Dick & jo's most excellent cobra adventure

DougD · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 06:10 AM

It was great meeting you and Jo, Dick. The car's a time capsule. I can't believe it hasn't been repainted in all these years. It still looks great!

I hope the rest of your pilgrimage goes well. You have some new friends in central Iowa. Don't be afraid to call if you're through this part of the country again.

Did you try the Porterhouse at the Big Steer?

DougD

lamaluv · #2 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 02:50 PM

Doug it was great meeting you and maybe the next time we are though your area we take a run with your Cobra and ours to the Big Steer. The Porterhouse was too big so I settled for the Top Serloin.

Dick

lamaluv · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010, 04:07 PM

We spent a beautiful day with Doug Ford (owner number 5) and his wife talking about ERA EXP002 and going for a ride. The surprise he talked about was seeing the Dove aluminum block 427 engine that Gail had put in the car. It was in a stunning 68 Mustang that Doug owns. Pictures and more info to follow tomorrow when we get settled in PA.

Dick

lamaluv · #4 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 07:29 PM

We unloaded the car from our "home" in Buck Eye Lake and headed for Doug Ford's house. Doug had lots of pictures as well as stories about the car. He blew up the Dove 427 at the drag strip and replaced it with the 67 428 Police Intercepter engine that is still in the car today. He kept and rebuilt the Dove block and it now resides in his fabulous 68 Mustang he spent 6 years building.

He went for a ride with me and told me that he is still in love with 002 and would sure like to have her back. He understands why my wife refers to the car as my "red headed mistress".

We are now in East Lyme, CT and will visit Bruce Bissonnette owner # 1 of ERA EXP 002 on Saturday and will visit Justin O' Rourke and David Page Numbers 2 & 3 on Sunday. On Monday it's off to New Britain to see the gang at ERA.

lamaluv · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2010, 05:28 PM

On Saturday the 30th we left our base in East Lyme for Manchester, CT to visit Bruce Bissonnette who was the first owner of ERA EXP002. Bruce had the car from it's completion in 1980 till November 1984 when he wrecked it.
He told me the story of his wreck and stay in the hospital to heal but that will have to wait untill we get to Florida and I'll do a recap and update on the saga of ERA EXP002. He has some very nice cars and has owned over 70 classic cars over the years. It was a pleasure to hear the cars early history and Bruce related that Justin O'Rourke had ridden in the car and wanted to buy it. After Bruce's wreck Justin visited him in the hospital and did buy the car, though at a substantial discount.

lamaluv · #6 (**permalink**) 10-31-2010, 05:53 PM

On Sunday we went to West Warwick, RI to visit Justin O'Rourke owner #2 and David Page owner #3. Justin rebodied the car after Bruce's wreck and sold it to David in 1986. David and Justin had not seen each other for over 20 years so it was great talking about the car. David traded the car to Gail Rhoten in 1991.

The adventure will continue Monday when we go to New Britain for our visit to ERA. The weather has been OK, no rain, but it has been cold. The high Monday is going to be 50. The Cobra at 65mph and 50 degrees makes for a very "Cool" ride.

Justin O'Rourke owner number 2 and I discuss the car.

David Page owner number 3 Dick and Justin look at old pictures of the car.

Pictures of the car when David owned her.

David's present Mustang and his old green one.

lamaluv · #7 (**permalink**) 11-01-2010, 04:53 PM

We started our trip to New Britain at 930am and it was still pretty cold. My wife has put up with me and my "Red Headed Mistress" and has always been a good sport. I think that maybe I was pushing my luck this morning. We pulled into the shop yard and noticed a marked absence of any ERA sign. Peter tells me that they are still saving to buy just the right one.

Peter was in the office and on the phone but made time to show us around and look up the old records on our car. Jo fell in love with a Wine with ghost stripe 427 car that was bound for France. There were several very nice cars in various stages of build. Jo found the cut away car very interesting and got some good pictures.

Peter had us bring the car in and Doug put it up on the lift and went over the car for a quick safety check. Everyone was impressed with how well the old girl has held up after 30 years. Bob came by and commented on how good the welding job was. Peter explained to us that Bob had done the welding on the first 4 or 5 cars.

Peter took us to lunch and Doug put a set of new door latches on the car. We then let the ERA crew go back to work and headed back to East Lyme. We got back and loaded the car in the trailer and tucked everything away for the night. This was the last stop on our Cobra pilgrimage and tomorrow we will start our trip south.