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Butler/Arntz Cobra Weight?
Have any of you weighed your Butler/Arntz Cobras on a scale?
...with say a 1/2 tank of gas and a... - iron small block Chevy, alu. heads? - iron small block Ford, alu. heads? - iron FE Ford, alu. heads? Some of the early 80s articles claim some light weights with SB Chevy engines. I tend to believe they are tad heavier with that nice thick fiberglass and stout chassis. I am also referring to a car with Aldans, front/rear sway bars, rollbar, etc. I'm trying to settle this with a friend who is making some performance comparisons trying to get some ideas... Thanks. |
Ayyyy Decooney---good to hear from ya!
Ron Butler told me that the weight was somewhere around 2600 lbs. (with, I believe, an iron-head Cleveland). BUTT(!) it is also true that I have a "stout frame" and a very thick body!:LOL: :LOL: BUTT (#2), before you derive great mirth at my expense---be reminded that I drive wimmen MAD WITH LUST!!!!:JEKYLHYDE :LOL: :LOL:
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Hey Fred...
Fred, i guess my hunch was about right. I figured it was mid 2.5K range or so. And for the Lust, ...not sure what to tell you there, but if your mirth started with a "g", well, you go get 'em Man!
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In 1978 I wrote to Arntz and told them I wanted an Arntz Car. I was 12.
Steven Arntz wrote me back and sent me 1978 product literature. In it a big block chevy equipped car lists a "curb weight" of 2,450 lbs. 200 less for the SBC It lists front suspension from an MGB. Other Arntz information I have however (an ad slick / fold out poster) lists curb weight of the SBC at 2000 lbs and 2250 for the BBC. It may have been an obvious ploy to throw off the guys at CC or a simple mistake. (yea right) |
Body weight was listed in the ad slick at 370 lbs and the frame was 200.
Total cost in 1978 for the "C" (delux kit) kit... (painted frame fitted body panels)... $13,823.75 (not including CA taxes) FOB San Francisco. |
same lit...
Michael,
yeah, that's the same type early literature my friend has claiming those same weights. I bet him there is no way his car is 2,000lb. I kept telling him I remembered hearing they were 2,600lbs, and after driving his car it felt just a tad bit heavier than my BB/ERA at around 2,550 give or take some aluminum parts. Also, part of the reason it drives so smooth and calm... Hey all, I'd like to find someone that has actually put their Butler on a scale to see for sure. This will help to explain a few things... |
I weighed mine 3 weeks ago. 2680#s. All iron 350. 4 speed, jag irs, aldans, 3/4 tank of gas, new front suspension Corvette aluminium a arms, aluminium radiator, full carpet, roll bar, old aluminium wheels, BFG's, no front sway bar, has rear sway bar. It is heavy but I like the feel. Although this is the only cobra I've driven.
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Tom,
Thanks for your reply. This confirms my what I suspected for sure; not that it's heavy but it shows why my friend's Butler with two passengers, a full tank of gas, and some travel luggage in the trunk might have made him think it was a bit sluggish as compared to a 2,000lb Cobra with no passenger or luggage! So, it's reasonable to conclude that a Butler is more like the latter 2600lb weight we heard about, and not the 80s articles claiming 2000lbs with a SBC. THANKS for providing first hand information. Again, I think this is partly why they drive and ride so nice too. Duane |
michael said:
Body weight was listed in the ad slick at 370 lbs and the frame was 200. 400lb for the body sounds better. I have Two bodys here 1) is an older Arntz (the bad right front fender mold) & 2) is a newer body same as Butler (with the correct right Ft fender) and it is heavier! Now for the Frame it a lot more then 200lb it took 4 guys to lift it and walk it around to the other side of my house (& we took 3 breaks before we finshed and the 4 guys were not small guys. |
Direct fro, the Butler catalog!
Here we go....
Curb weight: 2600 lbs. (With small block Ford, four-speed Top Loader, no fuel) Frame weight: 297 lbs. With Rollcaage assy: 385 lbs. Weight Distribution: 52% on rear, empty--- 53% with 20 gals fuel There's more---I'll try and scan it---at some point! God help us all---it's Coco the Gorilla at the compootah time! :LOL: :JEKYLHYDE |
I have a scale at work. 2600 lbs. Smallblock. 1/2 full gas
tank and no one in the car. |
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