Gentry Motor Works is a manufacturer of limited production Cobras and have an excellent reputation for their work. Among their construction features are, according to Road & Track magazine, a tubular chassis and lightweight fiberglass body shell. In September 1995, when the article was written, Gentry offered two different cars, the Gentry 427 S/C and the 289 FIA and could only be purchased as turnkey cars.

Company president, John Gentry was a proponent for authenticity and started by completely dis-assembling an original 427 and using it as the blueprint from which to build the new car. The tubular frame is made of thicker gauge material than the original and improves torsional rigidity, plus there is independent suspension front and rear with a sturdy anti-roll bar up front and Wilwood disc brakes at all four corners.

Road & Track continued that the hand-laminated fiberglass is of high quality, as is the paint and interior installation. “Instrumentation is complete, the cantilevered shifter falling right to hand. Seats and pedals, both of which are adjustable, are fitted to the owner.”

Three engines were offered; this is the 428-cid unit with dual four-barrel carburetors and Cobra valve covers; the Gentry engines were balanced and specially tuned to ensure drivability on 91 octane fuel. This is matched to a four-speed manual gearbox. The occupants are treated to nine layers of insulation and extra-capacity radiator and oil cooler. The Road & Track test driver commented that “Never once did the interior get warm or the engine run hot when I drove a 427 in LA’s notorious stop-and-go Friday afternoon madness.”

The denoting of S/C translates to “semi-competition” and this car is set up to look like the World Sportscar Championship winning racecars of Carroll Shelby and has impressive performance to go along with the package. The blue with white stripes from nose-to-tail are appropriate, as is the rollbar, header side pipes and quick-fill racing-style fuel filler. Stewart-Warner gauges, competition-style lapbelts, wood-rimmed steering wheel with Cobra center cap, Cobra badging, black and polished alloy wheels, front and rear bumpers, windshield wipers and windwings, Goodyear Eagle tires and a period-style racing mirror all adorn this fantastic recapturing of Carroll Shelby’s original spirit of speed and adventure.

These cars are reported to have the “very highest quality design and workmanship.”