If you’ve ever seen a Cobra rumbling down the road, there is a good chance it was the work of Factory Five. The company has sold more replica 427 Cobras than anyone, but there newest endeavor harkens to another historical car, the 289 Cobra USRRC (United States Road Racing Championship). The specific car Factory Five chose to replicate is one of the most famous vintage racers of all time, CSX 2260  number 14 piloted by Dave MacDonald, Jo Schelesser, Phil Hill, Innes Irland, and Maston Gregory.

The 289 USRRC more closely resembles an AC Ace (the car Carroll Shelby used as the basis for the first Cobra) but still features the signature and stylish lines associated with the later 427-powered cars.

According to Dave Smith of Factory Five, the work required to design the 289 USRRC car was fairly substantial. “It’s a new body with new trim items,” said Smith. “The USRRC model is smaller, more precise, and a gentleman’s racer.  It is the saber to the Mk4′s broadsword.”

This year makes the 50th anniversary of the car (built in 1964) which was part of the driving force for building it. Also, according to smith, this was the car that won the most races. “The 427 gets all the fame but the 289 won the races,” he said.

So how good is the reproduction quality? “1965 world champion Alan grant, came over here, looks at this [car] and now he’s building one,” said Smith. “He [Grant] was on the world championship team with Bondurant and Gurney in a Daytona coupe and he owns an original 289 car.”

The first of the kits (pictured) was built by Erik Treves. “The kit is very complete and very easy to put together,” said Treves. “I just added a little personal touch here and there.”

For more information on the different platforms offered by Factory Five, visit their website.