Who's make is it?

gfi · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2002, 10:30 PM

Here is an interesting question. If you see a Cobra and the seller tells you it is of a certain make how do you verify that? Is their a website of chassis?

Thanks

Gary

A Snake · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2002, 11:07 PM

There should be a visible ID tag and a frame stamp. Have the seller show you both, then call the manufacturer (if they're still in business) and verify.

Not to sound snobbish, but if you begin looking at "bargain cars", you'll likely find the company no longer around.

Get some really good pictures of an original and use them to CAREFULLY compare your prospect with.
The closer the car comes to an original as to body lines,dimensions, chassis and accessories, the more likely it is to be a well recognized piece....and still either be in production or well enough recognized to be verifiable. I have a Contemporary, which is now no longer made, but is still well recognized.

Don't be fooled by trick paint or wild crap under the hood. Yes, you can certainly have these and get a good car too, but sometimes, that's all there is...trick paint and a monster under the hood. The rest can be pretty hokey.

This club is a really great place to ask owners about their cars. If you see something you like, put up a post and ask these guys. Virtually all of the better replicas are represented in this membership and these folks know their cars inside and out.

Mr.Fixit · #3 (**permalink**) 09-11-2002, 02:51 PM

The bodies and chassis all have their own suble, and noticable differences. There is no identifiation guide for replicas out there that I know of. The more you pay attention to the little details on these cars, and the more cobras you look at, the differences will become more clear. It's nice when you're looking under the hood of a yet identifed replica when the owner walks up and you can ask who's chassis it is. One of the more noticable differences I picked up on early in my cobra years was the layout of the inner fender panels. But you'll figure it out soon enough, west coast cobras are really wide, La exotics/ B&B have a low hanging gas tank, SPF's have a pointy front end, Classic roadsters have a unique door to body line, Butler's have the engine really far back, these are the little notes you'll file away in your head.

Dirty Harry · #4 (**permalink**) 09-11-2002, 03:04 PM

What's the easiest way to spot a Shell Valley?

Hotfingrs · #5 (**permalink**) 09-11-2002, 03:17 PM

Hood Scoop

flipper35 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 01:57 PM

Only if it has the big scoop. Rear suspension would be a good place to look.

Tony Ripepi · #7 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 05:43 PM

Hello Dirty Harry,

The Shell Valley question is a good one there are two generation of these cars pre Rich Anderson and post. The non IRS Ford straight axel is a good indication, welded steel gas tanks that leak and the frame is box style. The early cars had a custom made coil over shock and a lot of parts that were welded together just for the Shell Valley car.

If you look at the Web site there is still a large list of donor parts that are specified for their build process. I owned one of the early cars and just noticed that it is for sale at specialty sales in Pleasanton. Here is a link to the car and you can see it has a standard hood scoop it is listed as the 1994 blue with White stripes.

http://www.specialty-sales.com/inventory.php

Just looking at it will not give you any clues other than the wheels that were fabricated for Shell Valley at that time...you need to get under the skin and know what you are looking for LOL.

As mentioned earlier each manufacturer has their unique twists and turns to help identify the car. There are cars out there that have never been identified as to their origins......Brent Mills is still trying to figure out where the embyro for his Cobra was hatched.

Best Regards,

Tony R.