Cobra History - Real and Replica

[beachcomber]

Thanx guys,
but that info has gone straight over my head - pasting ??????

Maybe that should be instructions for a 2 year old.

Re: the 2 "new" Cobs -


The Merc. powered version is primarily for the German market.

The Mercedes based car has magnesium hub uprights all round and Porsche calipers.
It is based on a successful German car that normally runs Chevy power.

The idea of this one is to go through the "proper" channels and obtain correct German documentation. The tried and tested "old method" is basically out of the window now.

The BMW powered version is based on a well known "one marque" race series Cob and is predominantly aimed at Track Day events, but is certainly capable of being made "street legal". A certain Carroll Shelby has also driven the original "one make" car around Le Mans. Pete Brock and Bob Bondurant also drove the car at Le Mans and were VERY complimentary [ as was Shelby ]. They were sufficiently impressed that Shelby ordered a development mule [ Caddy "Northstar" ] to be built and sent to Shelby American for "evaluation".

This one is based on Beemer 3 / 5 series components - in fact almost a "single donor" principle.

Strut IFS and wishbone IRS, discs all round and virtually all of the mechanicals from your friendly [ cheap ] Beemer salesrep wagon. Donors around £300 - £400 and with the possibility of "M" tech power [ !!!! ] a very nice little lightweight package.

Both cars have progressed through the pre-production stage and it is envisaged that the BMW version will hit the showroom floor in the next 6 months and the Merc. version early next year. Both of these cars will hit the ground running as both are based on tried and tested [ and successful ] older models. However, both cars have undergone a complete mechanical makeover to bring them up to date with today's technology. The Beemer version also features a very clever "mix and match" ability with scoops, ducts, brake coolers etc. where the customer can specify which or all of the features he wants in the finished body.

BOTH cars are from companies with more than 25 years in the industry and a long history with Cob replicas.

Now then, 2 year old instructions to post pix please !!

Beachcomber

[cobraeddie]

Great reading. I really get into past history. This is better than books!!

Across the Pond
Mark

[beachcomber]

Some time ago I posted how I brought in Steve Arntz kits via my old buddy Keith Harvie of Performance Automotive Wholesale.
This was late 70's.
However, this wasn't my first foray into Cob reps.
Some years previously I managed a Company called "Deals on Wheels" and opened a branch in Birmingham - followed a year later with my own US Speedshop "Muscle City".
We specialised in US muscle cars and "Hot Rods". Soon we were importing speed equipment [ from Keith naturally ] as well as complete Muscle cars [ oh yes and Custom Vans! ].

We were approached in mid '76 by some guys in Birmingham who made waste oil heaters [?] to produce a chassis for a "body" they had.
When we went along to see what they had to offer, we were shown the front and rear sections of a 427 Cob! Front and rear half - hmmmm, where have we heard that one before?
Anyway - long story short. I designed a chassis based on their body parts and we went into prototype mode based on a mutually advantagious deal.
They then got cold feet [ should have stood nearer to their waste oil heaters ha,ha,ha. ] and pulled out of the deal.
That's when I contacted Keith to ask him to find out about the Arntz kits as we were getting nowhere with our Brummie mates.
So that's what basically got the whole idea off the ground - the rest is History.

I have to say that after 30 + years of involvement with Cob Reps. I was getting a bit jaded. I know, hard to believe isn't it?
However that was up until last year. After 3 years of not too brilliant health, I found myself finally fit [ 'ish] and looking for a new challenge.
That's when I got together with the present BMW Trophy project and my enthusiasm was rekindled.
The trouble is with traditional Cob reps that when you've been involved with them for so long they become almost "normal". There's only SO much you can do with a traditional rep to make it stand out. Any well designed , well made rep is pretty much the same as any other - Gerry's 289's being a refreshing and quality option.
So when I was acquainted with the new Trophy I was at once intrigued and strangely - excited!
I HAD been involved in the original Bardahl Trophy Race Series, and after that ran it's course, the Trophy design went into mothballs. But like any good idea, it kept "bubbling up" in conversation as a "what if" scenario.

