1988 AC AUTOKRAFT MK IV ALUMINUM BODY COBRA

1988 Shelby AC AUTOKRAFT MK IV AK1269 ALUMINUM BODY Description

2 Owners from new, and in the same Private Collection since 1995. Originally delivered to Ford in Virginia. AK1269 was sold to a noted collector in South Florida, where it remained until December 1994. 100% original, not a restoration. This 3568 mile time capsule is a rare opportunity to acquire an authentic AC Autokraft Mk IV, as they are seldom seen on the market, muchless with the extraordinary low mileage of this example. The AC Shelby Cobra was a short-lived... project that lasted only between 1961 and 1967. AC managed to hang on for another 17 years before closing up shop in 1984. During the sale that took place following AC’s closing, Autokraft acquired all of the toolings and spare parts of the company. The “AC” marque is inextricably linked not only with its own sports cars, including the Ace and Aceca,but, of course, with the timelessly stylish bodies utilized by Carroll Shelby and married with 260 and 289 Ford small block engines to produce one of the most desirable and capable sports cars in history. Light and nimble with brutish American power under the hood, the Shelby Cobra was a fearsome weapon both on the track and at red lights around America. In the 1970s, the AC factory at Thames Ditton stopped service and repair of older Cobras. Brian Angliss’Cobra Parts operation quickly picked up that business and built up a strong and influential customer base. He also moved closer to the factory operation over the years, eventually collecting enough original tooling, jigs, and body bucks to fabricate new aluminum bodies, and utilizing the same tooling and jigs used to create the original Ace and Cobra bodies. The bodies were the wide bodies built for the 427, but they used highly tuned 302 HO V-8s. Although they used the same five-inch tubular steel frame, the chassis were two inches longer than the originals to allow more room for slightly taller individuals. The quality of Angliss’ work was so well-respected by owners and others in the AC community that in 1986 he was allowed to purchase the rights to the AC name from the Hurlock family, who had been strongly protective of the venerated name that they controlled since the 1930s. Angliss got the trademark rights and then joined Ford to make cars, selling them 52% of his company in 1987. A new AC company was established as a joint venture with Ford. Angliss’ company then became Autokraft, which began offering the AC MkIV. This sale officially made all Autokraft Cobras the real deal, and not just the replicas of the past. Given his legal right to use the AC name and, more importantly, the unbroken lineage of craftsmen, tools, and materials employed in their production, these cars were lauded for their high levels of build quality and their retention of the original’s to say the AC Autokraft Mk. IV is a direct copy of the Cobra is a bit misleading. It looks like a Cobra, sounds like a Cobra, and was built in England using tooling from AC, it is not a replica. Autokraft shortly thereafter moved to a purpose-built factory in Brooklands; in total, approximately 450 MkIV Cobras were built and are include in the Official Shelby registry. A maintenance service was performed in October of 2018. All fluids were changed and the filters and spark plugs replaced. At that time the original, but dated tires were replaced with new to ensure safe enjoyment for the next caretaker. Original Autokraft sales brochures from 1988 are included, as is the blue velvet owners manual with VIN and chassis numbers listed. The original keys, spare wheel, centerlock mallet, safety wire spool, and tool kit are present. AK1269 starts, runs and drives superbly. Hagerty Current Values • #1 Concours $172,000 • #2 Excellent $136,000 • #3 Good $114,000 • #4 Fair $93,500