Mystery solved. Shelby Trust to sell Real Cobras

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Shelby usually only deals with douchbags once, is my English ok...

Ouch!

Don't know about your "English" but your name calling and maturity level is improving....approximately 7th grade level now. Yeah, about that I would say.

[REAL 1]

David out of the list what are the differences from a Current Kirkham 427SC or a past Kirkhams aside from original NOS parts?



Goodies include:
original copper radiator: Do Kirkhams use dimensionally the same size radiators
original fuel logcan vary with build
original 1 3/8 roll barsize of standard Kirkham rollbars?
Lucas switches/electricalsource of standard Kirkham switches. Are they the same aesthetically?
Lucas headlights (still in the box)
original seat tracksWhat is difference from Kirkham seat tracks?
original iron differential Is it dimensionally the same?
original 1/2 shaftsAre they dimensionally the same as Kirkham and are they different material?
original 1965 iron side oiler block
original 1965 forged steel 427 crank
Shelby heads (new Shelby heads). I really don't mind they are "new" heads in the slightest--Bill makes really nice stuff.
Top Loader transmission
Original reproduction suspension What is difference from Kirkham suspension in the 427SC?
solid rotors--like original
Girling reproduction brake calipers (Kirkham billet, you can't tell the difference--they are SWEET pieces made from high heat resistant 2219 aluminum). What is difference from Kirkhams?
original, in the box, voltage regulator
original, in the box, Lucas electrical everywhere
Smith's gauges
Original Lucas wiper motor!!! (Impossible to find)

Pricing on the new cars?

[Three Peaks]

David,
Not that it matters where the chassis came from, but I was wondering- what differences did you find between the supplied chassis and your Kirkham chassis? Any dimensional or other differences of any significance?

How many of these "completion" cars are expected to be produced?

Bob

[Bernica]

Who is literally stamping the CSX numbers on the chassis if they weren't stamped years ago? Guess I'm just curious....

[David Kirkham]

Real 1

I'll answer in detail later.

Bob,

Very similar. I'm on my phone right now so I'll answer in detail mañana.

Bernica,

I think Shelby stamped them. It was stamped when we got it. The chassis seemed like it had been around a while.

David

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

David out of the list what are the differences from a Current Kirkham 427SC or a past Kirkhams aside from original NOS parts?



Goodies include:
original copper radiator: Do Kirkhams use dimensionally the same size radiators

No, the original radiator is very thick--it is like a 3 1/2 or a 4 inch core. Our radiator is aluminum and has a 2 1/2 inch core. We make them here in our shop.

original fuel logcan vary with build

The original fuel log is a 7/8 round tube of steel with dual feeds welded to it. The intake is a 1/4 NPT and the outlet is also a 1/4 NPT. The outlet connects to the fuel pressure gauge in the dash. Today we run the outlet to a bypassing fuel pressure regulator which circulates fuel back into the tank--this greatly reduces vapor locking.

original 1 3/8 roll barsize of standard Kirkham rollbars?

We use a 1 1/2 inch roll bar. That is pretty much mandated by all sanctioning bodies now.

Lucas switches/electricalsource of standard Kirkham switches. Are they the same aesthetically?

We use K-Four switches. I just couldn't take the Price of Darkness anymore.

Lucas headlights (still in the box)
original seat tracksWhat is difference from Kirkham seat tracks?

We make both the original track (bent sheet metal and VERY expensive) and our a billet aluminum seat track.

original iron differential Is it dimensionally the same?

We make an aluminum differential that is very close. We also make one that has several upgrades we "borrowed" from the Ford 9" and F1. We use a screw in side axle housing now that makes adjustments much easier. The locking mechanism for the screw in housings I got from a friend who makes parts for F1. We use billet aluminum mounts. The original mounts were forged steel on top and a fabricated sheet metal mount on the front.

original 1/2 shaftsAre they dimensionally the same as Kirkham and are they different material?

We use a CV jointed 1/2 shaft now.

original 1965 iron side oiler block
original 1965 forged steel 427 crank
Shelby heads (new Shelby heads). I really don't mind they are "new" heads in the slightest--Bill makes really nice stuff.
Top Loader transmission
Original reproduction suspension What is difference from Kirkham suspension in the 427SC?

WOW. Long answer. We still make all the original suspension parts. We supply them to customers all over the world. We also make a suspension that is pretty much carved from a block of aluminum. The block we start with for the front upright is over $300 (each side).

solid rotors--like original
Girling reproduction brake calipers (Kirkham billet, you can't tell the difference--they are SWEET pieces made from high heat resistant 2219 aluminum). What is difference from Kirkhams?

