The Python’s origins date back to the 1960s when Ford needed a successor to the AC Cobra after AC Cars could no longer provide aluminum bodies for Shelby. Ford designers Eugene Bordinat and Mckinley Thompson were tasked with creating a new competitor to cars like the Corvette. This led to the “Bordinat Cobra” prototype, but it never reached production due to Ford and Shelby parting ways.
In 1981, Alvin A. Kelly of Kelly Motors Ltd. came across one of these prototype bodies and decided to revive the design. With the help of original designer Thompson and the approval of Bordinat, Kelly constructed four prototypes and planned for larger-scale production. The car was renamed the “Python” to maintain the Cobra heritage.
Built on a reinforced 3rd gen Foxbody Mustang frame, the Python featured a shortened wheelbase for improved weight distribution. It used Mustang components, including its interior, a 5.0-liter V8 engine producing 225 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, and the drivetrain, along with additional parts sourced from other Ford models.
Although Kelly planned to sell the Python through Ford dealerships, his company collapsed, leaving only about 12 cars produced, with just seven known to exist today.
Photo Source: Cars & Bids
