The AC Cobra needs little introduction, Carrol Shelby’s bright idea of shoe-horning a thumping Ford V8 into the svelte AC Ace spawned not only a capable racer – in both early 289 and later 427 form – but also an instant classic.

Sadly for the aficionado, few were made in period and even 'Continuation' cars have been produced in mere handfuls over the years.

So, what to do if you need brutal power, a stirring V8 soundtrack and an intravenous adrenalin shot? The answer came from the kit car industry, with an array of self-assembly machinery, amongst which the very best rival an original Cobra for excitement – and quite possibly exceed them for build quality.

The AK 427, from AK Sportscars of Peterborough, is one such and was introduced in 1990 due to the demand for a ‘quality’ Cobra replica that provided not only the iconic looks of the AC Cobra but also a standard of finish that was industry leading, designed with flexibility in mind with numerous components available dependent on cl...