Franklin Mint 1:24 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C- Independent Retailer Nbr Ltd Ed of 427 A Shelby Cobra recently sold at Barrett-Jackson for a cool $5,000,000. Mr. Perrone offers this one for your consideration at substantially less damage to your VISA. Review by Tony Perrone

Overview

This marks the seventh and best, by far, FM ’66 Shelby Cobra 427 built by The Franklin Mint. Commissioned by Main Street Products U.S.A., some corrections were made and the model shows total attention to detail that yields an incredible image of the iconic machine. In a recent post on our Bulletin Board by former Franklin Mint Design Manager, Raffi Minasian, we learned of his involvement in this project. He said, “I saw some of the nice words (In Bulletin Board postings) on the new FM Cobra and wanted to drop a note to let the D4C’ers know what I did that is new on the model. Some of you know I am working on select models with FM and have been enjoying those projects recently. Brian Then, of Main Street and Joe Sellari of FM asked me to work on the project with them. The 427 is one of my favorite FM models as I had started it and completed it to prototype just before I left. I assigned George Bojaciuk the program and he took it through to the silver finish completion.

With this new blue and white stripe version we have the icon color combo, correct nose badging, correct roll bar and exhaust finish, correct wheel color, no "post dots" inside the headlights, correct undercarriage finish, and a handful of other touches here and there just to add some more fun. We also added the rubber windshield gasket in order to make the lower windshield frame not so out of scale. This was originally intended to be on all versions but costing for the additional masking prevented it. Credit goes to Joe Sellari at FM for stepping up and adding this and other details to the Main Street model to make it the nicest version FM has done to date.

Sure $145 is a premium above the standard issue, and some will not want to pay. But it is a top quality model with super low issue numbers and in a color combination that is considered THE Shelby look. Look for more FM models in the future...it is getting exciting again!”

The little aluminum model has never looked better. The small 1:24th scale made it more difficult for FM to build in good detail but they did. That is why it is so revered today. Main Street Products U.S.A. elevated that level of detail. I particularly thank them for the accurate wheel color; that is what my mind’s eye sees when I think back on the Cobras I loved to love in the late sixties. Raffi got it right too when he talked about the color combo being the outstanding icon color we think about as original to the 427 S/C roadster. I wouldn’t mind seeing a version with the chrome street bumpers/bumper guards either. I mean, really, can we have too many Cobra iterations? And while I’m at it, who would like to see a version of the “Super Snake” that recently sold at the Barrett-Jackson Auction for $5,500,000? Many thanks, on behalf of us Cobra fans and collectors, to Main Street Products U.S.A., FM and the great folks behind bringing this little darling to fruition. Issue price is $145 but sell-out will be assured quickly!