust (side pipes)
Dual 4-barrel ("2x4") intake / dual air cleaners
Toploader 4-speed manual transmission
428 motor (noted) with 427 "LR" heads (noted)
Engine build note: 4/8/01 - Don Boley (Comp Engines) (noted)
Rear end note: JDC rear w/ 3.31 gears (noted)
Smith gauges + new tach (noted)
Leather seats + seat tracks (noted) with harnesses installed
Stainless knockoffs (noted)
Recent service notes include: new rear main seal, new tires, new water pump, new plugs, carbs adjusted (noted)
Oil cooler / remote filter (noted)
Heater (noted)
Large front brake kit (noted)
Trunk-mounted battery and kill switch (noted)
Tire sizes shown in photos:
P295/50R15 (rear)
P235/60R15 (front)
Exterior
This Cobra wears a timeless, high-end spec: blue over white stripes, with the body sitting low and wide the way a 427-style car should. The details are right:
Classic Cobra nose with open-mouth grille
Quick-jack bumper setup front and rear
Chrome roll bar
Side pipes tucked tight along the rocker line
Le Mans fuel cap mounted on the rear deck
Traditional round tail lamps and a clean rear presentation with stripes continuing through the bumper line
Wheels & Stance
The car sits on the proper era-style wheel setup and fills the arches correctly-no "replica skinny tire" look here.
Stainless knockoffs (per notes)
Tire sizes shown:
Front: P235/60R15
Rear: P295/50R15
That stagger gives it the right rake and the right traction footprint-especially important with a big-inch engine and a 4-speed.
Interior
The cockpit is exactly what you want in a Cobra: simple, purposeful, and mechanical.
Wood-rim steering wheel with AC-style center
Smith instrumentation across the dash (noted), plus a new tach (noted)
4-speed shifter right where it should be
Leather bucket seats with seat tracks (noted)
Harnesses installed for that period-correct competition vibe
Wind wings and side curtains pictured-nice driver-friendly touches for real road use
Engine & Drivetrain
Pop the hood and it's all business-dual quads with twin air cleaners and a clean, classic presentation.
From the provided notes:
428 motor
427 "LR" heads
Factory 2x4 intake (dual-quad setup)
Toploader 4-speed
JDC rear with 3.31 gears
Supporting service/upgrades noted:
New rear main seal
New water pump
New plugs
Carbs adjusted
Oil cooler / remote filter
Heater
This is the recipe for an ERA that starts, runs, and drives the way you want-strong, responsive, and dramatic without being fragile.
Steering & Brakes
The underside photo shows a proper performance-oriented chassis layout with a clean, purposeful installation. Notes also call out:
Large front brake kit
And the stance/tire combo suggests it's set up to feel planted and confident-more "point-and-shoot" than "white-knuckle."
The Drive
This is the experience people chase: big-inch torque, side-pipe sound, and a Toploader 4-speed that makes every shift feel like an event. With the staggered tires, 3.31-geared rear, and the classic Cobra weight-to-power ratio, it's the kind of car that turns a quick cruise into an adrenaline hit-every time.
