Zircotec boosts Shelby Cobra performance and driver comfort
Redline Engineering UK uses high-performance ceramic coating technology to contain extreme heat
Built in 1966, the legendary Shelby Cobra represents a golden era of sports car manufacturing. With a monstrous seven-litre, 427 cubic-inch engine under the bonnet, it’s a car that is renowned for its power and performance. However, this power comes at a price: intense under-bonnet heat that can compromise both performance and driver comfort.
Zircotec’s ceramic coating technology offers a high-performance technical solution to overcome the thermal management challenges the Shelby Cobra presents. Just ask Redline Engineering UK.
The Surrey-based Cobra and classic car specialist is currently completing a full engine rebuild on a MkIII customer car. It’s an ‘original’ Cobra with a chassis built in AC’s famed Thames Ditton workshop and boasts a powerful engine installed on the other side of the Atlantic by Shelby America. Working on a car like this requires a delicate balance of preserving the car’s heritage and enhancing its performance.
“Managing heat in a car like this is a balancing act between performance and comfort,” explains Redline’s Liam Connell-Sait. “With a massive engine crammed into a tight space, you need a proven thermal management solution to contain the heat and stop it from turning the driver compartment into an oven.”
Redline has partnered with Zircotec for 15 years, trusting its ThermoHold® ceramic coatings to manage heat across many of the high-value classic road and race cars the company looks after. “Zircotec coatings are simply the best,” Liam says. “They offer a high-performance solution for heat containment. For this Cobra, we installed a custom manifold and exhaust system, and Zircotec was the only choice for the ceramic coating.”
To match the classic aesthetic of the Cobra’s engine bay, Redline chose a Sterling Silver ceramic coating from Zircotec’s Performance Colours™ range. This coating not only withstands temperatures up to 900°C and significantly reduces exhaust surface temperatures by 33%, it also can reduce under-bonnet temperatures by up to 50 C, and adds a touch of elegance in any engine bay.
“The range of colours was a great option,” Liam adds. “We chose Sterling Silver for a beautiful finish that complements the car’s original style – essential for maintaining its value.”
By combining its expertise in classic car restoration with Zircotec’s advanced heat management technology, Redline has been able to fulfil its promise of providing both exhilarating performance and a comfortable driving experience to this particular Shelby Cobra’s owner, while also preserving the car’s timeless beauty and value.
Discover more about the performance Colours range here:
zircotec.com/products/coatings/thermohold/performance-colours/
Get a ceramic coating quote here:
zircotec.com/motorsport/get-a-quote