I bought a new Hurricane!!

[dlampe]

Well, I flew to "no where" Iowa Friday to check out the rumors about the new Hurricane car company. There was a lot of snow and it was about 5 degrees!!! I was the only one in a Hyundai Sonata in the whole county! I want to tell you that this is like no other Cobra builder I have ever met. They are a huge family owned company that builds garbage trucks. Ironically, the garbage truck model is called the "Cobra". I think they sold over 1300 "Cobras" last year. Their plant sets on a 25 acre spread with more buildings than I can count. Their fabrication shop has CNC and some kind of water jet cutting thing, I don't know. There is more stuff in there than I can describe! The glass shop is incredible. Just the glass operation is the size of a large company all by itself. They have a full time master mold maker on staff. They can do the chopper gun but also some kind of vacuum fiberglass process that they are going to use for stuff like doors, trunks, hoods and scoops. They had pallets of core mat just stacked up everywhere. It was impressive. Needless to say, they are well capitalized and are doing this for the right reason, because they think its cool!!

The really nice thing was I was able to buy HMS2002 which is the same chassis number I had with the original 1000 series. The frame was on the shelf already and the IRS was setting right next to it. The body is out of the molds and ready to be assembled. I was impressed with how much they had already completed. They plan to have complete kits in stock so you can go check out the facility, take a test drive in the factory demo and, after a little paperwork, load up your new x-mas present and go home. No wait at all.

Now the fun begins, what options, what color, how much horse power?

Merry X-mas to me, I'm off to the jewelry store. Mama isn't happy!

[LREYBURN]

Dean,
Believe me! I know what you are talking about..."going to the jewelry store"! It's called RECIPROCITY! Did you sell the GT?

Merry Christmas to you and your family! It looks like 2010 is going to be a fun year.

[Silverback51]

Congratulations on your Christmas gift to yourself.

And you better keep the wife happy. I screwed up one Christmas and it cost me a new wedding ring. Same wife, just a new expensive ring.

[jwd]

Congrats. Dean and welcome back to the Hurricane family.

Jim

[Got the Bug]

Congratulations Dean! With all of the Cobras that you've owned, that says a lot about Hurricane and the quality of the product.

I guess it's time that they changed your status from Senior Club Member to Certified Cobra Addict.

[mrmustang]

Congratulations Dean, sooner or later I'm going to have to own one as well.





Bill S.

[ALLEN ENGLISH]

Dean, Congratulations on your new *obra.




Merry Christmas

[*13*]

& of course you took pictures!!?

[RAZOR]

Congratulations on the new ride, are you able to tell us any changes they have made?

[dlampe]

Larry, the GT 40 is still in the garage. You knew I traded my RCR for an SPF didn't you? I am going to sell it but for now it's just shining in the garage.

The new Hurricane is pretty similar to the original with a few new changes that many owners were doing on their own anyway. They are working hard to make the engine compartment look original with the white foot boxes and support bars. They even have a fake wiring harness that looks like the original Lucas stuff with the new stuff under the dash. They have made some minor changes to the molds but nothing that doesn't make it even more like the original SC car. They are engineering a floor mount pedal assembly to replicate the original and they will be able to offer this with a drop foot box or just standard. I'm 6'3 and I don't think I am going with the drop box.

There is a list of other little things they have done to capture a more authentic look. Almost everything can be added to the original cars. I have some pictures but they are to big for the forum.

[aks801]

Originally Posted by dlampe

The new Hurricane is pretty similar to the original with a few new changes that many owners were doing on their own anyway. They are working hard to make the engine compartment look original with the white foot boxes and support bars. They even have a fake wiring harness that looks like the original Lucas stuff with the new stuff under the dash. They have made some minor changes to the molds but nothing that doesn't make it even more like the original SC car. They are engineering a floor mount pedal assembly to replicate the original and they will be able to offer this with a drop foot box or just standard.

Goodness, this is getting very, very interesting!!!

[berzerko]

welcome back to the hurricane family. its great that you were impressed with what you saw at the new owners facility.

good luck with the build how bout some pics from the new factory

Bobby

[LMH]

That's great Dean! Can hardly wait for photo's.
Larry

[TButtrick]

This is exciting news. Congrats Dean. Can you share more details on their IRS?

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by TButtrick

Can you share more details on their IRS?

I haven't seen anyone take a shot at this so I'll try....when I visited Hurricane in Lee's Summit I saw their "cage" and talked to them about the workings. They use(d?) the 8.8" IRS differential/associated parts from a Thunderbird SuperCoupe or a Cougar XR7. Standard Ford parts, often available for reasonable prices in salvage yards.

Here are a few photos of their "cage" (Sorry for the poor quality of these photos):

Originally Posted by gsharapa

Are they only doing the 427 version or FIA289 also?

Well, now, that's the $64,000 question, isn't it? I saw the 289 development project in Lee's Summit, too, liked it very much. It had the standard 289 style fishmouth with an oil cooler scoop below it. When I saw it, it was no more than the body sitting on a frame, but discussions regarding the project revealed that it would be nothing more than a styling exercise, and if the 289 were offered as a kit it would use the existing Hurricane 427 frame/suspension. The 289 body I saw was not an accurate FIA replica, lacking at least the "bumps" on the trunk for FIA required luggage, but like I said, it was just a development mule at the time.

Originally Posted by dlampe

Gary, I didn't see the FIA body lying around anywhere. I know Hurricane had one in KC but no mold. I don't know what might of happened to it.

I do .....patience, all, it may yet see the light of day (and before anyone asks, no, it's not mine, DAMNIT!!).

At the time that the company was in Arlington, TX, there were quite a few developments in progress (although, in actuality, they may well have been in development when the company was in Lee's Summit). Here's a few photos of the "tub" showing the footboxes molded in "white", a detail that seems exciting b/c it more closely replicates the original:







Look carefully and you can see the "dimples" added to the rear wheelwells to allow greater adjustability for the seats....one of the many Hurricane product improvements over the originals!

Like others have said, Dean, I can't wait to see your build thread.....knowing your affection for the Hurricane, I'd say it'll be one fine production!!

Dugly

[WildBill3]

Thats really cool Dean hope you get a nice sparkly for the other half it is time to have fun now!!

[jshel1]

Congrats Dean and Welcome Home.

Bill, here's to hoping that your owning a Hurricane will settle down the "promiscuity" of jumping in the sack with every cobra brand that just comes walking by.

Alan, you have been waiting and watching the Hurricane saga for a long time. I think the inevitable is only a matter of time for you.

[PaulProe]

I'll spill the photo beans - I was there with Dean as well was Jim Reiss, another Hurricane owner.

Dean's in the car, checking out some mods' they've made to increase leg/foot room. The other guy in the photo is Mike McLaughlin, President of Scranton Industries and Hurricane Motorsports.



The rest of us were behind the camera making "Vroom-Vroom" sounds.

Proud to be part of the Hurricane family

Paul P

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by jshel1

Bill, here's to hoping that your owning a Hurricane will settle down the "promiscuity" of jumping in the sack with every cobra brand that just comes walking by.

Just have not found what I'm looking for yet,heck, not even sure I would know what that was if and when I do find it


Bill S.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Just have not found what I'm looking for yet,heck, not even sure I would know what that was if and when I do find it
Bill S.

What are your issues with the ERA? Pat swore they can do everything including driving on water.....