Original Cobra Parts- Registry Gaps- Frankenstein Cobra

[OnyxRider]

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.