Cobra vs Today's Cars

[REAL 1]

Tom: Thanks. I hoped you guys would enjoy that one.

The Cobra is easier to see out of in sideviews and rearward since it has no top.

The FGT is very tricky at intersections that aren't perfect "T" intersections where one part of the "T" is at an angle and you have to look to your right and back slightly to see oncoming traffic. Forget it. You just can't. You have to square the car off to the intersection to see. MAJOR blind spot. It can be scary. But once you learn to compensate by angleing the car off so you are at 90 degrees to the intersection street every things fine. Rearview sight straight back is limited too. You mainly see that supercharger and that spining pully and belt on the supercharger. You just have to be careful but the sideviews mirrors are great.

Once your underway the only word I have to describe the FGT is its "epoc" (quoting Jermey Clarkeson from Top Gear). You can drive it for hours on end. Its comfy, air conditioned, the window go up and down with the push of a button, it handles great, looks gorgeous and goes like stink and from all the design cues you are constantly reminded you are driving the modern day Ford GT40. It makes all the right exhaust sounds even in stock trim. I have a Ford Racing Exhaust which put out a little more sound. I am soon putting on a custom exhaust fabricated by a tuning house in California specialing in FGTs that will give it more of the V8 rumble it is missing to a degree.

The FGT is a sophiscated sexy gal that you love and never want to leave.

The Cobra, well we all know what thats like. Loud, hot, exhaust fumes, vibration and rumble from that monsterous V8, doors that feel like Doritos and the sense that if you put your foot in it at the wrong moment at the wrong time on any turn it could be your last. Its sensory overload. 45 minutes in a Cobra on a hot summer day, you can't taste, your ears ring, your hair looks like its you stuck your finger in a electrical socket, you smell like V8 exhaust and your all sweaty.... In short, it doesn't get much better for the true Cobra nut and muscle car guy.

The Cobra is that hot chick with the belly button ring and the tattoo above her arse that you can only take for a few hours, get your fill and want to leave only to find yourself wanting to go back for more very soon thereafter.

I think you get the picture.

P.S. Dean: As great as the FGT is please don't give up your left nut for one and especially don't give it to that Pakistani!!!! There are better ways to acquire a FGT.

[REAL 1]

Dcmgt: I don't think anyone hear is saying the Cobra is a slouch by any stretch of the imagination. Very simply, its no slouch.

It was designed to go head to head with the Ferrari 275LM and Corvette Grand Sport with the 377cu in motor. Those two are some pretty serious cars. The 427 won (I believe) 7 SCCA A Production Titles between 1965 and 1972. In the right hands it is a weopon to be reckoned with and if your opposing you better be on your game with enough firepower.

Against more modern competition it will not fair as well as the competition it faced years ago, even 10 years ago. It wouldn't leave embarrassed but it would likely not leave with the laurels. Its like the former heavy weight champ that can still knock you on your a$$ if your not careful.

One thing the Cobra still retains in my book is its unsurpassed personal of "sinister" and it is I believe the most famous American muscle car of all time.

[Chaplin]

Hey Evan,
I think I saw you out in the GT a couple of weeks ago. I like the plate you put on it.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Chaplin

Hey Evan,
I think I saw you out in the GT a couple of weeks ago. I like the plate you put on it.

I sure hope it doesn't say "REAL 2".

[REAL 1]

I didn't know the Cobra was technically a "mid-engined" car??? When I lift my front boot the engine is there every time. What gives????

Maybe Tom can speak to this revelation.

[Tom Kirkham]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

I didn't know the Cobra was technically a "mid-engined" car???...Maybe Tom can speak to this revelation.

The engine is between the front and rear axle.

One big performance disadvantage a Cobra has is aerodynamics. The Cobra has lift not down force; and is an aerodynamic brick, although a very beautiful brick.

The world has come a long way since the Cobras were built.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

The engine is between the front and rear axle.

