Ultra-Rare Ford Mustang-Based Python Surfaces For Sale

Bordinat Cobra and Kelly Python
Credit: Ford/cars&bids

It’s a blast from the past that’s a blast from the past.

A 1990 Kelly Python has been listed for sale on cars&bids.

The black convertible is a Ford Mustang-based tribute to a Ford concept car from the 1960s.

Ford’s head of design at the time, Gene Bordinat, set out to create a new body for the Shelby Cobra.

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Bordinat Cobra and Kelly Python
Credit: Ford/cars&bids

A prototype was completed with a sleek roadster body that had a far different look from the Cobra, from which it borrowed its chassis.

Bordinat Cobra
Credit: Ford

It featured pop-up headlights and sleek lines that looked more like a Corvette or Ferrari than a Cobra or Mustang. Like the Corvette, it’s body was constructed from a composite. Not fiberglass, but a new material called Royalex.

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Bordinat Cobra
Credit: Ford

Over time it became known as the Bordinat Cobra and a coupe version was later built and named the Cougar II, but neither made it to production.

Cougar II
Credit: Ford

Fast foward to the 1980s and a man named Alvin Kelly discovered the design and wanted to bring it to fruition. Bordinat gave his approval and a body mold was created.

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Kelly used a shortened Fox body Mustang chassis this time around, keeping the interior largely intact, and wrapped the not exact Bordinet Cobra replica fiberglass body around it. The project never picked up steam, however, and only about a dozen cars were completed before Kelly gave up on it.

Kelly Python
(cars&bids)

According to BarnFinds.com, there are just seven remaining cars and they infrequently show up for sale.

Kelly Python
(cars&bids)

The black example listed on cars&bids uses a 1990 Mustang with a 5.0-liter V8 and five-speed manual transmission. It shows just 47,700 miles on its odometer, but is far from pristine, based on the pictures. Among the modifications are a Flowmaster exhaust system and a McLeod Racing clutch master cylinder.

Kelly Python
(cars&bids)

Bidding for the car reached $4,000 at the time this story was published and the auction runs until September 3. Listings for Pythons can range from $15,000 to $45,000, so its hard to guess where this one will end up.