From my dads dream to our passion

**Mattybabes** · 24-05-12, 08:28 PM

Hi all, my name is Matt and this is my story.

Roughly 20 years ago my dad purchased an almost complete Cobra for £5000. He sprayed cars for a living and had his own business. The car just sat there in his workshop and the years steadily rolled by with not much happening to the car other than an engine being installed.

Sadly my dad died of lung cancer in April 2012 and all of his stuff is currently being sold off, but not the Cobra.

Myself and my step brother are going to finish my dads dream. It is unregistered, non-running and needs a respray but apart from that it is complete.

We met up with the mechanic at my dads funeral who originally built the car to its current state and he has offered to assist wherever he can.

We are going to replace the oil, oil filter, strip and clean carbs and replace the cam belt before attempting to start it just to be on the safe side.

I am a lecturer by trade and my brother is an officer in the Navy so we know how to put petrol in and drive it and that is about it.

I guess there are not many people on here that need as much help as we do!! The car must be 110% perfect as it was always my dads dream so any help and advice no matter how big or small will be greatly welcomed.

Thank you in anticipation of your help and support.

Matt

**cobracol** · 24-05-12, 08:39 PM

Hello and Welcome Matt, Sorry to hear how you came by your Cobra, im assuming its a Sumo with a Pinto engine, being over 20 years old quite a few mods will need to be done to enable it to pass iva, but as you say a change of fluids should be all that is needed to get it to run, there is a pilgrim section which you may be able to find the info needed for the mods, good luck, Col

**TonyD** · 25-05-12, 12:17 AM

Hi Matt.

I think I am going to incurr a bucketload of trouble from shmbo ( given that I still have to lay 800 bricks before I can start to finish my own Cobra) but I probably live less than 1 mile from you ( go to the end of Northgate and turn right after the fire station), so lets get your old dads car on the road.

I just had the Mrs read the post and her comment was

" You've got far too much to do and they've got a mechanic"

Bear in mind I've just bought her a new Dyson so she should be quiet for a while.

Anyway, get in touch, drop me a PM, and I'll see what we can do. Having built a few Frankenstein cars, assisting in the build of something relatively normal would be a diversion.

Get in touch,

Cheers,

Tony

**FatBoy** · 25-05-12, 06:16 AM

Well done Tony and good luck with the build Matt.

Paul

**Mattybabes** · 25-05-12, 08:20 AM

Firstly, thank you cobracol for your advice. I have been researching the procedure for registration and it looks like the car is going to be on a Q plate. I am totally new to the car (even though I have been walking past it for 20 years) and as far as I am aware it is all new apart from the engine which would have to be reconditioned to 'as new' in order for it to be registered on a normal plate.

Thanks Tony, you are the reason I joined this forum - to find someone local to me who I can meet up with to try and get this car sorted.

I am just off Lazy Hill but the car itself is in my mates unit in Brierley Hill. I am in Lymington this weekend but if we could get together next week some time that would be great. If I can find out how to send a PM i will email you my mobile number.

Thanks to FatBoy for your well wishes.

Matt

**Lloyd Barnes** · 25-05-12, 08:26 AM

Good luck with the build Matt and with Tony to hand you won't go far wrong.... but if he starts using the words, "engine bay" "Lexus", "oooh lovely" in the same sentence throw him out immediately.

I'm sure he can also provide some specific advice on registration.

Nice one Tony. Great to see there are still people who don't just think about themselves.

**kdavies3** · 25-05-12, 08:55 AM

Well done Tony and good luck Matt.
Tony I hope the two black eyes and bruised nuts from the missus are all sorted before Le Mans.

**seph** · 25-05-12, 09:09 AM

Welcome Matt and sorry about your father. I commend you Tony, just more of the goodwill and help that this forum seems to ooze. I have met some great people and had some great help from here.

Paul

**TonyD** · 25-05-12, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Mattybabes

Firstly, thank you cobracol for your advice. I have been researching the procedure for registration and it looks like the car is going to be on a Q plate. I am totally new to the car (even though I have been walking past it for 20 years) and as far as I am aware it is all new apart from the engine which would have to be reconditioned to 'as new' in order for it to be registered on a normal plate.

Thanks Tony, you are the reason I joined this forum - to find someone local to me who I can meet up with to try and get this car sorted.

I am just off Lazy Hill but the car itself is in my mates unit in Brierley Hill. I am in Lymington this weekend but if we could get together next week some time that would be great. If I can find out how to send a PM i will email you my mobile number.

Thanks to FatBoy for your well wishes.

Matt

Hi Matt,

I'm off down to Dorset for a week but I'm back next Friday so perhaps we can get together over the Bank Holiday weekend.

My Cobras in storage at my BiL's on Kinghayes road, so it is a very small world.

Cheers,

Tony

**happie33** · 25-05-12, 10:04 AM

without hijacking this thread into congratualating how invaluable this site and the members are..... i will post this anyway !!!..

also a big shout and thank you to dixie, whom has very kindly helped me out of a situation.... completley free of charge both for his time and materials....

thanks dixie (mark).... i owe you one...

Welcome Matt and to Tony, i doth my cap to you sir..... have fun guys, and we want to see pics PLEASE ................