WHO BUILDS YOUR CAR?
Southern Auto Classics is made up of three of the most “Cobra passionate” folks you’ll ever meet: Jack Abney, Gary Ramsey and Joey Burton.

Jack Abney:
“My goal is to make the best street legal Cobra race car possible.” With this single thought in mind, Jack Abney created Southern Auto Classics. A life long car enthusiast, Jack is not just the owner but an active participant in every aspect of the shop. When you are ready to start talking, this is the man who will answer the phone, get things rolling, follow each and every step of the process, and probably even deliver your car himself. Jack vividly remembers when his passion for Cobras came to life. “In 1976 I saw the movie Gumball Rally and it had the most incredible car I had ever seen in it, a shiny new looking blue Cobra. I thought it was the most beautiful car I had ever seen. It took my breath away. I have never forgotten that excitement and that is exactly how I want our customers to feel about the car we make for them.”

Gary Ramsey:
Gary is always looking for a way to make our cars safer, better, and faster. With over 25 years of racing experience, both behind the wheel and building engines, Gary’s racing experience comes through loud and clear at the shop. He can speak of over 251 personal behind-the-wheel victories in NASCAR and Outlaw National Vintage sanctioned events. He has lost count, however, of the number of races won by cars with engines he built because they number in the thousands. A car lover and mechanic since the age of 14, Gary is unyielding in his need for speed and also the importance that it does not compromise the integrity and safety of the car. Gary is a firm believer in the old saying “You can always build a better mouse trap.” He is constantly looking for ways to make our cars the absolute fastest and safest.

Joey Burton
Another ‘classic car junkie’, Joey remembers first helping his Dad by holding a ratchet at age 5 as his Dad changed a fender. As he grew up he continued this tradition of learning from the best. He was able to garner a position working with premier fiberglass engineer Johnny Sweet. Using this knowledge and his own natural talent Joey was instrumental in creating the car featured on all the print materials for the 2004 Carlisle Kit Car Nationals. Joey specializes in fiberglass parts, molding, customized parts and graphics. He understands the importance of making every element of the car functional but refuses to let that compromise the cars appearance. He brings the style and elegance of the AC Cobra to life with his creative talents and abilities. His energies are well spent making our cars, in his words, “functional and beautiful”.