A mid engine car is one with the engine between the driver and rear axle. A rear engine car has the motor over or behind the rear axle.

Pretty much every other car in the world has the engine between the front and rear axle .

[kobrabytes]

Originally Posted by Power Surge

A mid engine car is one with the engine between the driver and rear axle. A rear engine car has the motor over or behind the rear axle.

Pretty much every other car in the world has the engine between the front and rear axle .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-engine_design

The term "mid-engine" has usually been applied to cars having the engine located between the driver and the rear drive axles. This layout is referred to here as RMR layout. Sports and racing cars typically have this mid-engine layout, as these vehicles' handling characteristics are more important than other features, such as capacity. Additionally the mechanical layout and packaging of a RMR car is substantially different than that of a front engine or rear engine car.

A subset of Front-Rear when the engine is in front of the driver, but fully behind the front axle line, the layout is sometimes called Front Mid engine Rear FMR layout instead of the less-specific term front-engine. In handling and vehicle layout FMR is substantially the same as FR. Some vehicles could be classified as FR or FMR depending on the factory installed engine (I4 vs I6). Historically most classical FR cars such as the Ford Models T and A would qualify as a FMR engine car. Additionally, the difference between FR and FMR may be as little as a few millimeters of engine protrusion in front of the front axle line. Not all manufacturers use the Front-Mid designation.

This is also good info:

http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Mid-engine

[FatBoy]

Originally Posted by Power Surge

Pretty much every other car in the world has the engine between the front and rear axle .

Hi,
I suspect that further investigation will show that the vast majority of front engine cars have the engine overhanging the front axle line. Whereas the Cobra's engine is completely behind the axle line.

Just my 2 pennies worth.

Paul

[FatBoy]

As a matter of interest, how does a Kirkham with ali suspension compare to an original Cobra in terms of geometry?

Paul

[zrayr]

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

The engine is between the front and rear axle.

One big performance disadvantage a Cobra has is aerodynamics. The Cobra has lift not down force; and is an aerodynamic brick, although a very beautiful brick.

The world has come a long way since the Cobras were built.

what do you suggest as a solution for the aerodynamic lift when asked by a customer ?

Z. Ray

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by zrayr

what do you suggest as a solution for the aerodynamic lift when asked by a customer ?

It takes some work. Here is KMP259, you can see Morris has done a fair bit of aerodynamic modification to it. The car is very fast. His car was the best example that I could think of off the top of my head.

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by zrayr

what do you suggest as a solution for the aerodynamic lift when asked by a customer ?

Z. Ray

Back off the gas?

[REAL 1]

All in good time, my pretty. All in good time.

[kobrabytes]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

The Cobra, well we all know what thats like. Loud, hot, exhaust fumes, vibration and rumble from that monsterous V8, doors that feel like Doritos and the sense that if you put your foot in it at the wrong moment at the wrong time on any turn it could be your last. Its sensory overload. 45 minutes in a Cobra on a hot summer day, you can't taste, your ears ring, your hair looks like its you stuck your finger in a electrical socket, you smell like V8 exhaust and your all sweaty.... In short, tt doesn't get much better for the true Cobra nut and muscle car guy.

The Cobra is that hot chick with the belly button ring and the tattoo above her arse that you can only take for a few hours, get your fill and want to leave only to find yourself wanting to go back for more very soon thereafter.

Know this well. At times after a long drive the vibration and sensory overload takes a few hours to leave my brain. Overload? I think that says it all. Equally as intense, or more, than my bike riding riding days. Fortunately with the cobra if I forget to put my foot down I don't fall over like I did on the bike...

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

The FGT is a sophiscated sexy gal that you love and never want to leave.

Kim Bassinger.

Originally Posted by REAL 1

The Cobra is that hot chick with the belly button ring and the tattoo above her arse that you can only take for a few hours, get your fill and want to leave only to find yourself wanting to go back for more very soon thereafter.

Megan Fox.


'Nuff said.