Stress Cracks

[rubicon4me2]

After purchasing our new to us Cobra a few weeks ago, I started the inch by inch inspection of the car as I detailed it and noticed a couple of small stress cracks by the left edge of the body at the left side of the trunk seam. There is no contact marks by the trunk and body. Is this an expected occurrence due to the GRP body flexing? There are no other body imperfections anywhere else. The car was transported from Florida to AZ by enclosed carrier before we purchased it from the family who has owned it since new in 2014. They would not have noticed the cracks if not looking for them and could not say if they were there before it was transported. The car has 1870 miles. Thx

[PHMCobra]

I have owned two Backdraft Cobras. My first Cobra was an early Cobra model (#101). I currently own Backdraft #1360. My first backdraft was purchased used and although the mileage was low, the car had indications that it had been rode hard. There were some stress cracks along the edges of the front end which I attributed to the car being hit by something. My currently owned Backdradft Cobra has no signs of stress cracking. The car is a beauty queen and has never been raced, never driven in any extreme condition, always garaged and gets regular loving care as do my other cars. I suspect that the area you have stress cracks has been subjected to some sort of blunt force contact. Just my read on your situation. Phil

[BDR_Boy]

I have a 2007 build... #509... and bought it used with 900 miles. Today I have 4,700 miles and no stress cracks whatsoever. The car had been owned by Jay Nordstrom... and he had set it up for himself to race... but whether he ever had the chance to do so isn't clear. Much like Phil... I enjoy but don't abuse... and haven't done any kind of racing.

[Cashburn]

Is this in the area the trunk support mounts? I ask because some of these cars get bought and sold through regular car dealerships and that typically means salespeople and staff are in and out of the cars and often don't respect them for what they are.

We used to supply cars to a local car dealership and had to service the trunks many times because they bent the hinges trying to force the suitcase latch. I did not see any stress cracking but it would be feasible.

That or it could have been something stored in the trunk that bounced around in transport. The cars really get slung around if they are on the top level in the back.

[rubicon4me2]

The area is further back from the trunk support, more in the area of the curve of the trunk. I pulled back the trunk rubber gasket and you can see a few paint cracks on the side edge of the body trunk lip on the side of the rubber weatherstripping. There is not any sign of damage or repair in the area.The battery has been replaced. Maybe someone leaned and put pressure against the area?

[Peter T]

I tend to agree with Phil that given the evidence the vehicle most likely subjected to hard conditions causing the premature failure/damage.

[Gaz64]

How about jacking up the LH front wheel and see if the cracks deform?

Wheel won't need to be off the ground, just pick up the suspension ride height before the wheel comes off the ground.

Gary