Backdraft RT4 Cobra for Sale | 427 8-Stack | 529 HP

The Cobra That Made Me Want Another Cobra

I purchased Charlie because I wanted to experience Cobra ownership for myself. At the time, I wasn't sure whether a car this raw, mechanical and unapologetic would become something I truly wanted to live with.

The answer came pretty quickly.

I have already put more miles on Charlie in a few months than the previous owner did in several years. He has gone to automotive events, weekend drives, restaurants, the beach and plenty of ordinary drives simply because I felt like taking the Cobra.

I'm not selling Charlie because I've decided Cobra ownership isn't for me. Quite the opposite. Owning him convinced me that I love the experience enough to commission another Backdraft from scratch, built entirely to my personal specifications.

Charlie is the reason I'm building another one.

529 Horsepower. Documented.

At the center of Charlie is a 427 Windsor fitted with a Borla 8-stack individual-runner electronic fuel injection system and backed by a Tremec TKX 5-speed manual transmission.

This is not an estimated horsepower number taken from an advertisement. The engine was tested by Total Engine Concepts on a SuperFlow engine dyno.

The result is exactly what a traditional big-inch Cobra should feel like: immediate torque, enormous mechanical presence and an engine bay every bit as dramatic as the car itself.

Individual-runner EFI systems are specialized by nature and are part of what gives this combination its distinctive character. Charlie is being represented as the enthusiast-built car that he is rather than as a modern OEM drivetrain.

Traditional Where It Matters. Upgraded Where It Counts.

Sterling Gray paint, white racing stripes with black outlines and a Tobacco leather interior give Charlie a classic appearance without turning the car into a bare-bones replica.

The interior is finished in diamond-stitched leather, complemented by a wood-rim steering wheel, polished hardware and traditional analog instrumentation.

Built to Be Driven

Charlie has never been treated as a piece of static garage art.

During my ownership he has been driven regularly, shown at automotive events and enjoyed on the kinds of ordinary weekend drives that make Cobra ownership special in the first place.

Power steering, air conditioning, upgraded cooling, Wilwood 6-piston front brakes and 335-series rear tires make Charlie considerably more usable than many traditional Cobra configurations while preserving the mechanical experience that makes these cars unique.

Documented From the Beginning

Charlie is Backdraft build #2331 and retains documentation covering the car, engine and drivetrain.

His recent ownership history is also extensively documented through the dedicated @charliethecobra Instagram account.

Recently Serviced. Professionally Sorted.

Since acquiring Charlie, I have gone through the car extensively with the goal of making it something I could actually drive and enjoy, not simply park and display.

Recent work includes a comprehensive fluid service using premium-specification products, professional engine tuning, new spark plugs, wiring improvements, and additional inspection and mechanical sorting.

Supporting service records and invoices are available for review by serious prospective buyers.

Why Charlie Is For Sale

There is a much simpler explanation than people usually expect.

I bought my first Cobra to see whether I would really enjoy living with one. I did.

Enough that I'm now building my next Backdraft entirely around what I learned from Charlie.

I know the colors I want, the interior I want, the driving character I want and the details I would choose if I were starting with a blank order sheet.

Charlie isn't being replaced by a different kind of car. He's being replaced by another Cobra.