Kirkham Motorsports | Cobra Authority

Seed file enriched with verified facts from the existing Kirkham Motorsports page at cobra-authority.com. Full Archetype C buildout (history narrative, current-state validation, photographic asset linkage) deferred to Phase 1.

Lede

Kirkham Motorsports builds aluminum-bodied Shelby Cobra replicas at a former military aviation factory in Mielec, Poland, with final assembly and US distribution through Shelby American dealers in Las Vegas. Founded in 1994 by David Kirkham — a Provo, Utah manufacturing engineer who reverse-engineered the Cobra using CAD while a metallurgy student at Brigham Young University — the company is widely regarded as the premier Cobra replica builder. Models include the 427 KMS/SC, 427 Street, 289 Street, and 289 FIA, with aircraft-grade aluminum bodies that match the originals’ construction method.

Founding and history

Founded 1994 by David Kirkham, a manufacturing engineer from Provo, Utah
Kirkham began reverse-engineering Cobra parts using CAD while a metallurgy student at Brigham Young University
1995 — Kirkham visited a military aviation production facility in Mielec, Poland with his brother and brother-in-law; a manufacturing partnership was established there
1996 — first three production cars delivered
1998 — 17 more cars delivered
54 full or partial 427s produced before the later Shelby American partnership; only 16 were complete "turnkey" cars bearing the KMP marque with serial numbers
Production tooling cost approximately two million dollars

Build process

Kirkham produces aluminum bodies and chassis in the Mielec, Poland facility — a former military aircraft factory with 60+ year history of aluminum work. Final assembly and US distribution flow through Shelby American dealers in Las Vegas.

The aluminum construction uses aircraft-grade alloy and is regarded as superior to the originals’ build quality. Quoting the existing site page: "if you did that on the original, you’d leave knuckle marks."

Model lineup

Current models per the cobra-authority.com Kirkham page:

Kirkham 427 KMS/SC — 427 Super Snake-spec
Kirkham 427 Street — 427 street-trim
Kirkham 289 Street — 289 street-trim
Kirkham 289 FIA — 289 FIA competition-spec

Drivetrain conventions

Options listed on the cobra-authority.com Kirkham page:

Engines: FE big-block (427 cubic inch) or 289 small-block
Transmissions: Tremec or Top Loader (Tremec is modern; Top Loader is period-correct Ford)
Suspension: independent with coilovers
Brakes: Wilwood 4-piston calipers with vented disks

Lighter-weight configurations are available — under 2,000 lbs with an aluminum engine.

Notable details and standards

Aircraft-grade aluminum bodies, matching original construction methods (vs. fiberglass used by most replica manufacturers)
Parts are interchangeable with original Cobra parts — a quality distinction many replicas do not achieve
CAD-based reverse-engineering from an original 427 chassis
Polish manufacturing leverages the Mielec factory’s aluminum expertise; not an outsourced afterthought

Shelby American partnership

Kirkham’s relationship with Shelby American has evolved:

1997 — Shelby allowed a Kirkham replica to be displayed at Monterey Historic Races
Subsequent contract: Kirkham supplied bodies and frames to Shelby American as an exclusive customer arrangement, described as "loose" — either party could exit after purchase orders were satisfied
The partnership ended "not amicably" per Pete Brock’s account, related to payment disputes

Pricing positioning

Pre-Shelby-deal Kirkham turnkey pricing:

$85,000 to $95,000

After Shelby American partnership (for comparison):

Shelby American fiberglass Cobra: approximately $103,000
Shelby American with Kirkham aluminum body: $115,000 to $120,000

Kirkham positions at the top of the replica market — most expensive, most authentic to original construction.

Recognition

Quotes from authoritative Cobra figures (per the cobra-authority.com Kirkham page):

Curt Scott: "A Kirkham will run circles around most of the Cobras made in the sixties. It’s a masterpiece."
Lynn Park, Cobra Owners Club co-president: "Kirkham has become the premier Cobra replica builder"
Described in industry coverage as the "best and most faithful Cobra replica ever made"

Representative builds

To be cross-linked once build articles exist on cobra-authority.com.

Sources and further reading

Cobra Authority manufacturer page: https://cobra-authority.com/kirkham-motorsports/
SAAC registry for any Kirkham car with documented provenance through Shelby American