Off his head or what

[Z5Roadster]

For years & years I have longed for The Car, probably back to 65 wheni first heard one, along the Compton Straight south of Guildford. Money was always spent on other things of greater priority.

About 6 yrs ago a visit to West Point KitCar show leaned me to a 5 series BMW based car, (Dens friend), but that didnt work out, still have a 6x4 shed full of donor parts, 4ltr V8, 6 speed manual box even kept some of the glass.

Here's the quandry. Do I build my own Cobra type toy, I have the time, not a lot of cash to spare but I am not looking for a master piece. Buy a few length of tube & later some sheets of aluminium & all is possible.

What would happen when taken to Exeter for what was called SVA.

Your thoughts Gents

Would just add that 2yrs ago I bought a Chimaera to fill the gap.

[Lloyd Barnes]

Originally Posted by Z5Roadster

For years & years I have longed for The Car, probably back to 65 wheni first heard one, along the Compton Straight south of Guildford. Money was always spent on other things of greater priority.

About 6 yrs ago a visit to West Point KitCar show leaned me to a 5 series BMW based car, (Dens friend), but that didnt work out, still have a 6x4 shed full of donor parts, 4ltr V8, 6 speed manual box even kept some of the glass.

Here's the quandry. Do I build my own Cobra type toy, I have the time, not a lot of cash to spare but I am not looking for a master piece. Buy a few length of tube & later some sheets of aluminium & all is possible.

What would happen when taken to Exeter for what was called SVA.

Your thoughts Gents

Would just add that 2yrs ago I bought a Chimaera to fill the gap.

there;s your answer then, sell the Chimaera, and the beemer, buy a runaround and get cracking!! Glad I could help

[KevinW]

whats wrong with completing the bits you have. Naz at Parallel Designs shoud be able to help.

[Neil O]

Welcome Z,
Come down to the meet at Kenn, near Exeter on Sunday 7th Feb from noon.
There will be plenty of guys there with knowledge and advice to help you out.

[Miket]

Originally Posted by Neil O

Welcome Z,
Come down to the meet at Kenn, near Exeter on Sunday 7th Feb from noon.
There will be plenty of guys there with knowledge and advice to help you out.

I might not make the meet, so it might be a waste of time him turning up

[Z5Roadster]

Originally Posted by KevinW

whats wrong with completing the bits you have. Naz at Parallel Designs shoud be able to help.

A couple of yrs ago Naz was going to ajust 2 chassis around my M60 lump, we arrange to meet up at Stoneleigh, then it came to light that "Its not going to happen, why play with 23K Cobras when you can spend the same amount of time on 46K Lambos" Thats business.
It was a long drive I could have done without. No is the same by email.

[Z5Roadster]

Originally Posted by Neil O

Welcome Z,
Come down to the meet at Kenn, near Exeter on Sunday 7th Feb from noon.
There will be plenty of guys there with knowledge and advice to help you out.

Originally Posted by Miket

I might not make the meet, so it might be a waste of time him turning up

Will try to come down for March, already booked up for 7th Feb but will take you up on the offer, should I park the Tvr down the road abit? Partridge Cycles perhaps? This where I'm at on the 7th. North Devon Shake-down

[KevinW]

Originally Posted by Z5Roadster

A couple of yrs ago Naz was going to ajust 2 chassis around my M60 lump, we arrange to meet up at Stoneleigh, then it came to light that "Its not going to happen, why play with 23K Cobras when you can spend the same amount of time on 46K Lambos" Thats business.
It was a long drive I could have done without. No is the same by email.

sorry to hear that.
sounds like echoes of this....
Nathan's Parallel Designs Torero (Lamborghini Diablo) replica -see 'How it Ended'

[Z5Roadster]

Originally Posted by Lloyd Barnes

there;s your answer then, sell the Chimaera, and the beemer, buy a runaround and get cracking!! Glad I could help

I have come to a decision to build a 1 off Cobra, using what I already have, making as much as possible & buying what must be bought.

The roadster will be based on the 5 series BMW parts I already have, stripped from a 1995 540i donor, but using a 6 speed manual box from a 1997 car.

Regarding the chassis it will be not unlike the python but using Chimaera top wishbones, if the geometry works out.

I will keep this thread updated as things progress.

Just remember that Shelby bodies, chassis, Cobra screens & brightwork are all made in North Devon.

My 95 Chimaera also stays.

[TonyD]

Originally Posted by Z5Roadster

I have come to a decision to build a 1 off Cobra, using what I already have, making as much as possible & buying what must be bought.

The roadster will be based on the 5 series BMW parts I already have, stripped from a 1995 540i donor, but using a 6 speed manual box from a 1997 car.

Regarding the chassis it will be not unlike the python but using Chimaera top wishbones, if the geometry works out.

I will keep this thread updated as things progress.

Just remember that Shelby bodies, chassis, Cobra screens & brightwork are all made in North Devon.

My 95 Chimaera also stays.

Why not buy an AK chassis and body thats already made and jigged up for a BMW 4.4 V8. Sell/ swap the BMW front, rear axles and suspension to fund the jag stuff and jobs a good 'un.

I presume that the donor car was an auto so the box has its own seperate computer spliced into the loom. Splitting that gearbox ecu from the engine ECU when going to the 97 manual box is most likely to result in limp home mode. I'd try it first anyway just in case it works, but you may need to acquire an engine loom from a true manual 540 ( which are rare as rocking horse do dah) with its ECU and its EWS box to get the manual box to work on a previously auto engine.

Alternatively go megasquirt on the engine, (utilising the OEM knock sensors if possible), get some decent exhaust manifolds made as BMW ones are truly awful and strangle the engine, tune it via a laptop and some spirited driving and you'll have a rather nice combination.

Best of luck,

Cheers,

Tony