Traction is such an abstract concept with this muscle car
Can you think of a car that’s more intimidating than the AC Cobra? Caroll Shelby wanted to create a cocktail with the best ingredients: a lightweight, small European sports car body, and a large, resourceful American engine.
And he did: in its third iteration, the Cobra packed 425 hp and 651 Nm (480 lb-ft) coming from a 7.0-liter Ford V8 engine. The 1,147-kilogram (2,529 lb) featherweight body made the 0-to-60 mph sprint possible in 4.2 seconds; top speed was rated at 265 km/h (165 mph).
All these figures are intimidating but what’s really terrifying is the idea of such power on a short-wheelbase, rear-wheel-driven body. You have to really be there when you’re getting pushy with the accelerator.
Now imagine what it’s like to have to keep the rear axle in line when a supercharged V8 is pushing no less than 960 hp. Actually, you can see it for yourself, in the clip below.
Speaking of badass cars, have you seen the, um, Kitchen?