[Llarry]

American Carroll Shelby dropped a Ford V-8 into an AC Ace roadster and created a sensation.

The UK AC Ace was an attractive roadster offered with several six-cylinder inline engines of 2-liter and 2.6-liter displacement.

In 1962, Shelby conceived of an engine swap for the Ace and managed to fit a Ford 260 cubic-inch V-8 into an Ace chassis. The result was a very fast, if somewhat crude, Cobra sports car that became a hit and was very popular for racing as well as street use.

The 260 V-8 was succeeded by a 289 cubic-inch Ford V-8 and then later, operating under the principle that nothing succeeds like excess, Shelby stuffed a Ford 427 V-8 into the Cobra.

The Cobra has spawned several replicas over the years, which I believe remain in production. (I believe we have a replica Cobra owner on the board, so he can feel free to chime in.)

UK manufacturer Sunbeam was inspired by the Cobra and did their own conversion of the Alpine roadster into the Ford V-8-powered Tiger roadster.