Though Dave Friedman has turned his camera to ballet, it is his photo essay books on sports car racing that made him a legend. In COBRA – THE SHELBY AMERICAN ORIGINAL ARCHIVES 1962 – 1965. Friedman calls Allen Grant's Shelby American Cobra with paint scheme design by George Lucas “the most beautiful Cobra race car of the whole bunch”. Friedman can be a master at understatement, as he goes on to write that “Lucas went on to fame directing and producing popular films”. Indeed.

The Lucas paint just floors you. The driver, Allen Grant, had his good friend Lucas design it and it's light years different from other early sixties schemes – more of a Days of Thunder era yellow. The black rake striping with white piping and the black reverse roundels make the yellow scream in contrast – especially in 1/12 scale. The flashy color probably made it easy for the cars from second place on back to keep an eye on it. The color varies depending on the light, so I’ve included photographs in different environments.

The markings are interesting with sponsor and car nickname displayed in a stylized Old English font. Grant was an amateur racer who first approached Ol’ Shel about being a driver and was instead offered the exalted position of welder. He rose through the ranks quickly but maintained his original dream of being behind the wheel. In 1963, Grant convinced California sports car dealer Coventry Motors, to sponsor him. The word “Executor” appears on the rear quarter panel and execute Grant did. He wanted to impress Shelby so he could get a full time ride and by winning the Santa Barbara Road Races in this car in September that year – a grueling multi race event – he got his wish.

Grant typically made lots of changes to his race machines. In later cars, seating was stripped and finer accouterments like wood steering wheels were replaced or wrapped. That said, I cannot verify any specific alterations he may have done to this particular Cobra. Therefore the well crafted wood, AC insignia steering wheel is probably accurate. The leather stitched passenger seat with nylon seat belt and metal locking fittings is buttery soft to the touch (though seems like unnecessary weight.) The racing bucket seat has more of a down to business feel, complete with harness. Stark cutaway door interiors have unexpected lock detail. The simple black dash has well defined guages (probably than any racer needs and the elegant shifter has a working gate. Cockpit surrounds like the windscreen and halo roll bar are cleanly executed. The cockpit is surrounded by metal pins presumably to secure a tonneau cover.

The removable wheels with Goodyear logo sticky slick tires are packaged separately and must be bolted on using the provided knock offs. Curiously GMP doesn’t include any kind of jack stand which would make displaying the model with wheels off more practical. Brake detail, suspension and chassis detail is all visible and extremely articulated. The orange differential and shock package really shine. The steering and suspension is listed as functional and is accurately stiff. The drive train is functional and a blast to watch given the level of detail. The 1/12 scale size gives better viewing for working functions and more robust parts than the more delicate mechanisms on smaller scale models.

That same “size is beautiful” viewing can be applied to the engine. While I’ve strained to see Cobra 289 engines in everything from a Yat Ming to an Exoto, this GMP engine is my easy favorite because it is as accurate as an Exoto on a much grander scale. Every wire and hose is easily followed and those gleaming Weber carbs are a centerpiece for a buffet your eyes can enjoy for hours.

Shut lines around bonnet, trunk and doors are generally tight (there is a slight sag to the passenger door on the review model made more noticeable at the inner jamb by the black roundel.) Bonnet and trunk are secured with delicate locking mechanisms that must be handled with care.

If the devil is in the details he'll love living here. There's an opening metal fuel filler, a slick mini-hydraulic strut which controls the trunk lid and triple rear view mirror array. The sheilded headlights seem more expedient than accurate. Accessories include a helmet with separate goggles and a small mall inspired diorama touches.

As a collector you are struck at how wonderfully uncomplicated this roadster is – there’s just not a lot to it – a tribute to Shelby’s genius. The Cobra experience is basically as close as you’ll ever come to strapping a V-8 engine directly to your body and hoping for the best. It’s all good – the basic Ferrari Barchetta inspired shape with voluptuous flared fender curves enhancing the race trim stance. GMP’s replica captures the muscle, menace and meticulous engineering of the original. On a purely aesthetic basis, I’m ready to parrot Mr. Friedman - this the most beautiful Cobra model to date. Lucas also designed a matching paint job for the “transporter” (okay, a Ford pick up). We can only hope… If you are reading this review in Mr. Magneto feature area, more pictures are in Car List and Review Section.

-Rusty Hurley