Bessia Biscayne Roadster

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Since it first hit the streets way back in 1962, the original AC Cobra has become one of the most instantly recognisable sports cars of all time.

In Britain an AC Cobra was famously clocked at 185mph on the M1 motorway in 1964, a speed deemed so outrageous that it reputedly contributed to the implementation of national speed limits the following year – all part of the legend that still makes these cars so desirable today. Particularly revered in America (where its designer, the late, great Carroll Shelby, had an almost god-like status), the Cobra has inspired a host of imitators keen to experience the joys of a massive V8 in a lightweight body, a reliably exciting recipe which always guarantees a tremendous power-to-weight ratio, not to mention an ear-to-ear grin.

This particular Cobra replica was professionally built by Bessia Motorsport of Buenos Aires, Argentina, a company established in 1980 by Osvaldo Bessia, a former pilot and race car driver who won the Argentinian F2 Championship in 1970 and 1971 in a Brabham BT30. Called the Biscayne Roadster, the first car was made in 1992 and it remains in production to this day. To prove its credentials, Osvaldo Bessia regularly competed in classic motorsport events in Argentina in a Biscayne Roadster, winning numerous trophies in sprints, hillclimbs, 500-mile and 1,000-mile events.

This particular car was built for the vendor while he was living in Argentina in 2005/06 and uses a very stiff and rigid tubular steel chassis clothed in a GRP body. The engine is a brand new Ford 302ci (5-litre) V8 rated at 285bhp with a Holley four-barrel carburettor mated to a Tremec 5-speed gearbox. Bessia quoted the performance figures as 0-60 in 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 168mph. The interior is fully carpeted and has racing bucket seats in top quality Argentinian hide and the car rides on 15” Hallibrand-style alloy wheels shod with Yokohama tyres.

The vendor brought the car back to the UK with him about two years ago, with all duties paid, and then began the process of getting it registered here which turned out to be something of a nightmare because DVLA treated it as a new car and insisted that it meet all the latest regulations. Two years and many thousands of pounds later and the car finally passed all the VOSA tests and was issued with a V5C.

This involved modifying various parts of the car (such as the original side-exit exhausts which had to be replaced with a single catalytic-equipped exhaust of rather weedy dimensions) and also changing the seat belts and their anchorage points to meet British standards. The testers also demanded that windscreen wipers and washers be fitted, a task which proved so onerous that the vendor eventually got round the problem by the simple expedient of removing the windscreen altogether (to the satisfaction of the authorities) although it has since been re-fitted. The original side-exit exhausts are also included and could easily be re-fitted if desired.

Since the car was built it has covered less than 100 miles and is said to drive superbly with an impressive turn of speed and excellent handling. It comes with a full set of weather gear comprising hood, hood frame and sidescreens, photographs of the car being built, a copy of the original build sheet and, of course, that precious V5C.

Only reluctantly for sale due to an imminent overseas posting, this professionally built Cobra is far superior to most other kits on offer and is registered as a 2015 model so will not require an MOT until 2018.