"AC" badge vs. Cobra Snake badge??

galaxy · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 02:31 PM

When is it appropriate to use the "AC" badge on the nose, trunk, and steering wheel as opposed to the round Cobra badge with the snake on it you see most of the time?? What were they used for originally?? (new guy tring to learn so be gentle...)

nikbj68 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 02:57 PM

It all depends on what oyu want to say with your Cobra!

If you are in UK/Europe you may be more inclined to say AC Cobra but as you are Stateside, I would think you are more a Shelby kinda Guy! The cars were originally made with AC badges, but these were quickly replaced with (to start with) Shelby Cobra badges, then just the 'Snakehead' we know so well.
I guess there are a lot less AC badged Cobras your way, so maybe a nice talking point for you to buck the trend?!

REAL 1 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 03:17 PM

Shelby Cobras all had the Cobra emblem except the early models which stated "Shelby" on the nose and trunk I believe.

mdross1 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-26-2011, 07:04 AM

Remember all the time I spent staring at my car as it went together.The emblems was one of the things that consumed a lot of thought energy.My only concession to keeping everything as original looking as possible was the fender engine size badge.Mine says whats under the hood 460.The rest of the badging is as an AC Cobra would have been outfitted.Bottom line is what pleases your eye.

Jamo · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 03:44 PM

Correctomundo oh Realness. The early "Shelby" tags were those little winged things.

I'm currently running without any signage, save for the KK pedals. I'm still waiting for the gents in Provo to make the proper KK badges I've cried for since I took delivery.

If they are not forthcoming, I'm planning on having someone cast me some badging featuring my butt crack.

casaleenie · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jamo

If they are not forthcoming, I'm planning on having someone cast me some badging featuring my butt crack.

[/b]

That's gotta add some weight to the car.

HIQ · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 04:19 PM

It is appropriate to put AC badges on the car IF it is an AC. It is appropriate to put Shelby Cobra badges on a car IF it is a Shelby Cobra.

Why mark the car as something it is not?

Slither · #8 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIQ

It is appropriate to put AC badges on the car IF it is an AC. It is appropriate to put Shelby Cobra badges on a car IF it is a Shelby Cobra.

Why mark the car as something it is not?

EXACTLY what he said!

YerDugliness · #9 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIQ

It is appropriate to put AC badges on the car IF it is an AC. It is appropriate to put Shelby Cobra badges on a car IF it is a Shelby Cobra.

Why mark the car as something it is not?

I can see the purpose....I mean, after all, there are REPLICAS....many actually pick a particular CSX car to attempt to replicate. WE know it is not a Shelby or an AC, but if we are successful at creating a good REPLICA (which could, IMHO, include badges on the car) the car will "fool" ONLY those who are familiar with original CSX cars...the rest will be no worse off for not knowing the difference.

I, for one, don't want to fool the experts, but I DO like the look of the hood and trunk badges. Mine doesn't have any, but I want to put them on. It sort of completes the look.

If you don't want people to think your car is a "Cobra", which the vast majority of car-nuts assoicate with Shelby and/or AC, then don't build a Cobra. There are plenty of original designs on the market, build one of them. Otherwise, and again this is JMHO, I feel one should feel free to "replicate" to his heart's content, and if that includes badges, I say go for it!!

YOMV

Cheers from Dugly!!

london · #10 (**permalink**) 07-14-2011, 07:55 AM

The definitive guide to badges and many other aspects of the original '60s Cobras is Rinsey Mills' 'Original AC Ace and Cobra', published by Bay View Books, ISBN 1 870979 14 1

Original AC Ace and Cobra | eBay

Very expensive and out of print, so here's a summary of badges on the 60s cars:

Mk1 and II

Up to chassis CSX 2054 - 'Shelby AC Cobra' motifs front and rear

CSX 2055 to CSX 2132 - the 'flat headed' Cobra emblem front and rear

CSX 2132 onwards - the later Cobra emblem front and rear

Early COB/COX chassis cars (sold outside US) - 'flat headed' Cobra emblem on front, AC badge on rear.

Later COB/COX chassis cars - later Cobra emblem on front, AC badge on rear.

Mk III

CSX chassis cars - later Cobra emblem front and rear

COB/COX chassis cars (with 289 engine) - AC badges front and rear.

computerworks · #11 (**permalink**) 07-14-2011, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by london

The definitive guide ...

