How/Why did you end up with a Cobra?

[rms427]

In 1968 I was finishing college and I had a totla of $200 that I planned on using to purchase clothes for my new job. Like a lot of guys I liked (still do) to look at the cars for sale in the paper. On the day I was to go buy clothes I saw a 1966 427 Cobra with 9,000 miles advertised in the paper for $4,995. Since it was on the way to the clothing store I decided to go take a look. The car looked fantastic and he asked if I wanted to take it for a drive. Of course I said yes but had trouble getting behind the wheel (I'm 6'7") so I settled for a ride. After that I forgot all about buying clothes and spent the next week convincing my dad to cosign for a loan. I had told my dad the car would be worth something some day since they had stopped making them. I was thinking $10,000. I didn't tell him I couldn't get behind the wheel since I was sure I could figure out a way to do it. I called the seller and the car was still available and he was willing to take $100 to hold the car until I graduated from school and started my new job. Three months later I finally got the loan and went to pick up the car. I found I could get in the drivers seet by stepping over the steering wheel. Actually I fit fairly well once I figured that out. I put the key on my key chain fired it up and drove it a couple of blocks and it died. I thought, oh &%$$$ I just paid almost $5,000 for a car that doesn't run. It really was only a minor problem in that my knee hit the key chain and turned off the ignition. I have driven the car to this day with a bare key.

I drove the car as a daily driver for the first 4 years of ownership (about 12,000 miles per year). I did some rallies, drag racing and slaloms in addition to driving it to work. In 1970 when I paid it off I had a big celebration. I also finished paying off my school loan at the same time so it was a big deal. I got married that month and we drove the car 1400 miles on our honey moon. When we stared a family the mileage dropped dramatically. The car now has about 75,000 miles on it.

The car originally had a 428 but I replaced it with a 427 about 20 years ago. The 428 ran about as well as the 427 I have. It ran a best of 12.4 at 112 with the only changes from stock being dual point ignition, side exhaust, 3310 Holley and Dunlop rain race tires.

I feel I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time to get my dream car.

Have fun, Ray