1965 Back Draft Racing Shelby Cobra replica rouschcharged Black edition. 4.6 liter ROUSHcharged V8 / Tuned on E-85 making Roughly 600 horsepower Tremec TKO600 5-speed manual transmission BDR BMW-sourced power steering / Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes BDR BMW-sourced limited-slip rear axle / 3.46 gears BDR BMW-sourced fully independent suspension BDR fiberglass body / Roush Performance Engine If you’re a roadster enthusiast, you already know Backdraft Racing is special. Unlike most Cobra producers, BDR isn’t hamstrung by history. And while they do seek to honor Shelby’s prized creation, they also want to continue his legacy through carefully planned adaptations of modern technology. The result is a world-class entity that builds some of the best looking, best performing Cobras on the market. And when that forward thinking is combined with the incredible prowess of Livonia, Michigan’s Roush Performance, it creates the ultimate embodiment of classic style and sinister speed. Wrapping a 600 horsepower ROUSHcharged V8 in Tremec gears with BMW suspension components, this elite roadster takes Ol’ Shel’s Cobra to a whole new level! BODYWORK/TRIM From inception, Backdraft cars are turnkey products developed and engineered to mimic the vintage appeal of authentic aluminum Cobras while handily out-performing pretty much anything on the street. The assembly of this roadster’s professionally finished body began with a steel-lined GRP molding that was hand-tweaked and gel coated on a full-size rotisserie rack. Once that coating was complete, the newly formed fuselage was smoothed by a seasoned fiberglass professional, baked in an even coat of primer and inspected top-to-bottom to ensure first-class quality. When quality control was cleared, clean Vapor Metallic PPG was detailed with Olive war paint, covered in three layers of ChemSpec clear, baked and cured for three days, and finally, flattened and polished to a head turning shine. And today, this super slick Cobra is a sophisticated build that exhibits twice the style and twice the race-bred DNA of a typical replicar boulevard cruiser. ENGINE Like most Roush-branded creations, this Cobra features a supercharged and intercooled 4.6 liter Ford ‘mod motor’. But, unlike most run-of-the-mill Roush mod motors, that engine, makes an incredible 600 horsepower on E-85 pump gas! The TVS Technology ROUSHcharger is an Eaton-style blower that successfully manages on-track temperatures thanks to an air-to-liquid intercooler. At the side of that blower, a large induction system snakes around an Olive Green alternator and Aeromotive fuel componentry. Below that blower, a high performance Roush intake complements satin fuel rails. At the front of that blower, a lightweight aluminum radiator utilizes polished tubes to circulate coolant around a large puller fan and polished overflow tank. Even though Ford’s go-to V8 is a very strong engine as is, this one has been supplemented with a beefier cooling system and recalibrated ECM. Aesthetically, the spotless mill features a typical OEM-level appearance that’s set off by an array of clean accents. And, when you twist its key, you’d better be sure you’ve clicked your belts! DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION When it’s time to put your hair in the wind, forget about outdated Toploader 4-speeds because this modern-day Cobra blisters the pavement with a fresh Tremec TKO600 5-speed. That world-class transmission delivers power to a 3.46 limited-slip BMW rear end that creates whiplash-inducing acceleration while still allowing the car to loaf along at highway speeds. That drivetrain, which is bolted to a hot-rolled rectangular steel ladder-type chassis, sends power through the same BMW-sourced MacPherson strut front and fully independent rear suspension that’s become a Backdraft hallmark. And thanks to that suspension’s adjustable front stabilizer bar, fully adjustable rear ride height and BMW power steering system, you’re getting a Cobra that has a performance threshold capable of humiliating much more expensive hardware. Brakes are drilled and slotted discs at all four corners that, thanks to this car’s featherweight construction, are virtually impervious to fade.