is a backdraft cobra a real shelby or just a replica?
A Backdraft Cobra is a replica, not a real Shelby!
Backdraft Racing was founded in 2001 in South Africa by two world champion auto racers, Tony Marten and Reg Dodd. They produce high-quality, turnkey replica Cobras that are exported to the US market. These are factory-built cars, not kit cars that you assemble yourself.
An original Shelby Cobra was produced by Carroll Shelby in the 1960s - those are worth anywhere from several hundred thousand to millions of dollars today, with only about 1,000 ever built.
A Backdraft Cobra is a modern recreation using modern engineering and typically contemporary Ford V8 engines. They’re much more affordable (often $50K-$100K+) and offer the Cobra experience without the original’s price tag or historical provenance.
The 1965 Backdraft you’re looking at on Classic.com is properly categorized as a replica, which is accurate. These are well-regarded in the replica world for their quality and attention to detail!
Would you like to see what this particular Backdraft is listed for, or find some other Cobra replicas to compare it with?