2000 AC COBRA

Introduced at the 1999 London Motor Show, the CRS was a modern take on the established Mk IV. It retained the tubular chassis and Ford V8 layout, but replaced the traditional aluminium bodywork with a lightweight one-piece carbon-fibre shell. Produced using pre-impregnated carbon fibre and cured in an autoclave, its construction was remarkably advanced for a car that still looked every bit the traditional Cobra.

This example was ordered in British Racing Green with matching green leather trim and carpeting, complemented by polished brightwork and silver 16-inch wheels. The original factory specification included chrome roll bars, windwings, Superblower seats with leather door trims, stainless-steel wiper arms, tailored overmats and a matching Mohair hood and tonneau. The original order totalled £46,568.89.

Inside, the green leather seats sit behind twin chrome roll hoops, while the dark suede dashboard houses a bank of Smiths instruments. A heater and stereo make the cabin a little more civilised without taking away from the simplicity of the car.

Power comes from Ford's fuel-injected 5.0-litre V8, producing 225bhp at 4,200rpm and 300lb ft of torque at 3,200rpm in standard CRS specification. Drive is through a five-speed manual gearbox and Hydratrak limited-slip differential, with AC quoting 0–60mph in around five seconds and a top speed of 145mph.

The chassis was similarly modern underneath, with independent suspension front and rear, rack-and-pinion steering and four-wheel disc brakes, including four-pot AP Racing front calipers.

Importantly, this car has retained the specification and character of the CRS rather than being converted to resemble an earlier competition Cobra. The bumpers, road wheels, green interior and original road-going equipment remain, making it a particularly good representation of the cars AC was building at Brooklands around the turn of the millennium.

The history file is comprehensive, beginning with the original AC Car Group order paperwork, chassis instruction book and service record. Early servicing and maintenance was carried out by AC itself, with the subsequent paperwork showing continued specialist care, much of it with AC Cobra specialists Thunder Road.

The invoices document regular servicing together with more substantial maintenance over the years, including braking and steering work, a replacement radiator and thermostat, wheel refurbishment, replacement headlamps and later attention to the fuel and cooling systems. The accompanying invoices and MOT certificates also provide a good mileage record, showing the car covered only around 10,000 miles between 2011 and 2023.

With its carbon-fibre body, factory AC provenance, original specification and extensive history, the CRS is an unusual part of the Cobra story. Only 37 were produced, and unlike the many recreations of the shape, this one was built by AC at Brooklands.

As with all of our vehicles, we have a digital folder available on request containing additional images, walkaround videos, pictures of the underside and scans of the history file. The car can be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.