Cobra power, how much is enough?

[REAL 1]

Anyone who claims they need more than 400 to 500 hp in a 2300 lb with a short 90 inch wheelbase car for the street or even for open track is to be taken with a grain of salt, a polite smile and then as you walk away

Ken Miles and Shelby's other top drivers and many privateers had a hard time taming the 427 beast with 475hp to 500 hp.

All those here that think they can handle a 427 Cobra better then Ken Miles please step forward and identify yourselves.



Anything beyond what these cars did originally is simply for bragging rights and is removed from what these cars ever were.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Anyone who claims they need more than 400 to 500 hp in a 2300 lb with a short 90 inch wheelbase car for the street or even for open track is to be taken with a grain of salt, a polite smile and then as you walk away

Ken Miles and Shelby's other top drivers and many privateers had a hard time taming the 427 beast with 475hp to 500 hp.

All those here that think they can handle a 427 Cobra better then Ken Miles please step forward and identify yourselves.



Anything beyond what these cars did originally is simply for bragging rights and is removed from what these cars ever were.

Sorry, in some cases that's an Apples to Oranges comparison.

A lot of the Kits/Replicas today have much better handling than the originals. This is due to frame designs and the components used. Good street tires like the 15 inch Avons, or Nittos in the 17/18 inch sizes will out perform the race tires of that time.

Could I out drive one of those drivers in original Cobras? No. However I would take my chances in a modern Cobra verse them in an original.

[Chuck Nickloy]

Well, I might be a nut case, but I'm happy this way!

[PHC1]

Under, Over or Powered just right?

AC Cobra Crash - Idiot hits curb - YouTube

[PHC1]

Under, Over or Juuust Right?





AC Cobra Loses Control --- [MN C&C July 2011] - YouTube

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Under, Over or Powered just right?

AC Cobra Crash - Idiot hits curb - YouTube

That's not the fault of the car, or too much HP. It's the driver.

There are hundreds of videos out there of people being stupid in just about every type of car there is.

It's a throttle. Learn to use it.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

That's not the fault of the car, or too much HP. It's the driver.

There are hundreds of videos out there of people being stupid in just about every type of car there is.

It's a throttle. Learn to use it.

Of course it's not the car's fault. People do stupid things all the time, it's just that it's sooo much easier to get into trouble with a high powered/over powered car.

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Sorry, in some cases that's an Apples to Oranges comparison.

A lot of the Kits/Replicas today have much better handling than the originals. This is due to frame designs and the components used. Good street tires like the 15 inch Avons, or Nittos in the 17/18 inch sizes will out perform the race tires of that time.

Could I out drive one of those drivers in original Cobras? No. However I would take my chances in a modern Cobra verse them in an original.

No I am talking apples to apples. I am not considering more modern chasis and tires etc.. Once you start with more modern designs, tires, suspension etc the game changes. True. However, you are now removed and far away from what the car was. I am confident my Carrera GTS would turn a faster time on a track the an original design Cobra and it weighs more and is down about 60 hp. Why? Better suspension, brakes, tires etc...

Rodknock: Also I don't consider 600 hp crazy especially with a mild cam. It's when guys start hitting 650 and up that to me is starting to be silly in a street car with a 90inch wheel base and little if any safety features. But, hey that's just little ol' me. What do I know?

[twin turbo]

[quote=REAL 1;1195285]Anyone who claims they need more than 400 to 500 hp in a 2300 lb with a short 90 inch wheelbase car for the street or even for open track is to be taken with a grain of salt, a polite smile and then as you walk away

Ken Miles and Shelby's other top drivers and many privateers had a hard time taming the 427 beast with 475hp to 500 hp.



First of all, wasn't Dick Smith driving his Cobra on the track with around 650 hp during his 198 mph moment?

2nd of all, I think Morris Clements Kirkham is probably the fastest road course car and he is certainly running more than 400-500 hp. I recall him wanting to wring another 100 hp out of his engine. I guess you would roll your eyes at him as well.

