Authentic Cobra Bullet List

[PCC]

I don't know if anyone has referred to the following link, but I found it quite interesting to read:



Original Cobra Details 427 S/C 427 R & 289

[TampaFla]

Good info. I'd never remembered seeing any "badges" on the original 289's fenders, but many replica owners have them. Just thought my memory was wrong until now.

[cobrajeff]

I believe you have mis-interpreted the info from the site across the pond. It says an "AC289" does not have any side badges - the "AC289" is not a Cobra - it's a 427 style aluminum body with a 289 engine, and was built and marketed by AC Cars, NOT Shelby-American.

Original 2000 series small-block Cobras DO have a side fender badge - they look like this:



Obviously, it's not going to say "427" on it - it just says "Powered by Ford". This badge was used on all the street cars - even CSX2000 has one. These badges, along with the 2" round ones for the nose and deck, are often NOT found on factory "competition" cars.

Here is the badge for the BB cars:



The location of the badges on the front fenders is different between small-block and big-block cars, too. On small-block Cobras, the badge is located further back on the fender, close to the door cutline. On big-block cars, it is further forward, above the louvers in the side flanks of the fenders.

regards,

cobrajeff

[marcocsx3121]

Time for some more, ex-original Cobra owner nitpicking.

1.Speedos: My "early" 427 roadster came with a conventional (clockwise) rotating speedo.

2.Engines: 3121 came with a top oiler 427. Recent conversation with an old Cobra guru informed me that the last forty or so roadsters may have actually had 427 side oilers, while the middle of the production run (say CSX 3200-3300) had 428s. There were definitely no 429s; hard to say where that myth came from.

3.Batteries: The 427 roadsters carried their batteries in a cradle low in the right front fender, not in the "boot". Removal required the unbolting of the bottom stay and dropping the offending article straight down.

Otherwise, great and useful stuff.

[PCC]

Jeff,

You are right in that the 289 reference is to AC cars (COB 6101 to COX 6127) those being coil springed cars manufactured for Europe and even Australia (COB 6114).

Essentially these were the last original batch of cars produced - ironic that AC built and sold them

[cobrajeff]

In the early seventies before SAAC, the original Cobra Club had a couple open track events at Waterford Hills in Pontiac, MI. I was lucky enough to get a ride at speed on the track in an AC289.

COX6122 was a very stunning car, built LHD, black on black with chrome wires. I remember thinking that it was an ideal combination - the lighter, free-revving 289 HP engine in the more advanced coil-over suspension chassis. What a great ride!

regards,

cobrajeff

[PCC]

Off the track.......so to speak,

but how did the original Cobra compare with a replica.

Other than the obvious (looks) is there any other similarities you can remember (handling, performance, sound etc) between the two?

Or, as many say - other than the similar looks there is nothing else that the cars have in common.

[Aussie Mike]

Pete,

You realise of course that this is our very own Bryan Wilson's site.

Cheers

[PCC]

Nope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do now.

Well done Bryan - well worth the visit.

Came across the page when searching for other Cobra info.

[Excaliber]

With my first replica Cobra I didn't want to put the 427 badges on 'cause I was running a 302. SO, I put the "Powered by Ford" badge on. Then I felt bad 'cause THAT badge isn't supposed to be on 427 body.

...I got over it shortly after I fired it up and went for a drive!

[BMK]

Some great information here. Well done Bryan W.

I used the 427 dash plan when I laid my dash design out. Nothing like being original.

I was recently reading a book that identified unique markings on the genuine Cobras including boot/trunk hinges carrying the CSX number relevant to the Cobra it was fitted to.

There were a number of these markings on the original cars cars

Bernie.

[David Hodgson]

Guys

Another good source for this info is a book called "Original AC Ace and Cobra a restorers guide" by Rinsey Mills published by Bay View Books UK.

It details a lot of fittments from badges,headlights and indicator types, instruments-brands and layouts, engines, upholstery types, through to wheels, hoods and side curtains, everything you might want to know or clarify.

It starts from early Aces and goes through to cobras, 260, 289, 427, and AC 289. It dispells the big myth I often hear bandied about, "no two cobra's were built the same". There were certainly changes in parts through production, but you can't build over 1,000 cars without some consistency.

The section on Ace's is interesting reading, getting a good insight as to the evolution from Ace to Cobra

[PCC]

Whilst we're on the book trail another few good reads are:

AC Cobra "The truth behind the Anglo - American legend" by Rinsey Mills published by Haynes;

Essential AC Cobra "The Cars and Their Story 1962 - 67, again by Rinsey Mills and published by Bay View Books; and

Cobra "The Shelby American Original Archives 1962 - 1965" by Dave Friedman published by Motorbooks Classics.

All very interesting, but the last one has some excellent photos as Dave Friedman was Shelby's photographer during that period.