Original Cobra Parts- Registry Gaps- Frankenstein Cobra
 

Just putting a few thoughts together from several recent posts.

I still strongly believe it is the owner to protect or even might have to defend the authenticity of their automobile. Some comments came to mind when bringing up an online registry.

I'll mention some collections later but for now am curious how registries might go about keeping record of certain original parts of Cobras. Across a wide range of makes I know hundreds of people that have original parts over the decades. I bring this up because what a few members stated about CSX 3016. That is not my area of expertise to know the history of a vehicle not in my garage. Not to mention I don't have the expertise to validate CSX 3016 if it was in front of me.

We ALL know guys with original body panels, engine, windshields or whatever that have come from 1960's Cobras. And I'm sure the guys keeping record make note of such things but would say that it doesn't get advertised or spoken about. Right Ned?

And I'm trying to link the topic of original parts with that of gaps in the registry. Yes there are gaps in the registry, some larger than others. I haven't studied 3016, only looked at the latest registry because I was looking up another one and was curious what the registry stated on 3016. I'm sure there is intel not published on this one. Say there is a CSX 3016 that needs rebuilding in someone's garage, do you think the one that has been for sale the owner is taking advantage of a gap or the silence of the person with the actual 3016(if there is one)?

On the SAAC site I know someone mentioned a large collection of Shelby's, so some of you know these collections. From my experience I know some of the large collections that exist or existed. Many with unknown names.

It was about the time I was born, James Melton had a nice museum in Florida and when he became ill sold a few to my grandfather along with a vintage toy and baby carriage collection. Along with this odds and ends and a lot of NOS. Rockefeller out of Arkansas bought a large amount of these. Melton was the first to sing Indiana at the 500. I know you remember Bill Harrah's collection. They had thousands of parts and almost 70 craftsmen employed restoring autos. What happened to all those parts? Otis Chandler a family friend had one collection sold off and started another and his wife sold that one off after his death. I'm sure some remember the Chandler Vintage Museum of Transportation and Wildlife. Pollard had a load of stuff, we would have bought some if they weren't hanging vertical in unobtainable space. I bought a whole pile of vintage high wheel bicycles in the original crates from there in the 70's.

The Schlumpf's had "reserve collection" but they also had hundreds of original parts and unfinished projects. John O'Quinn I had close contact with over the years. He had a @#$@# load of parts.

And there are people for a variety of reasons(one being extra parts for their existing autos) that purchase wrecks or totals from insurance companies or directly from owners. There is more than one Cobra wreck that still sit for almost 45 years give or take a few.

Let's say "hypothetically" an old Cobra or most of one wrecked after taking down a lot of fence was rebuilt with original parts of another wrecked cobra or original parts from cobras. So how would that be accepted with proper proof and documentation? And what would the value of one be. I wrote something long ago and modified it but that was the original idea behind resurrection cobra. An original rebuilt of a total. On another note I do like the idea of a "Frankenstein" cobra brought back to life with mostly original parts.

Sorry tried to put a few thoughts together while I had a minute. I know some of you get tired of reading the same thing over the years'

Peace

Mostly interested in how wrecks and parts are accounted for by the bean counters when they have knowledge of.

Out of the 260/289/427 1960's original Cobras roughly how many exist and/or are accounted for.

110% of them.

Just following the thread!

My experience goes across many makes, I would say Bugatti and Ferrari at one time I could say I have advanced knowledge of but there's always someone that informs you of new intel. I didn't go much into the gaps because others know more about those than I. I just know about the gaps I tried to mend back in the early '80's and gave up. As noted it's the owners responsibility.....

You may laugh at photo documentation but it does comes in handy. A friend of mine runs a movie and television memorabilia company and they use actual photos pulled from movies and television shows to make sure props, outfits, costumes are actually the screen shown pieces. This kind of evidence can be used with automobiles along with other supporting material. I've seen vehicles traced back with photos that had small nicks and blemishes.
Of course this is in simple terms.

In the early evolution of the automobile people that could afford the high end product would order a car and get the coach built. In a few years the coachwork would be updated with a new body, and the mechanicals remained the same. If you ever came across coachwork that has been taken off the chassis it can be hard to discover the history.

As far as the Cobra registry there still can be room for improvement. I'm going to have to photocopy the latest one or order another and make notes on a long flight. I didn't think anyone would comment on the registry and original parts aspect of this cause they don't want to give up intel and have someone use whatever they say in the future to back up a claim.

I do like the Frankenstein image of an automobile being put together from original parts and breathing life into it. I mean restorers do it all the time.

Rick

Think its closer to 125%

The registry does define cars into categories. "Original", "Original/Restored", "Original/Rebodied", "Reconstruction", "Air Car" and then the replica's or kits.
"Original/Restored" defined as having less then 50% of it's body or substructure replaced not including the main frame tubing or pieces carrying it's original serial number.
"Original/Rebodied" defined as having more then 50% of it's body or substructure replaced not including the main frame tubing or pieces carrying it's original serial number.
A car rebuilt from a major accident including replacement of main frame but some part of the original chassis remains would be a "Reconstruction". It would also need documentation of the work done.

Some of this brings up some questions for me in regards to CSX2142, a personal favorite car of mine and exactly how it should be classified now. 2142 was rebuilt using some of it's original parts and some parts from COX6010. Exactly how many 2142 parts I don't know or if the majority of those were even from 2142. COX6010's legacy is listed in the registry under COB6010. Not sure if that's a misprint or what happened there either but at least both cars history is known.
Larry