Short nose Cobra

[xb-60]

A question to our English cousins…..what is a “short nose Cobra”?
I’ve seen the “short nose” description in advertisements a few times over the years, applied sometimes to AC Mk IV / Autocraft versions.
What is different about a "short nose" Cobra, if anything, from the Mk III (427) body?

Here’s one;
1986 AC Cobra MKIV 'Short Nose' — Brooklands Cars Ltd


Changing direction only slightly, I also found this information about the “AC Cobra Mk VI”, which looks quite similar to what one of our guys from our SA Cobra Club is achieving with his Pace Alumina Cobra

https://www.topspeed.com/cars/ac-cobra/ke1356.html


Begs the question….what is/was the Mk V? Was this the Maltese Cobra? Were any actually made?


Cheers!
Glen

[Mark IV]

The MK IVs had an upper nose extension of about 2". Brian Angliss thought the car looked "better" that way. He would build an original "short nose" on demand.

[xb-60]

Thanks Mark.
Interesting that the original MkIII nose shape is called a "short nose", and BA's version not called a "long nose"

[AC Ventura]

Mk IV is correct. However Angliss/Autokraft also produced the long nose to differentiate his Mk IV from the earlier 1960s cars. However, demand from traditional enthusiasts called for a Mk IV that was more period looking, including the short nose styling. The car he produced to appease them was the Mk IV lightweight, of which 28 were built.
I have a Mk IV and much prefer the earlier short nose, although I might never known, had it not been pointed out.

[xb-60]

Thanks for that information.

I also found some pics of the Mk V, and it appears there might have only been three cars built....

Mk V Cobra (Maltese)

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car...ra/2008/168485


I prefer the original Lucas L542 lights on a Cobra, so the tails lights on this Mk V are way too far from the original for my taste.


Cheers,
Glen

[Trevor Legate]

Correct - three so-called MkV's built. Best to forget them though....build quality was....lacking. I saw the cars in the UK along with the pages of jobs required to get them safe for road use. The stuff of nightmares. Maybe worth buying for their engines which were stonking. Bin the rest. Not Malta's finest hour.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by Trevor Legate

Correct - three so-called MkV's built. Best to forget them though....build quality was....lacking. I saw the cars in the UK along with the pages of jobs required to get them safe for road use. The stuff of nightmares. Maybe worth buying for their engines which were stonking. Bin the rest. Not Malta's finest hour.

But Trevor, the Maltese are FAMOUS for their automotive builds, everyone knows the Maltese Falcon!

[peterpjb]

Originally Posted by Trevor Legate

Correct - three so-called MkV's built. Best to forget them though....build quality was....lacking. I saw the cars in the UK along with the pages of jobs required to get them safe for road use. The stuff of nightmares. Maybe worth buying for their engines which were stonking. Bin the rest. Not Malta's finest hour.

maybe the whole Lubinsky era isn't the brightest era of the AC brand

Originally Posted by Mark IV

... Brian Angliss thought the car looked "better" that way....

... and neither was the Angliss era ...

[Trevor Legate]

They were the very finest (only) automobiles to ever come out of Malta. No higher praise.

First time I've seen a glovebox held in place by a pile of five pieces of mdf board. As for the carpet!! The party piece was the throttle linkage. A test drive discovered that at full throttle, the link went over center and refused to return. That was fun for the driver and almost reduced the number of MkV's by 33.3%. (My lawyer adds "allegedly") I could go on..and on...

At least the Angliss era assured the supply of cars and parts. AC cleared out it's spares department almost as soon as production finished. I think it was quietly glad to see the back of the car and I don't think they exchanged Christmas cards with Mr. Shelby.

But all that is water under the bridge as they say.

[peterpjb]

Originally Posted by Trevor Legate

..... and I don't think they exchanged Christmas cards with Mr. Shelby.

But all that is water under the bridge as they say.

oh wait, wasn't there other issues ".. under the bridge.." in this context?

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Trevor Legate

They were the very finest (only) automobiles to ever come out of Malta. No higher praise.

First time I've seen a glovebox held in place by a pile of five pieces of mdf board. As for the carpet!! The party piece was the throttle linkage. A test drive discovered that at full throttle, the link went over center and refused to return. That was fun for the driver and almost reduced the number of MkV's by 33.3%. (My lawyer adds "allegedly") I could go on..and on...

At least the Angliss era assured the supply of cars and parts. AC cleared out it's spares department almost as soon as production finished. I think it was quietly glad to see the back of the car and I don't think they exchanged Christmas cards with Mr. Shelby.

But all that is water under the bridge as they say.

When I went to import my WCC into Canada from Connecticut Canada Customs interpreted the VIN issued by Michigan as 'MIxxx...' as 'M1xxx...'. Apparently 'M1' is the two-digit code assigned to Malta and, as Malta isn't part of NAFTA, it was going to attract import duties not applicable to a USA vehicle.

Other similarities to Malta: various build issues I had to address, including side pipe inserts installed in opposing directions, half of a rear main seal installed backwards, shoddy wiring, poorly installed gas tank and a Morse throttle cable that stuck open when the outer sheath buckled and jammed the cable.

[Blas]

The Maltese Cobra's..... The stuff dreams are made of..... "NOT"