looking info autokraft mark4

[What'saCobra?]

Facinatin'! Anyone who buys an unknown unrunning engine without a borescope look-see and a "pencil test" (drop a longish pencil eraser end first into the plug hole and slowly move piston through its travel to measure linear displacement) as just asking for difficulties, no? Even if it's cheap.

No doubt, new pistons and install was not at all cheap... Nice torque, though.

Must have been fun to get into the engine bay... rather wide and tall at that.

Did it really fit without completely revising the MKIV foot-boxes back to the MKIII shorties?

But, what a weight! Did he revise to the aly heads? Perhaps they were not yet available in the Cammer? i don' remember.

My wife wants me to cut the grass again, but i tol' her i was off duty today in support of our illegal immigrants. She said if i don' get it done, she is off duty today about both changing Sophia's diapers, feeding her, teaching her and making supper.

Looks like my solidarity just folded...

For Dr. Muck:
Jose can i sea, by the don's Erie nite... (to be sung quietly, sotto voce, at least until he gets his green card.)

[What'saCobra?]

Have you looked at this site:

http://community.webshots.com/album/27455338FImWfuvVLR

It has lots of contemporary MKIV promotion materials, some of which you may have, but some may be new to you.

Have you read the MKIV write-up by our own dear Nedsel in the SAAC World Registry? Although it is only 4 or 5 pages or so, it is very fair and informative about the MKIV and it's variants. It also has a serial number list, which although somewhat incomplete, is also the only public source other than the original factory registry. Eventually, all the holes will be plugged, i am sure.

Do you have any specific questions we could answer, kick around, punt or otherwise dodge?

[Mark IV]

The original "good book" at AC list all the chassis numbers and has the original order/build sheets for the MK IVs.....sadly, it is now probably stored away or even lost in the numerous "midnight moves" of the aforementioned Mr. L.

The book even holds a VERY RARE picture of the Muck guy, in a TUX, in front of AK 013. I guess Brian was so amused, he had to save it for posterity!

Whatsa, gotta go see your new film, "V for Vendetta".......

Rick

[Mark IV]

The original "good book" at AC list all the chassis numbers and has the original order/build sheets for the MK IVs.....sadly, it is now probably stored away or even lost in the numerous "midnight moves" of the aforementioned Mr. L.

The book even holds a VERY RARE picture of the Muck guy, in a TUX, in front of AK 013. I guess Brian was so amused, he had to save it for posterity!

Whatsa, gotta go see your new film, "V for Vendetta".......

Rick

[WV66AC]

A few other Autocraft AC cars were imported by Classic Autos near Chicago by Richard Buxbaum (he apparently knew Brian Angliss). I have an original copy of one of their ads, but I haven't seen one offered for sale.

[Mark IV]

Buxbaum (a Buffalo boy, by the way) was to be the original importer. his plan was to insatll turbocharged 351s in the chassis. He brought in a few cars and then the deal unwound. He had the cars priced WAY out there. I have the trade advertisment he ran, a full page ad in AUTOMOTIVE NEWS looking for dealers. Most of the cars Richard had were sold off as rollers. Brian became disinchanted with Buxy as time went on and then the Ford deal happened, I came along* and Brian really got serious about building and selling cars.

*this is not to imply that I "made it happen", Brian just needed a little shove over the top to get it together and I was only a small part of it...it would have happened regardless.

Rick

And this thread has been hijacked, all this talk about cars and such when the real focus should be that Muck jerk!

[Trevor Legate]

In spite of not wanting to become entangled in the snares and traps of the wicked Dr.Muck, yours truly did a Good Thing when he photocopied the pages of the Bible for his latest Book (have I mentioned that?) since he also copied the whole of the MkIV entry until the demise of the automobile in the uprising of '96....and somewhere in the roof of Chateau Legate lurks said tome - when i can haul my tired old bones into the dust and spiders, I will drag this priceless treasure into the daylight and impart the required information. Now what was the question...?

[saltytri]

He, He. Trevor, you da Man.

[Mark IV]

Wait,.....it's all about me....or him, or maybe us.......No,
it's all about both of us...or none of us...or could be some of us. It IS all about "Das Bunnies" but now that Hef is 80, will the little blue pills still work?

I'm sooo confused!!!!!

I better go call my pal, Alan..............

Mark IV
Rick
Norman
Sybil
George W....................................

[Trevor Legate]

OK - back to the original posting. In the AC 'Bible', MkIV chassis number AK1113 is shown as being sent to British Motor Car Distributors Ltd, 901 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109 on 3/30/88 - but this is followed by the next 5 chassis numbers in sequence being shipped during 1986, the first three going to the dreaded Muck Motors (!!) and the next, 1119, shipped during 1985. So kinda all over the place really. It was painted Mercedes Signal red, with tan trim and a black tonneau - but the real question re the engine cannot be answered as it simply says '302'. Some cars say 302 carb, or 302 fuel-injection, 302 non-emission or 302 49 States. I have the vin numbers for the ignition, gearbox, boot, bonnet and fuel, but thats it. Sorry...

[Mark IV]

Trevor,
Like I have said, the "Brian and Brian" show (Angliss and Burford) did not assign chassis numbers in build order. And often when I ordered a car, a chassis number was assigned right off, but the build could be six months or more out, plus I would prioritize my retail orders ahead of stock units so stock cars tended to be earlier numbers but built later....

