1981 AC Cobra by RAM
We are delighted to offer this iconic Cobra built by the renowned RAM. This car has been built for almost 30 years so has more than proven its worth! This Cobra has been regularly enjoyed by its most recent, long term, enthusiast owner. The car is MOT'd and registered as a Jaguar 4.2. It has not been issued an IVA.Replicas of the legendary AC Cobra built by RAM, although naturally similar in appearance to other Cobra replicas, are totally different under the double-skinned fibreglass shell. Instead of a ladder frame chassis, there is a full space frame which was developed by RAM's creator, Adrian Cocking, in conjunction with single-seat racing car constructors, Reynard. The very nature of the RAM's chassis construction gives increased rigidity over most ladder frames which inevitably offers handling benefits. Jaguar top and bottom wishbones are hung onto the front of the chassis and used in conjunction with uprated road springs and dampers. At the rear of the car, a modified Jaguar XJ-Series rear axle is used with shortened drive-shafts. The space frame design offers the safety-conscious a well-braced body shell with many impact-absorbing zones and the driver is surrounded by a substantial framework. The fuel tank, often a touch vulnerable with other designs, is set deep into the chassis behind the seats for protection. Most RAM Cobra replicas were fitted with a mildly tweaked Rover V8 engine or, in some cases, a large American V8 unit was used giving similar performance to the original Shelby Cobra.
The lovely RAM Cobra featured here is indeed powered by 350ci (5.7-litre) Chevrolet ‘small-block’ V8 fuelled through a Holley 650CFM carburettor under a chromed Edelbrock air filter and mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. As the donor car was a 1981 Jaguar 4.2 XJ6, the rest of the running gear is Jaguar with the addition of adjustable coil-overs. Although registered as 1981, we believe that this particular vehicle was built around 1994 as there are spec-sheets from RAM in the file dated January 1994.
The car is finished in gleaming black with two large grey stripes running the length of the bodywork. Externally the look is completed by chrome front overriders, wind deflectors, polished aluminium stone guards, single hoop drivers roll-over bar, a centre mounted flip-top fuel filler, side-exit exhausts and 15' Halibrand wheels with black inserts and replica spinners.
The interior is equally well presented in black leather piped in black, with black carpets. The black leather theme is continued through the door cards onto the very tidy dashboard which is fronted by a three-spoke Moto-Lita wood rim steering wheel. Willans, three-point harnesses are fitted to both seats.
With only 9,997 miles indicated and on offer from a much-pampered private collection, this delectable RAM Cobra seems like tremendous value.
As with all of our vehicles, we have a digital folder available on request containing more images, walkaround videos, pictures of the underside and scans of the service history. The car can be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.