Vehicle Specification

The AC Cobra 302 MKIV was constructed entirely in Autokrafts workshops by its sixty-strong staff of highly skilled craftsmen and some 900 hours were required to construct each individual car.
The design of the original Cobra was revised on the MKIV to give a larger cockpit area with fully adjustable steering column thus accommodating almost all driving positions. The interior was trimmed in the best quality Connolly hide and Wilton carpets with a full range of instrumentation. The external bodywork was constructed of hand rolled 16 gauge aluminium alloy, seam welded using parent metal.

Although the AC Cobra MKIV follows the same basic form as the previous Cobra produced by A.C Cars, many improvements have been incorporated into the chassis, braking, steering and suspension geometry. The result is a well-balanced tractable and easy to drive motor car, fully in keeping with the highest traditions of the thoroughbred English sports car.

This stunning 1987 AC Cobra 302 MKIV known as AK 1220, was sold new by Rod Leach`s 'Nostalgia' who was the sole UK authorised supplier for AutoKraft Ltd of AC Cobra Mk IV's, which were hand-built at their Brooklands Factory in Surrey.

AK 1220 was sold new to the first owner in November 1987. He ordered the car in Jaguar Westminster Blue with Burgundy Connolly Leather, Burgundy Wilton carpets and a special steering wheel boss that he had made by a local engineering company believed to be one of only 2 cars that had this boss fitted to allow the steering wheel to sit in a far more comfortable position, slightly closer to the driver. The engine was a 'standard' Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 302 Cu. In. HO unit, but specially ordered with Holley carburettors and decatalysed to give circa 245bhp. This was a £1,200 option at the time and produced 20bhp above the standard Efi engine. The car was fitted from factory with a Mota Lita wood rim steering and gear knob, glass wind wings, 16 inch black hallibrand alloy wheels with 3 spoke spinners, chrome stone guards, Pioneer Radio/Cassette, full wet weather gear and tonneau cover in everflex. The original registration number when new was E79 GBH.

Rod Leach bought the car back, becoming the second owner and sold AK 1220 to the third owner in May 1989 - This owner originally registered it to his company, then himself, making the third and fourth owner the same person.

The third/fourth owner then sent the Cobra back to the AutoKraft/AC Factory on the 26th April 1990 where it had a 'Stage 3 SVO Lightweight Engine Modification' with alloy cylinder heads, roller cam, larger valves, Holley carburettor and big bore free-flow exhaust system; this raised the power to circa 345bhp at a cost of £8,500. At the same time cast finned alloy rocker covers were fitted and the registration number changed to YSV 427 which is present on the car today. It is thought to be 1 of only 20 RHD 'Stage 3 SVO lightweight engine conversions' carried out by the factory. The original invoice for this work is present in the history files.

In May 2005 Rod Leach subsequently sold the Cobra to its fifth owner who kept and maintained the car for 9 years before selling it to ourselves in March 2014 where it resided in our private collection for nearly 2 years. Whilst in our ownership the car had been detailed on a regular basis and maintained and serviced regardless of cost by Thunder Road Ltd, Woking, the specialists in AC Cobras. It was last serviced by them on 24th July 2015 at 14,197 miles. It had only been used by ourselves for high days and holidays until February 2016 when we sold it to a very good, local client. Just over a year on from then it was time for the love affair to come to an end and we were given the opportunity to purchase the car back once again. We had the car in stock for 1 day and sold it again to a local car collector on the 30th March 2017 at 14,500 Miles. He had the car serviced and MOT`d by Quorn Sports & Classics Ltd on the 19th September 2019 at 14,759 miles, this garage were entrusted to look after his extensive collection of classic cars.
In October 2020 we were offered the car back with 14,784 miles and sold it again within minutes to our longest standing client who used the car twice (total of 58 Miles) and sold it back to us in July 2021 with 14,842 miles. The car then sold to Mr & Mrs Rigby on The car now sits in our showroom in the same stunning condition as the first time we purchased it!

The car comes complete with an extensive and detailed history file, the original Owners handbook, service receipts, MOTs, Original brochure, Original Jack and spare wheel for the car. The car is as it left the factory when new back in 1987 and in 1990 after the SVO conversion, totally original and unmolested, it is undoubtedly the very best example of this sought after model that you will find anywhere!