Rick

[Trevor Legate]

Just scanned through the MkIV build schedule and the 427-related cars (for those who might be interested) are:

1000 - customer supply 427 side-oiler
1011 - customer supply 427
1055 - 427
1079 - 427 (later customer fit)
1244 - 427 mounts
1245 - 427 mounts
1250 - 427 mounts
1251 - 427 mounts
1256 - 429
1275 - 427 not fitted
1276 - 427 not fitted
1281 - 427 customer supply
1290 - 427
1301 - 427 race
1303 - 427 side-oiler
1304 - 427
1318 - 428 (Frua engine and trans)

So more than I thought!! Also several have since been converted to 427 power, such as 'Le Monstre' recently sold in the UK via Nostalgia, with a 680bhp 7.6-litre Ford Motorsport lump. I am assured it suitably mental and gives circa 4mpg..........

[What'saCobra?]

But, i thought only Shelby made 427 Cobras... ?

The English only wanted a quick 289 Sport thing and the US didn't have...

Nicely ignored story here somewhere, isn't there? At least 17 427's ID'd so far and still counting. MKIV's are easy to mod, though. Bet there are at least several+ more of them. And that doesn't even discuss the 351's either. What does the great book say?

Meanwhile, that 7.6L must be plenty rich with 2 x 4bbl's and a nervous driver that doesn't short shift much. The internal drag of a bigger V-8 doesn't cause that kind of milage disaster... poor set-up, jets wrong, accel pump zero lashed, small side-pipe ID's, small air filters, nervous and unskilled driver (who used to drive a 2.2L Porche or maybe a 1L Abarth) and perhaps an engine w/o a thermostat (to keep it cooler in the slower traffic) driving on a chilly lane. Dopey milage like that takes more than one error.

[Trevor Legate]

There are still a few Cobra fanatics Over Here who like to be able to walk into the pub and win the 'who has the biggest' contest. Never been able to figure that out personally, but some of the big block MkIV's went Germany vere zey alzo like zat sorta zing. (Do they not Fritz - sorry I missed you yesterday, the Le Mans body looks good!)
In fact the 7.6L went to a chap who also brought a gen-uine 427, so some people have the Big Block Bug Bad.

[carverkoko]

Originally Posted by MIKE HABER

i recently purchased a 1986 autokraft mark4 6900miles i am trying to find out some reliable information as to what vin#SA9AK3022GA017113 came with the car has the 5lit h.o. motor with fuel injection the owners manuel says its suppossed to have a carb any help you would be greatly appreciated

I am looking to purchase a 1986 Mark IV I have located, it has a carb with the 302 HO motor The car has 3900 original certified miles and is perfect, how or were can I find out what the value of this machine is??????? Help

[Old Phart]

In my opinion, the AC MKIV you speak of would be a bargain at $45K. There was an early AC MKIV on ehay that sold for $72K recently. I would say up to $50K is a good price if it's perfect, body and mechanical.

[Trevor Legate]

In the UK, it would fetch circa $65 - 75K, so $50K would be a very nice price to pay, in my opinion. Assuming it's in reasonable condition

[What'saCobra?]

We agree. Unless you are trying to flip the car for a margin in the next few weeks, even a less than perfect MKIV is easily worth $50K, even if they sell a little slow at much more than that.

The car has a real history of merit, a very high build quality, a nice design variation and excellent mechanical potentials that will take any engine/tranny combination or upgrade the owner could dream-up.

Maintenance is easy and cheap, not much different than driving an old MG or Sprite and engines/trannys are swapable at will. Repairing the body, while a specialty, isn't much different than fiberglass, just usually different people. But, it shouldn't be smacked too hard as a complete replacement would be pricey, like any fine toy. You could always get something nice from the Kirkham boys and bolt that on as a replacement; so, it isn't impossible.

The workmanship is top drawer, with high quality finish on all interior and exterior surfaces, plus high spec. bits. A few things are idiosyncratic, like the wiper motor escapement and Salisbury axle set-up if you change ratios, but there are now enough specialists around the US that even those are available at sensible service rates.

Parts are pretty much all available from a handful of vendors, but don't expect anyone from a FORD dealership to have any idea of what you have or are looking for... they are completely at a loss to comprehend any issues. Having said that, there are plenty of great folks around that would love the opportunity to service any issues on your new MKIV, you just have to search them out. But, you will not have to find a Hans or Herr Schmidt to fix your 30 year old MB190 with astronomical parts prices, hen's teeth availability and geld investor service rates.

Consider also that while FF and Superformance will still build another nice runner tomorrow for the next available customer, there will be no more MKIV's being built by AC. This is not a slam at the former. They build very nice autos indeed.

The other day i had the pleasure of visiting McMichael Motorsports across from Road Atlanta raceway for the first time and was suitably impressed with the build quality and sparkle of their new Superformances and their shop. No kidding, they were beautiful. And what nice folks. Rob, the owner, was particularly knowledgable and gracious, with an open interest in all things Cobra. And he has everything you ever wanted, Cobras of any sort, Daytona Coupe, GT40, Roush motors... the works.

But, he also had a very nice MKIV available i would recommend to your interest. Like any used vehicle it had a few issues that need your patient attention and a bit of skill, but the price was very fair at that consideration. And it was real, with an all aly bodyworks and a nice history. i would choose to modify the dash slightly to suit my personal taste, but it would be a nice patient project on which to learn several skills and the dash's details.

i still think MKIV's are sleeper investments and are meanwhile great drivers that become serious equipment with a stroked Windsor installed. And you can do the engine build/swaps yourself, if you wish. Don't try that on your Maser/MB/Lotus.

You will not make a killing on a quick flip, perhaps, but you will not find the sister cars built-out to a poor quality and later re-selling at $15K either.

[Mark IV]

Yeah,
What Whatsa said......

Rick

[Trevor Legate]

I'll drink to that..........