Well, you know how it goes, "what ifs" soon become "if we's" and before you know it, you've started off on the redesign and gathering the relevant parts.
Before you know it there's a rolling chassis sitting on the floor and a pile of BMW donors out in the compound!
So - where's it at? Chassis developed with new BMW components, engine and manual box developed and fitted. Body refitted and - surprise surprise - the Beemer fits in with hardly any changes being required. and now about 8 weeks away from the pre-production car being finished.
That's the LONGEST gestation for any car - full circle from 1976 - with a fair few hundred kits and cars in between [ make that well in excess of 1000 ] - a one make Race Series, an endorsement - and now a new and totally revamped beginning for an old concept.
Yep, the good ole hot rodders are at it again - throw the rule book away and re-write your own version.

Beachcomber

[dolphinboy400]

i cant wait to see it , sounds really interesting It's also good to know that after all these years you are still involved one way or another. Keep the stories/updates coming beachcomber !

[Colin Corfield]

I might be able to provide a liitle history to this car as my older, late brother, Tony owned from 1972 to 1976. (I am doing this from memory so please forgive me if the dates etc aren't perfect.)
He bought it from Hexagon of Highgate for about £3,000 and sold it to Brian Angliss of Autocraft for rather less than that as the oil feed on the dry sump engine had failed!
The first time I saw it was at a friend's wedding in summer 72. The bride and her family were not amused as all the men were in the church car park admiring the car instead of the bride.
Tony did a few sprints with it at Thruxton, but he didn't feel confident enough to race it properly. He only had one set of tyres - slicks and once he got caught out by rain, coming back from Thruxton, had to abandon the car beside the road and walk to the nearest house so that he could phone his wife to come and tow him home.
The following facts may be wrong, since 700F and 777F were so similar and their histories sometimes get confused. I think 700F raced at Le Mans and Tony told me prince Rainier had owned it for a short while. When he had it it was black with two centre white stripes and sidepipes that were not cromed. The cockpit was black and well worn.
I regret to say I only went in it once and i had to bully him even then. it was a perfect summer evening just before dark. We went onto theonly piece of dual carriageway nearby, which was the Eastley bypass. At 80 a teased him and said 'come on, my Vitesse goes faster than this'. He floored it, the tyres squeaked and we were upto 130 before I knew it. If hadn't put on the racing harness, I probably would have shot out of the seat as it wasn't properly bolted to the floor. The noise was the best bit though.
For the last year or more, he had problems with the oil feed and didn't use it. He emigrated to South Africa in 76, so decided to sell it. He loved owning it, but could not really afford to run it.
I daresay his wife may still have photos of it during those 4 years. I can find out if anybody is interested.

[v8pete]

Hi Colin - many thanks for posting a really interesting bit of history! Would love to see some of the photos from that time if you do find them!
Cheers!
Pete

[runt]

Hi Colin, fantastic to learn of a phase in 700F's past which is little known.
I had been under the impression that the pair of 427s were purchased by John Woolfe from first owner Ed Feutel despite strong competition from Prince Rainier; as reported by Roger Bell in 'Motor' in '67.
Trevor Legate however confirmed that John Tojeiro bought them from Feutel, and quickly sold them on to Woolfe..!
These important cars have been a source of inspiration to me since I was twelve, last time I saw 700F it was at Beaulieu, thank you for sharing this with us, as said any info at all is most welcome!

Paul/runt

[Colin Corfield]

Thanks for your interest and I shall phone my sister-in-law and see what she still has. Tony died in 1983, but she often talks about GTM, so will keep you posted.

Cheers,
Colin.

[Migge]

Hi Beachcomer,

Any new old tales?

Cheers
Migge

[MaryRose]

Well thanks guys for this very interesting thread! Lots of info and I have spent hours admiring all the very special cars you have in your galleries!
I am totally in love with our AC 427 Cobra Recreation by Pilgrim which you can see on Cobweb's Newbie thread as I can't post a pic yet!