Drag coefficiant...
Bmw M5 = .31 +/-
Shelby 427 Cobra =.42 +/-
Dug this up in one of my old schoolbooks...
Thrust
Thrust is the force that is provided by the engines of the airplane and moves the airplane forward through the air. The engine provides power to the propeller (or the axial-flow fan in a turbofan or jet engine) which then displaces a large mass of air backward. This displacement of air develops the forward thrust that carries the aircraft through the air. Horsepower is the measure of force most commonly associated with engines, and requirements increase as a function of velocity cubed. In other words, to go twice as fast, you need eight times as much horsepower. Thrust is balanced by frictional forces (drag) when an airplane is in straight and level flight. When the force of thrust is greater than that of drag, the aircraft accelerates until drag force again equals the thrust force at which time the aircraft ceases to accelerate and continues at a constant speed.
Drag
Drag is the term given to the force which is caused by the air particles striking and flowing around the airplane as it moves through the air. Aside from lift, drag is the most important force which acts upon the wing of airplanes. As the speed of the airplane increases, drag increases proportionally to the square of the velocity. In other words, if you go twice as fast, the drag is four times greater. Drag is balanced by thrust when an airplane is in straight and level flight. When the force of drag is greater than the thrust force, the airplane will decelerate until the thrust force equals the drag force again at which point the aircraft ceases to decelerate and continues at a constant speed.
...now I realize that this is pertaining to airplanes but it is also realative to cars for the most part .
RallyRacer,
I am not trying to bust your balls or offend you,I am just trying to make the point that Cobras are not very aerodynamic and that DRAG plays a HUGE roll in making a car be stable and go fast.
The thing that is most fun about Cobras is because of the power to weight ratio...Like motorcycles(which are also not very aerodynamic) Cobras ACCELERATE LIKE CRAZY.........
Have a good one,
Dan
Lineslinger, Sorry I HI-Jacked your thread, for 35-40k you and your son will be able to put together a VERRRY nice Cobra. And believe me it will be as close to the thrill of your motorcycle as you will be able to find on four wheels
now get crackin'.