FE vs Coyote

[olddog]

Bob Bondurant has been to the London show several times. He loves driving a Cobra out of the Chicago area that has a turbo charged Buick V6 and auto tranny. He has made comments about it several times.

I was talking with Bob Bondurant and his wife and joked about the OCS using a Chevy truck to pull the raffle car. He looked puzzled for a second then laughed and said he didn't get into brand loyalty feuds. He said he would drive anything that was fast.

There was a link in another thread where 4 or 5 of Shelby's guys were being interviewed. One of them said that Ken Miles (pretty sure it was Ken) said the ultimate Cobra would have been the 427 body with the 289 engine.

I do think the people who built and raced the Legend are not nearly as purest minded as the people who own a replica and worship the Legend.

I appreciate both view points. I draw the line with people who want to pass a law to force everyone to see it their way.

[olddog]

Bob Bondurant has been to the London show several times. He loves driving a Cobra out of the Chicago area that has a turbo charged Buick V6 and auto tranny. He has made comments about it several times.

I was talking with Bob Bondurant and his wife and joked about the OCS using a Chevy truck to pull the raffle car. He looked puzzled for a second then laughed and said he didn't get into brand loyalty feuds. He said he would drive anything that was fast.

There was a link in another thread where 4 or 5 of Shelby's guys were being interviewed. One of them claimed that Ken Miles (pretty sure it was Ken) said the ultimate Cobra would have been the 427 body with the 289 engine.

I do think the people who built and raced the Legend are not nearly as purest minded as the people who own a replica and worship the Legend.

I appreciate both view points. I draw the line with people who want to pass a law to force everyone to see it their way.

[AL427SBF]

The problem with the aesthetics/originality argument is that either you are true to the legend or you arbitrarly decide what's important with originality and what is not. How many of you authentic replica owners with an FE are in fact at 427 CID with your motors putting out 425 HP? Not to mention running with 4" main chassis tubes, 4-speed top loader, 1st gen coil suspension and a 3:31 rear end?

The answer is very few if any.

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

The problem with the aesthetics/originality argument is that either you are true to the legend or you arbitrarly decide what's important with originality and what is not. How many of you authentic replica owners with an FE are in fact at 427 CID with your motors putting out 425 HP? Not to mention running with 4" main chassis tubes, 4-speed top loader, 1st gen coil suspension and a 3:31 rear end?

The answer is very few if any.

It's not a suspension and trans argument, or debate, it's a power debate against an FE or Coyote with no TQ...

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

It's not a suspension and trans argument, or debate, it's a power debate against an FE or Coyote with no TQ...

My reply was to REAL 1 who said re Coyote ... does not belong in a Cobra replica IMHO unless you (a) don't care about aesthetics/originality (b) ...

If you want to reduce this to just a power question (dismiss all posts making the authenticity argument), then the answer becomes trivial - just pop in an LS7 and be done with it, makes more sense than going with an existing iron FE boat anchor

[scottj]

triple post wtf?

[scottj]

double post

[scottj]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

If you want to reduce this to just a power question (dismiss all posts making the authenticity argument), then the answer becomes trivial - just pop in an LS7 and be done with it, makes more sense than going with an existing iron FE boat anchor

Yep...

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

My reply was to REAL 1 who said re Coyote ... does not belong in a Cobra replica IMHO unless you (a) don't care about aesthetics/originality (b) ...

If you want to reduce this to just a power question (dismiss all posts making the authenticity argument), then the answer becomes trivial - just pop in an LS7 and be done with it, makes more sense than going with an existing iron FE boat anchor

Again, that's not the debate, it's FE vs Coyote???????, not LS7 or Ford 460 or 351 Windsor, it's FE vs Coyote?????? I believe that was the title of the thread?????

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

The problem with the aesthetics/originality argument is that either you are true to the legend or you arbitrarly decide what's important with originality and what is not. How many of you authentic replica owners with an FE are in fact at 427 CID with your motors putting out 425 HP? Not to mention running with 4" main chassis tubes, 4-speed top loader, 1st gen coil suspension and a 3:31 rear end?

The answer is very few if any.

