KING COBRA

It’s been a very long road. “I bought the car in 1985 – coincidentally my licence was cancelled a year later.” And that is as good an example as any of Damien Lowry’s tumultuous long-term relationship with Cobra number 400 – the very last of these special 1978 Ford hardtops. Over the years the beast was thrashed, modified, then retired and part disassembled and moved around assorted sheds. His friends recall seeing the thing sitting out in the rain at some stage, potentially another car that might be sacrificed to the rust gods.

However, anyone who thought that underestimated Damien’s determination to see the car live again. Near enough to 30 years down the ownership track, he got a bit of a financial boost and decided that was the time to tackle a project, which he now realised needed outside help to complete.

Enter Howard Astill, a former business manager and head