Researching any info re: Paul Cunningham, Competition Cobra privateer

[USC_COWBOY]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

No offense, but when you found out what you have on your hands was not a true Cobra frame, but that of an AC Ace, you should have quietly acknowledged this graciously. To then attack those who have kept innuendo or second hand knowledge of second hand knowledge from becoming fact, is in my eyes, just bad form.

Just my two cents

Bill S.

I have had a noted Cobra Expert look at the frame pieces and was told that one end is ACE; however, the other end is an early Cobra with worm and sector steering. Again, let me say that our Cobra may have been a very early car, possibly even a 260ci that was used by SAI as a publicity car, I have pics that show the car with the louvered hood, black and silver racing stripe. I have looked at tens of thousands of Cobra photos and have not found but one pic with that combination of physical features.

When Shelby needed to have more cars competing against the factory team cars for promulgation, he may have converted that car that may have been early enough to have both the ACE/Cobra chassis ergo my two pieces with a 289ci engine.

I have a written statement from a racing peer that was at Willow Springs that stated he and Paul were discussing the car going back to SAI on the Monday following the race in which he was killed. Major modifications were instore to update the car to the highest competition form that was available, steering upgrade, intake and carbueration, camshaft, etc. However, it was commonplace at that time to not be able to have all the goodies that the team cars had, even though they had Fomoco part numbers on them. We were technically just a skoosh behind the team cars in racing parts, but we were becoming much more competitive against the team cars and their top rate challengers.

As an example, look at the Riverside 1 hour Race held October 13, 1963, where we raced competitively against the team cars #97, #98, #99, Allan Grant's Coventry Motors Cobra #96, GTO Ferrari #211. There are videos and still videos on file at The Henry Ford Collection, and Photographer Friedman.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by USC_COWBOY

I have had a noted Cobra Expert look at the frame pieces and was told that one end is ACE; however, the other end is an early Cobra with worm and sector steering.

What is the name of your "Cobra Expert"? There are those that know what they are looking at, there are some that do not, even though they advertise themselves as such because they worked for this or that company in the past. Hence the question, since I know you want to make certain you spoke with the right people, and not the wrong ones.


Bill S.

[USC_COWBOY]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

What is the name of your "Cobra Expert"? There are those that know what they are looking at, there are some that do not, even though they advertise themselves as such because they worked for this or that company in the past. Hence the question, since I know you want to make certain you spoke with the right people, and not the wrong ones.


Bill S.

Well known, well respected, however, I am under an NDA.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by USC_COWBOY

Well known, well respected, however, I am under an NDA.

Then your "Shelby Expert" may not be one after all, as every one of those that I personally know, would be happy to publically stand behind their highly valued reputation. A Non Disclosure Agreement for an expert witness of a product you have a vested interest in, makes me want to wash my hands for just typing this out in response.

Bill S.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Then your "Shelby Expert" may not be one after all, as every one of those that I personally know, would be happy to publically stand behind their highly valued reputation. A Non Disclosure Agreement for an expert witness of a product you have a vested interest in, makes me want to wash my hands for just typing this out in response.

Bill S.

Yeah, the "Shelby Expert" pool is fairly small and closed. Everyone knows everyone...

[USC_COWBOY]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Then your "Shelby Expert" may not be one after all, as every one of those that I personally know, would be happy to publically stand behind their highly valued reputation. A Non Disclosure Agreement for an expert witness of a product you have a vested interest in, makes me want to wash my hands for just typing this out in response.

Bill S.

Feel free to do so, I'm just digging for the truth, so far there are two cars claiming to be the Cunningham Cobra. The one in the Netherlands is a fake and has been through the court system, the poor sucker over there forked over a very large amount of cash for nothing. The other car has paper that may or may not be legitimate and did not use any identifiable part of the CSX2049 Cunningham Cobra I actually was contacted by the current owner of that chassis and invited to share with him our cars history to bolster their claims, and invited to go to the shop to see the actual car during construction, once I started asking pointed questions he got real quiet and the visit never consumated.

So now you may understand why I am on this truth seeking mission.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by USC_COWBOY

So now you may understand why I am on this truth seeking mission.

Perhaps the truth has already been posted on this thread, you just don't want to accept it as you have a financial dog in this hunt, to me, this makes your interested in the truth a bit lopsided.....No offense of course, but you are not an innocent third party here, and your previous claims here show that to be. Regardless, I wish you well in your continued quest.

Bill S.