The arbitrariness of authenticity is irrelevant since the market ultimately determines what is and isn't desirable in terms of aesthethics/originality. Items that aren't obvious departures from the original and generally considered "upgrades" such as aluminum 482's and Tremecs are demanded by the preponderance of CSX, KMP and ERA customers, which are generally considered the closest in terms of originality to the original '60's Cobras.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

The arbitrariness of authenticity is irrelevant since the market ultimately determines what is and isn't desirable in terms of aesthethics/originality. Items that aren't obvious departures from the original and generally considered "upgrades" such as aluminum 482's and Tremecs are demanded by the preponderance of CSX, KMP and ERA customers, which are generally considered the closest in terms of originality to the original '60's Cobras.

Uhhh, so does that mean I'm right?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Uhhh, so does that mean I'm right?

Eh, maybe. I'm not really sure. I stopped reading your posts some time ago.

[jolsen42]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Eh, maybe. I'm not really sure. I stopped reading your posts some time ago.

Now THAT'S funny.

John O

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

The problem with the aesthetics/originality argument is that either you are true to the legend or you arbitrarly decide what's important with originality and what is not. How many of you authentic replica owners with an FE are in fact at 427 CID with your motors putting out 425 HP? Not to mention running with 4" main chassis tubes, 4-speed top loader, 1st gen coil suspension and a 3:31 rear end?

The answer is very few if any.

Thats exactly my point. Cars that stay as faithful to the original spec of a Cobra are less in number, more desirable in the resale market and more expensive to build and buy. Thats just the facts plain and simple.

BTW the originals also came with 3.54 rears too in SC and many SC and Comp 427s put out 475hp without a sweat.

Its real simple in my mind. For the same money which car would have a longer line of guys looking to buy it. A replica with a 5.0 Coyote or an original 427SO? If your honest you know the obvious answer unless aesthetics were low on your priority list.

As for those FE "boat anchors" I'll make the same offer to you that Mr. Shelby offered. I'll put a $100.00 bill on the cowl and from 0 to 60 if you can grab it it's yours. If you don't you owe me $100.00. Game?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

As for those FE "boat anchors" I'll make the same offer to you that Mr. Shelby offered. I'll put a $100.00 bill on the cowl and from 0 to 60 if you can grab it it's yours. If you don't you owe me $100.00. Game?

The "grab" must be with one's teeth, not reaching out with your fingers....

[REAL 1]

Then I'll up the ante to $500.00.

[itstock]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Its real simple in my mind. For the same money which car would have a longer line of guys looking to buy it. A replica with a 5.0 Coyote or an original 427SO? If your honest you know the obvious answer unless aesthetics were low on your priority list.

Yep, pretty basic. It even came down to, IMO, which is going to have a longer guys looking to buy it/future resale...coyote vs sb 427w. I think the Coyote Cobra will have a longer line of people LOOKING at it, but not buyers. The pool of buyers for the magic number 427 is just going to be larger.

[madmaxx]

There is hope at Mecum this weekend I saw what appeared to be a five year old with a Cobra model. His dream has begun.

[LesMurray]

Wow, go away for the weekend and look what happens LOL

Anywhooo, thanks for the opinions from all of you. I don't think my build will end up being a faithful reproduction, mainly because I don't think most people are going to care if my windshield has the right decal or the switches are real Lucas switches. My first priority is something that runs well and is safe to operate. Now, from the outside, I do like it to look like a Cobra, at least in the 20/20 test (20 feet, 20 mph). So, 15" rims, Halibrand replicas (because Sunburst rims are rarer than hen's teeth), low back bucket seats, air splitter, etc. The FE idea is just taking the image one step further so that those who know will appreciate the extra details. I agree that I appreciate the builder who puts an FE under the hood. However, I have seen many nice engines that were not FEs. In the end for me, it will be something that will make me satisfied. And if I don't end up liking it, I can change it!

[DaleG]

Originally Posted by LesMurray

Wow, go away for the weekend and look what happens LOL

In the end for me, it will be something that will make me satisfied. And if I don't end up liking it, I can change it!

Ahhh, sanity speaks.....finally. Elegant words, truly.