Fiberglass or Aluminium body

[CCX 33239]

There seems to be a number of comments using "aluminum (polished or brushed)" and "originality" in the same sentence or paragraph, as if they are one in the same. Am I wrong in not remembering many, or any, original cars that were unpainted? Even CSX 2000 had numerous colors (never bare)! Just a question?

Regardless, as has already been said numerous times, the bottomline is personal preference and whether YOU like the car. Go for it!

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by CCX 33239

Am I wrong in not remembering many, or any, original cars that were unpainted? Even CSX 2000 had numerous colors (never bare)!

You are correct in that (usually) the only time an original went sans paint is was when it was in between color changes.

However, in CSX2000's first set of publicity photos and the first test drive of it by a magazine (SCG), it was just "brillo'ed up" very nicely...with no paint.

I would attribute the contemporary popularity of bare aluminum, unpainted drivers to Tom Kirkham, who ran his first 427 for years with a rough sanded finish and to Jamo, who dubbed it the "BNL" (Bare Naked Lady) and set the standard for street driven, unpainted cars.

The rest just followed.

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by computerworks

You are correct in that (usually) the only time an original went sans paint is was when it was in between color changes.

However, in CSX2000's first set of publicity photos and the first test drive of it by a magazine (SCG), it was just "brillo'ed up" very nicely...with no paint.

I would attribute the contemporary popularity of bare aluminum, unpainted drivers to Tom Kirkham, who ran his first 427 for years with a rough sanded finish and to Jamo, who dubbed it the "BNL" (Bare Naked Lady) and set the standard for street driven, unpainted cars.

The rest just followed.

Wasn't CS driving around the first of the infamous completion cars in bare aluminum (except for the painted racing number "98") first?

[REAL 1]

The OP is entitled to compare whatever he wants to whatever he wants. He can compare a head of cabbage to an SPF if he wants. I don't care actually.

I just pointed out that there are significant differences and advantages IMHO in owning a CSX 6000 Cobra to a SPF.

As to the popularity of the the bare aluminium cars have attained I think it is more accurately ascribed to Carroll Shelby's bare aluminum #98 427 Cobra which I beleive was supposed to be a completion Cobra rather then the Kirkham Cobra.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

As to the popularity of the the bare aluminium cars have attained I think it is more accurately ascribed to Carroll Shelby's bare aluminum #98 427 Cobra which I beleive was supposed to be a completion Cobra rather then the Kirkham Cobra.

No, because nobody followed that trend for the 10+ years after that...until Tom and Jamo ran BNL's.

It's not a question of who was first, because CSX2000 was first in 1962... it's a question of who set the trend.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by CCX 33239

There seems to be a number of comments using "aluminum (polished or brushed)" and "originality" in the same sentence or paragraph, as if they are one in the same. Am I wrong in not remembering many, or any, original cars that were unpainted? Even CSX 2000 had numerous colors (never bare)! Just a question?

I could have missed it somewhere in our posts, but I don't remember anyone stating that a bare aluminum car is/was how the original series came. However, I did say that an aluminum body Kirkham or a modern era CSX moves the needle on the authenticity meter closer to an original 60's series Cobra.

Nonetheless, the modern alloy bodies produced by Kirkham can be left unpainted since the bodywork is flawless or near flawless, especially when compared to what others have said and written about the alloy bodies of the original 60's series Cobra. I don't think those could have been left unpainted and sold to the public. I will let the historians and experts correct me, if necessary.