About Cobra Registry

About the Cobra Registry

The Cobra Registry represents more than 50 years of research, documentation, and verification dedicated to preserving the history of the cars created by Shelby American and its affiliated companies.

More than simply tracking each car’s history, ownership, and whereabouts, the Registry helps document and authenticate genuine Cobras and Ford GTs. A car’s serial number and documented history are its pedigree, and the Registry provides an important benchmark for distinguishing authentic cars from replicas, fakes, and impostors—helping protect the legacy and integrity of these historic automobiles.

Between 1961 and 1968, Shelby American and AC Cars produced 998 Cobras. At the time, the focus was not on creating future collectibles, but on building, selling, and delivering cars while keeping a young company moving forward. Few could have imagined that these cars would eventually become some of the world’s most valuable and collectible automobiles.

It is also important to remember that Cobras were not originally built to today’s concours restoration standards. Their construction could be practical, rough, and sometimes crude by modern standards. Those characteristics are part of their history and authenticity. As more cars are restored to near perfection, the Registry helps preserve the story of how these remarkable machines were actually built and what makes them genuine.

About the Cobra Experience

The Cobra Registry is a program of The Cobra Experience a nonprofit museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the legacy of Shelby American and Ford’s extraordinary achievements in sports car racing.

Located in Northern California, the museum is home to an extraordinary collection of original Cobras, Shelby Mustangs, GT40s, Tigers, and more. Surrounding these icons is an extensive archive of photographs, documents, and posters, along with dedicated engine, wheel, and chassis displays and an exceptional collection of original 1960s Shelby American shop equipment.

Together, the collection and archives create an immersive connection to the era and bring the story of Shelby American to life.

But we are not just preserving history. We are also working to inspire the next generation of enthusiasts through education, storytelling, and hands-on experiences.

By joining the Registry, you become part of that mission.

Contributors

Ned Scudder

Cobra Registrar

Original Cobras have no better friend and spokesman than Ned Scudder.

To say he is extremely knowledgeable is a vast understatement, like saying the sun is warm to the touch. No one knows more about the history of these cars–both individually and as a whole–than he does. And he ought to.

He has been keeping tabs on them since 1970. Aside from his depth and breadth of knowledge, he has a memory that verges on total recall for serial numbers and details. Add to this an innate sense of fairness and a dash of dry wit accompanying a refined sense of humor and you get the one person who is more responsible than any other for the solid strength of Cobra history and values over the past twenty-five years. He is unimpeachable.

Rick Kopec

Editor

It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. Kopec has experience as a registry editor because he's had that job for all past SAAC registries, so there was no way he could get out of it.

Each book has been bigger and better, not to mention carrying more details. This registry, with all of its separate sections and intertwining information, had to be imagined before any of the data could be assembled. Once it was, it had to be massaged to fit.

The project began four years ago, and as the various chapters and sections were completed, they had to be fact-checked, proof-read and set into type. And let's not forget the photos. Each one had to be cropped and placed into proper spot on each page. It's a good thing he likes this kinda of work.