UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                       Washington, D.C. 20549

                     ---------------------------  

                             FORM 8-K

                           CURRENT REPORT

                  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934  


           Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): 
                          December 17, 1996
            

                     Commission File Number 0-511


                     COBRA ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
       (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)


       DELAWARE                           36-2479991
 (State of incorporation)    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


       6500 WEST CORTLAND STREET
          CHICAGO, ILLINOIS                       60707
(Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:(773) 889-8870


ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

The Registrant issued a press release announcing that it has
developed proprietary technology to significantly improve the
sound quality of the company's citizen band ("CB") radios.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION     
         AND EXHIBITS.

         (c) Exhibits.
 
             Exhibit No.    Description
             
                 99         Press Release dated December 17, 1996




                            SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                COBRA ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

Dated: December 17, 1996        By: /s/ Gerald M. Laures
                                    --------------------
                                    Gerald M. Laures
                                    Vice President - Finance and 
                                      Corporate Secretary
                                     (Chief Financial and          
                                     Accounting Officer)