By Steve Temple

Photos By Steve Temple, Harold Pace, and Joe Greeves

Everything’s bigger in Texas—and now also better, too! At least at Lone Star Classics, which has just updated its Cobra replica in a number of significant ways.

Starting with the suspension, the front has new adjustable upper A-arms, and the rear has an innovative IRS configuration, using all brand-new parts. The half-shaft axles are custom made from Ford Explorer units, and the diff housing is a sturdy unit from a Ford Explorer 4x4 as well, fitted with Eaton 3.73 gears. The coil-over shocks at all four corners are QA-1 rod-end style, 17-way, damping and height adjustable. The front sway bar is adjustable as well. Brakes are from Wilwood, using 12.4-inch drilled and slotted rotors with 4-piston calipers and single piston e-brakes.

The engine on this particular car is a 408ci stroked 351W from Prestige Motorsports. Although claimed to deliver 450 horses, according to the dyno sheet it ran a max output of 480 hp 507 lbs of torque. 

Lone Star blacked out many things on the engine to match the black and aluminum theme of this car. Backing up the hot mill is a twin-disc clutch with Lone Star’s new hydraulic slave cylinder system. And the tranny is a Tremec 5-speed, with a Steeda adjustable shifter and a Quick Time bell housing which is shatter proof, and also more compact than the commonly used aluminum styles.

The brake lines are custom made to length, DOT-approved SS-braided 3/16" lines with pre-flared ends ready for installation. The fuel line is 3/8" flex hose. Both of the lines are new options from Lone Star. The fuel tank is thicker 17-gal unit with a NTP pickup point.

The new body, partly derived from an original Shelby Cobra but modified to Lone Star specifications for more driver comfort, has the additional legroom both forward and to the right. The steering column hole is now pre-drilled. 

For visual impact, Lone Star painted the firewall/engine bay with Liquid Metal paint, and for personal convenience, also installed SS cup holders in the console. And a Quik-Latch release secures the air cleaner create a cleaner look and easier access. Lone Star’s Brian Alexander feels that he has the best fastener package on the market, and likes to show it off. Details make all the difference when you’re customizing a Cobra.