Tom Cotter's Road To Cobra
 

I stole this from the AC Owners Club Forum. Hopefully they wont mind? https://sportscardigest.com/tom-cott...eid=585598dd9b It's a great article about a man like a lot of us, who dreamed about owning a Cobra, but was always two steps behind his dream! I can identify with him, being to young when they were new, then in 1975 when I got to drive a 289, the price was $5,500, which mine as well have been 5 million, since I didn't have either! finally got a 289 in 2001, and made it into Car & Driver when Pete Egan drove as his co driver from California to North Carolina, I still have that issue, and operantly Shelby read it to! So give it a read! Cheers, Dennis

I've had the pleasure of meeting Tom a number of times, he is so down to earth and laid back. Would love to join one of his tours, but I do not own a real Cobra, nor a vintage Woody. Both on my bucket list though. Great write up, and yes, I can confirm, he does drive it. Thanks for posting the link.

Bill S.

What a great read. Thanks for sharing!

Wish I had a real one just so I could go on those tours...:)

I have been lucky enough to attend two of Tom's Woodie parties and visit him at his house a couple of times. He is a very nice down to earth guy that is passionate about his hobbies.

Michael Briggs

Great story Dennis. Thanks for posting the link.
Anyone know the CSX number?

Cheers,
Glen

2490 if my memory serves me correctly.


Bill S.

Thanks Bill.
I've just read the CSX2490 story in the Registry. Incredible that 2490 accumulated 23000 miles in its first year or so of use, and needed a complete respray as well.

Cheers,
Glen

When Tom Cotter decided he wanted to buy a 289, he also knew that he had never driven or ridden in one, and wasn't sure he would like it. Someone told him I had a 289 and a 427 so he called me out of the blue in the fall of 2000 and asked if he come take a ride in CSX 2401. He and his good friend and racing buddy, Jack Cassingham, drove to Greensboro from Davidson and we spent the entire day driving both cars, switching drivers and having a grand time. It didn't take but a few minutes for Tom to know the 289 really was the car of his dreams.
We became friends and together bought the barn find 289 Cobra CSX 2149 and proceeded to take it apart in his garage and restore it to like new condition over the next couple of years. That Cobra inspired Tom to write "The Cobra in the Barn", which led to numerous other "Barn Find" books and now his "Barn Find Hunter" internet show.
I am absolutely positive there in no other original Cobra that gets driven more miles every year than Tom's 289. He goes on drives of a couple hundred miles all the time and we will do another 1000 mile Tour shortly with 14 other original Cobras. This will be the 16th annual Tour for us, having toured in places as far apart as Idaho to Maine. Tom also did an Alaska Tour with a few other owners. That was too far for me to ship the car cost-wise and I was still working at the time so I couldn't get that much time off.
Tom has more energy and drive than most other humans and comes up with creative ideas for books, tours and just about anything else faster than you can blink an eye.
He has a new book coming out called "Secrets of the Barn Find Hunter", to be released
May 24, 2022. I got to review an advance copy and I think all Cobra and other car lovers will enjoy it.

From his show and his books we all feel like we know him too.

Of course very jealous of your experience with him;)