Test-Driving The Tribute Series Roadster From Shelby Legendary Cars

Fans of Ford v Ferrari take heed: the new Tribute Series Roadster from Shelby Legendary Cars might be the nearest thing to driving Carroll Shelby’s original Cobra prototype. That car, known by serial number CSX2000, arguably inaugurated the legend of Shelby outright, as the famous “Chicken Farmer from Texas” left a racing career behind and focused on modifying the diminutive AC Ace into one of the world’s most fearsome sports cars.

Today, Shelby Legendary Cars hopes to celebrate that legacy with the Tribute Series Roadster. Slim and trim with clean lines, the hand-formed aluminum body hides leaf-spring suspension, a Salisbury rear end, inboard brakes and small-block Ford V8 to replace the inline-six engines that AC installed in the United Kingdom.

Re-Envisioning The Original Shelby Cobra

After building CSX2000, Shelby recognized the need for more common hub-mounted disc brakes for quicker changes in the heat of racing, as well as improved suspension, more power and wider tires. Compared to later Cobras, on paper the progenitor might seem too primitive to actually enjoy on a drive while surrounded by modern vehicles. But when I recently tested the first Tribute Series Roadster, the link between that modified AC Ace and the intimidating racecars that Shelby built later seemed far more significant than expected.

Fittingly, Shelby Legendary Cars started with original blueprints from the 1960s and matched the cockpit and dash exactly to CSX2000—which still survives in private hands today. In addition to the aluminum bodywork and installing the period-correct Salisbury rear end, those inboard brakes and the leaf springs, this first build therefore features a 260ci Ford V8 and a BorgWarner T-10 transmission.

The engine fires to life easily, with my first push of the tiny starter button on the dash. No fuss or drama, just snick into first gear and pull away, the clutch’s friction zone providing the perfect amount of bite and travel for such a lightweight car. But even while managing such a light body and the compact V8, the Tribute Series Roadster’s suspension immediately proves somewhat rough, almost unruly.

Before climbing into the tight cabin and sliding my feet forward into the typical offset pedal box, I figured that taller and narrow tires should help cope with the unrefined setup. Not so, as we tracked over lines in the road and jounced over speed bumps. Perhaps running the vintage-inspired Coker Firestone Deluxe Champion bias-ply tires at a lower pressure might help provide more compliance, but only to a certain amount.

A Quick Trip Back In Time

Most surprisingly, the inboard brakes actually perform flawlessly, as I learned while pulling up hesitantly to the first stoplight in Southern California traffic. After giving plenty of following space initially, I built up confidence and started cruising at average speeds thereafter. Making my way to some more winding, enjoyable roads, the pace picked up and the thin-rimmed steering wheel started to soften in my hands, communicating every detail of the road without any of the dullness associated with modern power assist.

Speed also suits the suspension better, as the whole Tribute Series Roadster seems happiest in the 35- to 55-mph range. Too much faster and wind noise starts to overwhelm the low rumble of exhaust, which never approaches the boisterous roar of later big-block Cobras equipped with side pipes. Instead, the small-block V8 revved almost casually, until I dipped further into throttle and climbed above 4,500 rpm. Here, accompanied by hints of intake rush, the little Roadster simply scoots down the road, almost lithe in its simplicity yet requiring a deft hand to pilot smoothly.

Still, the thought of actually taking something so rudimentary to the racetrack seems quite intimidating. Aluminum requires artistry to shape into the sumptuous curves of a Cobra, and even the lightest touch can ding or dent the skin. Somewhat contrary to that knowledge lurking in the back of my mind, though, this Cobra’s presence provides a far more solid and substantial driving experience than expected. From behind the wheel, I started to sense big changes coming soon for the Cobra, for Shelby and for the future of American motorsport.

It’s fun let the imagination time-travel in the Tribute Series Roadster, back to an automotive era ripe with such dormant possibility on the horizon. That daydreaming will be limited to a lucky few, though, as Shelby Legendary Cars only plans to build a limited run of 10 Tribute Series Roadsters. Each will bear a true serial number between CSX2900 and CSX2909, plus a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO). Customers can choose to spec any driveline of choice—to me, the small-block and BorgWarner transmission are nothing less than mandatory. And I certainly hope that every future owner summons the fortitude to avoid sticking each build into a collection, rather than enjoying the charm of classic cruising and backroad hustling in such an eminently pleasing piece of reconceptualized automotive history.