Miscellaneous Rumblings

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Back in 1964 through 1966, a small local Connecticut Ford Dealer by the name of Keating Ford "Home of the Affordable Fords" was perfectly situated between our home and High School. Enroute as it were....

Every day, twice a day, I passed Keating Ford's large glass windowed display showroom. It was back in late '64 or early '65 when I was 14, that I noticed a light colored metalic blue two seat roadster, with wire wheels in the window. The perverbial "skreek" noise of my desert boot's gum soles were notification that I had come to a quick stop.

I knew a few of the salesmen at Keating, as my older sister had just purchased a new Mustang. So I slipped in, and asked Mr. Paradise (the salesman) "What Is that?".

"Its one of those new Ford AC Cobras son, built by that Carroll Shelby. You know the racer?" (note, that it was not called a "Shelby Cobra")

"Oh Yah" I said (I lied, I did not know who Carroll Shelby was, but Mr. Paradise knew so I figured that was good enough for me).

"It looks fast?" I asked.. As I noted the $6,300 price tag on the windshield. Jessus... I thought to myself, that's like the price of 3 Mustangs COMBINED and even more than the Corvette!

"Well, I've not driven it yet but I hear that they are racing them out in California and doing really well. There's a big 289 eight in it you know... Very Fast.... AyyUp" he say in his New England twang.

Well, as time went on, I begged my Dad to stop in and see the Cobra. We did. The salesmen all agreed that this Cobra was just a "nice weather, weekend car" , not suited for rainy or snowy conditions. When Dad heard you could not lock the car up, well, he just rolled his eyes and walked away ... I. on the other hand, really liked the lines of that Cobra!

Later on, I saw the 289 Light Blue Cobra being test driven. I was walking by with a young girl who I had, let's say, an interest in. A guy, about 50 years of age was pulling away with Mr. Paradise in the passenger seat... and a small crowd of salesmen and mechanics watched as the Cobra pulled away with a rumble.

One of the Salesmen said to the other... "There's something in the way she moves..."

I was wondering if he was referring to my girlfriend or the Cobra? And, in any case, they both did move pretty well.

FootNote: My relationship with my girlfriend lasted perhaps 6 months (long time in young love years!).... I got over the loss of the girl but never got over the "never having driven a Cobra" void.... I never had a relationship with a Cobra until just recently (when I was 53 (sounds familiar eh?) , even though there were a "few' more Cobras in Keating Ford's windows (especially liked a dark blue one and the dark racing green one). I never did see a 427 model there however. All the Cobras were street roadsters with wire wheels and under car exhaust.

But I will confess.... Car Enthusiasm is still one of the great enthusiasms in MY Life... I am a target shoother, a skeet shooter, a craps shooter, a collector of books, an amature archaeologist, and let me tell you..., none of those passions can ever bring a lift to your inner spirt than a good drive in the AC Ford Cobra, on the right road, on the right day, with the right passenger, no music... just the harmony of the road .... Yup... the salesmen was right....

"There's Something in the Way She Moves...."

Someone should write a song about that.

Cheers. and of course... RUMPAA!