A good book...but not definitive.

xb-60 · #12 (**permalink**) 07-14-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIQ

It is appropriate to put AC badges on the car IF it is an AC. It is appropriate to put Shelby Cobra badges on a car IF it is a Shelby Cobra.

Why mark the car as something it is not?

So shouldn't Shelby have left the Ford valve covers alone and not substituted SHELBY or COBRA covers?

Cheers!
Glen

RichardCSX6000 · #13 (**permalink**) 04-18-2012, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIQ

It is appropriate to put AC badges on the car IF it is an AC. It is appropriate to put Shelby Cobra badges on a car IF it is a Shelby Cobra.

Why mark the car as something it is not?

This makes sense to me, good answer.

cobra 53 · #14 (**permalink**) 05-14-2012, 12:48 PM

No dimensions of the "Old Shelby AC Cobra" , emblem nr. S1CS-A availabel?

Rico

migge · #15 (**permalink**) 05-15-2012, 01:31 AM

From calculations and relations boot handle, number plate lamp etc. it must be 78 mm, a little over 3", so I guess 3" is correct. I have an answer from Dave and he said 74 mm wide, so just under 3". I 'll find out end of this month in SPA, where I can take some mesurements. Hope to see CSX 2049 or 2051 again.

CRZN427 · #16 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 04:20 PM

galaxy,

My early research on the subject led me to believe the the original Cobras, the 289 cars, were made in England by AC and shipped to Shelby in California for installatin of the power train.

Those cars had the AC badge and were known as "AC-Cobras".

When Shelby wanted to upgrade the car to to use the 427, and there were several reasons to do that, the Brits balked at putting that much power in the car, they said it is too much for the chassis. That is where the Shelby quote "Too Much Is Just Right" is said to have originated.

Shelby brought the majority of the manufacturing to California and modified the chassis to accept the big block with such upgrades as stronger material for the chassis, A-Frame coil spring front suspension, in lieu of the AC's transverse leaf spring, wider body to accept the bigger tires and a stronger transmission and rear end for the added power.

These cars had the Snake/Shelby badge and were known as "Shelby Cobras".

There are probably 289 Cobras out there with the Snake/Shelby badges but I believe that they were changed out after the development of the other badge that depicted the Shelby name.

Correction comments are welcomed.

GeorgiaSnake · #17 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 05:13 PM

I thought the original FIA cars had no badges front, rear or sides, anybody know for sure.

Randy

computerworks · #18 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CRZN427

Shelby brought the majority of the manufacturing to California and modified the chassis to accept the big block with such upgrades as stronger material for the chassis, A-Frame coil spring front suspension, in lieu of the AC's transverse leaf spring, wider body to accept the bigger tires and a stronger transmission and rear end for the added power.

There really was no difference in manufacturing by AC, between the 289 and the 427 product lines. Both were finished by AC to approximately the same level.

I don't believe SA ever left an AC badge on their vehicles.
The first batch of 289 Cobras got this badge:

During the first year, the reference to AC was dropped and this became the 289 badge:

After (approx) the first year, the badge changed to the one we all recognize as the "standard Cobra" emblem, also used throughout the 427 production.

As far as the steering hub is concerned, all 289's had the AC emblem.

For the 427's, it is not as clear.
The first 427's...the Comp cars... had no hub emblem.
The silver and black Cobra emblem seems to be the most prevalent for most of the 427's.
One source cites the red-white-and-blue Cobra emblem as aftermarket and actually made for the 1965 GT-350s, and may have been used on some 427s

Randy... nice catch on a bit of trivia.. the FIA cars had no badging on any side.

Jamo · #19 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 06:47 PM

That's the little winged things I was talking about.

Mark IV · #20 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 07:11 PM

...second emblem was one of two "flathead" Cobra emblems....Pete brock was so disgusted with these that he designed the "definitive" Cobra emblem we all know and love. Brock took personally the graphics and designs for many of the things we take for granted with Shelby....the emblem, the "Cobra, Cobra, Cobra T-shirts, the GT350 stripes, the the "CS" logo. Pete was and is a designer of the first degree.

Too bad he git boned by the boss and and now is "persona non grata" with CS.......

Rick