We still make the original rotors. We also make the original calipers, but carved out of a block of aluminum. They are sweet parts. On our "normal" rides we use Wilwood calipers and rotors. Shelby 50th's have our billet suspension with Wilwood calipers and rotors. We just started using even larger calipers last week!

original, in the box, voltage regulator
original, in the box, Lucas electrical everywhere
Smith's gauges
Original Lucas wiper motor!!! (Impossible to find)

Pricing on the new cars?

[Kirkhams] Start at $99,995 and go to the moon--literally. We can make just about anything you can dream up.

[I don't know what the CSX3000 pricing is].

David

[twobjshelbys]

David, are there enough original/historic parts to finish the remaining cars in the sequence?

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

David, are there enough original/historic parts to finish the remaining cars in the sequence?

He said mountains of parts, I would hope that is a YES, I wonder what color the one was that they just completed...

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

He said mountains of parts, I would hope that is a YES, I wonder what color the one was that they just completed...

And $100K or so for an alloy cobra with a 3000 vin? That's worth a second look. I'm selling my GT and thinking about what might be next.

[4pipes]

Alright, I'll go out on a limb here. If you don't want the real deal built in the '60's, for what ever reasons, the next best thing would be one that looked exactly the same and was dimensionally perfect.

This would provide you with a perfect replica that you could drive everywhere and not be concerned with damage, theft, or accumulated miles.

If that were the case, why wouldn't you want all the parts to have benefitted from 50 years of learning in casting, forging, metallurgy, switch craft, manufacturing processes?

IOW, why would you want all that old unreliable crap!

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

David, are there enough original/historic parts to finish the remaining cars in the sequence?

The hoard will dwindle with time. On the other hand, there are some parts that will finally be reproduced with time as well. I have a wiper switch on my desk right now that we will make from billet soon--probably this year. It will be a killer reproduction when we are done. That switch is one of the absolutely unobtainable parts on an original Cobra. I have only ever seen a few of them in my life.

David

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

He said mountains of parts, I would hope that is a YES, I wonder what color the one was that they just completed...

I think Bill painted it blue, though I am not sure.

EDIT!

I just got off the phone with the guys at DenBeste and they confirmed we did NOT make the car in the press release. The car we made hasn't been painted yet.

David

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

And $100K or so for an alloy cobra with a 3000 vin? That's worth a second look. I'm selling my GT and thinking about what might be next.

My post was not clear. I added [Kirkhams] start at $99,995

The CSX3000's are EXTREMELY expensive to build. I think the motor alone was well north of $30,000.

David

[twobjshelbys]

I was in Shelby's garage and have pics of what I think might be some if those chassis. Let me tell you it was a messy place with no organization whatsoever. I think there was also a pile of series 1 chassis. I was told CS had a couple of more places like that and after looking at the pics today the place reminded me of the sheds the American pickers guys go through. So I'm believing this pile of stuff could really exist. Go for it.

[fordracing65]

Really, really cool stuff, it's a barn find for sure, and I'm glad Kikham plays such a huge role, who better than them...

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by 4pipes

Alright, I'll go out on a limb here. If you don't want the real deal built in the '60's, for what ever reasons, the next best thing would be one that looked exactly the same and was dimensionally perfect.

This would provide you with a perfect replica that you could drive everywhere and not be concerned with damage, theft, or accumulated miles.

If that were the case, why wouldn't you want all the parts to have benefitted from 50 years of learning in casting, forging, metallurgy, switch craft, manufacturing processes?

IOW, why would you want all that old unreliable crap!

Because it's beautiful. You either like it or you don't. I'm not passing judgement on what a guy likes--that's up to him. When we finished that baby we just kind of stood back and smiled. It's a literal piece of Shelby history. Seeing and driving the car as it was is a fascinating experience. Indeed our cars today are much faster and lighter--but they aren't what was made back in the day. It's just cool to see, feel, smell the dream.

David

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

My post was not clear. I added [Kirkhams] start at $99,995

The CSX3000's are EXTREMELY expensive to build. I think the motor alone was well north of $30,000.

David

Guess I better call jenni

[fordracing65]

The 50th anniversary cobras have the billet suspension, did I read that correct, that's cool if it does...

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

I was in Shelby's garage and have pics of what I think might be some if those chassis. Let me tell you it was a messy place with no organization whatsoever. I think there was also a pile of series 1 chassis. I was told CS had a couple of more places like that and after looking at the pics today the place reminded me of the sheds the American pickers guys go through. So I'm believing this pile of stuff could really exist. Go for it.

Believe it. I was there and spent two DAYS organizing the parts for Bill with two of his guys. I didn't finish.

Original Koni rear lower shock bearings, original windshield hardware, slotted screws, seat track knobs, headlights, wind wings, on and on and on. I caught myself dreaming over and over again. I was sifting through history.

David

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

The 50th anniversary cobras have the billet suspension, did I read that correct, that's cool if it does...

Yes, they do. FIA's too.

David