England-based coachbuilder Classic Coachworks is offering a new styling kit that turns your BMW Z3 Roadster (E36/7) into the iconic 1960s-era AC Cobra. The GFRP kit costs a mere £2,950, as long as you are ready to install it yourself.
Perhaps the main advantage of this particular release lies in its reversible nature. Rather than cut and reshape the original BMW bodywork, the Classic Coachworks Cobra simply builds upon it. This means you can detach the original Z3 body panels, install the Cobra panels using the factory-provided mounting points, and reverse the entire styling when (if?) you grow tired of it.
It has to be said, the conversion looks superb – especially so for its asking price. The massive new radiator grille, the round headlamps, the gill-like air vents behind the fenders, and the new hood cover – everything ties together perfectly and looks like something straight off the assembly line.
The one nitpick we have concerns the wheels, which look bland and uninspiring against the glossy red body of the roadster. Swapping these out for a more age-appropriate set would be nice.