3rd of all, wasn't there an original Cobra (though far from stock) running 700+ hp that won the Ultima Street car challenge a year or 2 ago, including the fastest autocross time.

I guess I better stop there. I don't want your eyes to get sore from all that eye rolling on cars that can't use that power and are obviously just for bragging rights. Cheers.

[twin turbo]

Real 1, just now saw your follow up post. Sounds much more reasonable. Honestly, my car, a hot rodded replica, is very controllable with over 500 rwhp. I also now have a full width roll bar and side bars for safety. Cheers.

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by twin turbo

Real 1, just now saw your follow up post. Sounds much more reasonable. Honestly, my car, a hot rodded replica, is very controllable with over 500 rwhp. I also now have a full width roll bar and side bars for safety. Cheers.

Correct.. I understood this thread to really be directed towards overweight, out of shape middle aged guys wearing Kahki shorts and sandels at car shows bragging about the 700+ hp in their car. That kind of power and torque in a 90 inch wheel base skate board weighing in the neighborhood of 2500 lbs with all the safety features of a soap box derby car is a receipe for trouble ( a Cobra with original spec power is trouble enough if not handled with respect). Many specialty insurance companies realized this and have gotten out of the Cobra repica market for this reason.

And yes, the guys you mentioned like the one running his car competitviely at the Ultima Street challenge (heavily modded car to my understanding as you noted too), or Morris Clement certainly are far from the show and shine guy with an over powered under set up car. Those guys are competing at the top of the game and know what they want and need and undoubtedly have the car set up and ability to deal with the increased power. So no, I wouldn't roll my eyes at those guys. But they are in the minority with cars with that kind of power.

Dick Smith? What can I say? Certainly a man in the pantheon of Cobra drivers and competitors. A legend. It is well known that in order to get a Cobra roadster to 198 mph you needed seroiusly more power then 500hp based on areodynamics. Since Dick didn't have a coupe he got more power. And no, I certainly wouldn't roll my eyes if Dick Smith said he was looking for more power in his Cobra.

[kobrabytes]

Not really... I think this thread is dedicated to us old farts who can afford to burn our hard earned cash like toilet paper on the dreams of our youth.

We do it because we can... Fun is the object, not the money....

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Correct.. I understood this thread to really be directed towards overweight, out of shape middle aged guys wearing Kahki shorts and sandels at car shows bragging about the 700+ hp in their car. That kind of power and torque in a 90 inch wheel base skate board weighing in the neighborhood of 2500 lbs with all the safety features of a soap box derby car is a receipe for trouble ( a Cobra with original spec power is trouble enough if not handled with respect). Many specialty insurance companies realized this and have gotten out of the Cobra repica market for this reason.

And yes, the guys you mentioned like the one running his car competitviely at the Ultima Street challenge (heavily modded car to my understanding as you noted too), or Morris Clement certainly are far from the show and shine guy with an over powered under set up car. Those guys are competing at the top of the game and know what they want and need and undoubtedly have the car set up and ability to deal with the increased power. So no, I wouldn't roll my eyes at those guys. But they are in the minority with cars with that kind of power.

Dick Smith? What can I say? Certainly a man in the pantheon of Cobra drivers and competitors. A legend. It is well known that in order to get a Cobra roadster to 198 mph you needed seroiusly more power then 500hp based on areodynamics. Since Dick didn't have a coupe he got more power. And no, I certainly wouldn't roll my eyes if Dick Smith said he was looking for more power in his Cobra.

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by kobrabytes

We do it because we can... Fun is the object, not the money....

I do believe that says it all right there.

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Now if we can only get Turk back. Ah yes, all nostalgic now. Yeah, those were the days when men were men and the gloves came off and brass knuckles were common around here.

I wonder if we could get him back for a little cameo once in a while - I'm thinking along the lines of Gashole Wars 2012

[PHC1]

Well, I think I have a better understanding now of what a Cobra feels like and how much HP "I" would need after being a passenger in a Kirkham as well as trying a Superformance out from behind the wheel.. I would be more than OK between 400-450HP. They are fun machines but personally I would never try to push my luck too far in one of these.