Don't hate me. Cut up a Cobra body for a project

[john chesnut]

I wanted to do combine a 50's inspired body and use Miata parts to make a cool little car. I had ordered a body from a company in England that I thought looked good. I waited a long time for it and when it arrived I was disappointed in it's quality. So, I scrapped it and having a lightweight 427 body on hand decided to see what it would look like.

I unbolted all of the body parts that I could from the Miata. Then cut off the windshield, rear deck, and fenders. If I think the project has merit I will fab a tubular frame that will tie the rear shock towers into the roll bar support, and side impact bars.

The Miata has an 89.2 inch wheelbase and is 65.9 inches wide. But, it is a cab forward design where as the Cobra has a long hood and short cockpit. The idea is not to create a Cobra replica. Just a fun, inexpensive little car that looks cool.

The pictures show the results so far. I have used a lot of cardboard and duct tape in mocking this up. I used black primer to try and blend the materials for pictures. If I think it has merit I will use foam and bondo to do the final shaping. I would then have to make a plug, then a mold. Then lay up the body.

The result would be a little roadster that is around 1800lbs. I have a Cobra tribute that I scratch built that I really enjoy. And I like driving my Miata too. This Miata was a spare, non runner that I had.

Here is what I have done to the body.
- The Miata cockpit is wider than the Cobra. I cut the body in the valleys and widened it by 1.5 inches per side.
- The rear of the Cobra cockpit lands in the correct location for the Miata but the cockpit is to short. I lengthened it by cutting out about 8 inches in the front.
- The Miata windshield mounts pretty far forward. I cut that out and will use a Porche 356 Speedster windshield. It will be mounted about 6 inches rearward from the Miata's location.
- The Cobra rear fenders rotate in at the rear, towards the cars centerline. I rotated them so that they are straight.
- I cut the rear deck and fenders at the axle center line and shortened the length by 4 inches. (I think that I might put an inch or two back into the length.) Looks a little short?
- I cut off the big fender flares and tightened up the wheel arches.
- I rotated the rear deck and fenders rearward for a more sweeping look.
- I cut the front fenders at the wheel centerline. I shortened the front fenders by 1.5 inches and rotated them down towards the front slightly.
- I cut out the oil cooler inlet.
- I lengthened the hood scoop by 10 inches.

I think that I would make the front end 1 piece and have it tilt forward. I would have the cut line at the middle of the belt line. I would have half doors, the bottom seam would be in line with the hood line.

I am having fun and liking the look. I think that I will keep working on it over the winter.