More help?

[n6opv]

Originally Posted by Russ Richard

It has a lot of nice things, Halibrand rear, Aldans, 488 Aluminum Dove Ford, etc.

Russ,

That car sounds familiar... there was one Butler produced with the Halibrand IRS and that aluminum Dove motor. It was custom built for the owner with everything you could possibly get and was one of the last, but not the last. The chassis number is probably in the mid 90's (out of the 100 built). Is this the car you are getting?! Pictures please

Jason

[Russ Richard]

Yes, the car is the one with the IRS Halibrand and some would say everything but the kitchen sink. When the car gets here, I will be posting lots of pics. There is a lot of chrome on the underside, the Halibrand is polished and it is hung from a cradle....looks very nice. The detail work is superb...don't know about Ron's work on others, but this one is exceptional

Russ

[n6opv]

Originally Posted by Russ Richard

Yes, the car is the one with the IRS Halibrand and some would say everything but the kitchen sink... The detail work is superb...don't know about Ron's work on others, but this one is exceptional

Well then, congratulations are definitely in order; that's an awesome car! The detail work is always superb on the Butlers and the quality is excellent. Almost everything on the cars is handmade and no shortcuts are ever taken.

Jason

[nevermind65]

So, there were only 100 Butlers produced altogether? I see one for sale right now on Ebay.

Do you know when they went to the jigsaw puzzle style hood? Mine has it, I've seen most without it.

Originally Posted by n6opv

Russ,

That car sounds familiar... there was one Butler produced with the Halibrand IRS and that aluminum Dove motor. It was custom built for the owner with everything you could possibly get and was one of the last, but not the last. The chassis number is probably in the mid 90's (out of the 100 built). Is this the car you are getting?! Pictures please

Jason

[Russ Richard]

Remember I am a newbie to Cobra....but, what is a jigsaw puzzle hood?

[Russ Richard]

Hey everyone...accept my apologies for screwing up this post. I am such a dummy...did not move over to page 2, I kept answering the last post on page 1. Oh well, I will get it straight.

I did not buy the car from Ron. I bought this car from the guy Ron built if for. As Jason posted, this is one of the later cars, probably mid nineties serial number. The car has less than 200 miles on it. It is just as Ron delivered it.

I am planning on meeting Ron after the New Year to learn everything I can of my car of course learn a lot about Cobras. I am really excited about meeting him.

[n6opv]

Originally Posted by Russ Richard

The car has less than 200 miles on it. It is just as Ron delivered it.

200 miles?! That car's 10 years old now and that's as far as it's gone? Shame on him for never driving it! Hopefully it will get much more use than that in the coming years... you are going to drive it, right?

Jason

[n6opv]

Originally Posted by nevermind65

So, there were only 100 Butlers produced altogether? I see one for sale right now on Ebay.

Yes, only about 100 Butler body / chassis combinations were produced. See the "production figures" post for more info. The car on eBay right now is not a Butler. It is a very early Arntz, before the front / rear body hoops and door guard beams.

Originally Posted by nevermind65

Do you know when they went to the jigsaw puzzle style hood? Mine has it, I've seen most without it.

The cutback (or notched cowl) hood was only used on some later Arntz cars for access to the Chevy distributor (see pic below). It's not really even that common and mostly only appeared on Arntz's "type 4" cars. Ron never used this hood on the Butlers; they all had an original style hood, as they came from a completely different set of molds.



Jason

[nevermind65]

Originally Posted by n6opv

Yes, only 100 Butler body / chassis combinations were produced. See the "production figures" post for more info. The car on eBay right now is not a Butler. It is a very early Arntz, before the front / rear body hoops and door guard beams.



The cutback (or notched cowl) hood was only used on some later Arntz cars for access to the Chevy distributor (see pic below). It's not really even that common and mostly only appeared on Arntz's "type 4" cars. Ron never used this hood on the Butlers; they all had an original style hood, as they came from a completely different set of molds.



Jason

Well, that can't be true. My car is definitely a Butler and it has the notched hood on it like your picture is showing. I've seen about 3 Butlers and admittedly, none have this hood.

Update: I don't know what I have here. Maybe an Arntz Type 4?

I did notice the car on Ebay had to be something very early. It looks as though the tunnel isn't as wide as mine, and the rear quarter panels are shaped differently.

[Russ Richard]

Jason

The car sat in a museum along with many other pristine cars...There was a problem with the slave cylinder making the clutch difficult and they went the non-hydraulic route...works well now. I want to add EFI. I have always liked the look of Webers, but would like EFI. Any ideas on who I should look at? There are a number of injector manufacturers out there.

Yes, I plan to drive it more that it has been driven...probably won't do any track time...it will be more of a trailer queen, I guess. But, I do plan to use it and maybe show it. Thinking about the West Coast show in May..have you been to the show? Also would be fun to go to the London show in Ohio. Also, am looking for a suitable trailer to carry it long distances.

[Russ Richard]

Jason, thanks for all the info on Butlers. By the way, who is the lovely lady on your car? Maybe she would like to lay on a black one...LOL.

[n6opv]

Originally Posted by Russ Richard

By the way, who is the lovely lady on your car?

I am assuming you are referring to the picture I am using for my avatar. It's not my car; it is a promotional poster that Arntz had printed in the late 70s. My car is the one in epoxy primer that I occasionally insert a picture of into one of my posts.

Jason

[n6opv]

Originally Posted by Russ Richard

I want to add EFI. I have always liked the look of Webers, but would like EFI. Any ideas on who I should look at? There are a number of injector manufacturers out there.

TWM Induction in Goleta, CA makes some really nice stuff. They manufacture the Weber look throttle bodies and intakes, as well as linkage and accessories. The electronics are up to you, or your tuner's preference and experience.

http://www.twminduction.com/v8_kits/v8_kits-FR.html

Jason

[n6opv]

Originally Posted by nevermind65

Update: I don't know what I have here. Maybe an Arntz Type 4?

Hard to say really (as usual) with an Arntz. Probably somewhere in the type 3-4 transition area. I'd need to see more pictures of your engine compartment, frame and door hinges/sills. Your pedal box is early Arntz and your hood is later. The car has a tremendous amount of parts recently purchased from Butler and could have been built up this way by the previous owner if the assembly was never completed as an Arntz. The interior appears to be all Butler as well, dash included. I don't know how much you know (or have records for) about it's history but I imagine Ron would probably know something about the car, since he sold someone alot of parts for it!

Jason

[nevermind65]

Originally Posted by n6opv

Hard to say really (as usual) with an Arntz. Probably somewhere in the type 3-4 transition area. I'd need to see more pictures of your engine compartment, frame and door hinges/sills. Your pedal box is early Arntz and your hood is later. The car has a tremendous amount of parts recently purchased from Butler and could have been built up this way by the previous owner if the assembly was never completed as an Arntz. The interior appears to be all Butler as well, dash included. I don't know how much you know (or have records for) about it's history but I imagine Ron would probably know something about the car, since he sold someone alot of parts for it!

Jason

Thanks Jason.

I have no information on the car except the fact I am supposedly the third owner. The last owner only had it for a month as it was a trade deal that went awry.

I have uploaded more pictures in the gallery. Unfortunately, 10/day is the max, so I'll u/l the rest tomorrow.

[SoTxButler]

Finally, a few pics of my Butler is in the galleries at "sotxbutler".

Enjoy