Aluminium Bodied Contempoary

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by mikeinatlanta

Hey Bill,
Look at the photo showing the hood hinges and opening. Look at the hood opening just outbd of the right hood hinge and how it is formed around a tube. Also in the hood opening fwd end, the white stripe area appears to be rolled under.

Thoughts?

Even downloaded and photo shop enhanced I'm not seeing it, same goes for the lack of body framework and support shown in the trunk opening shot. All I see is straight fiberglass Contemporary main body. Would love to see better shots of the doors, trunk area, and of course under the body in the engine compartment to see if there are other modifications to the hood/trunk-lid/doors. Maybe something taken with a forced flash so I can really see the inner framework, be it Contemporary or otherwise

I do of course see the bodywork on the footbox/vin picture, and to me, that does not look like aluminum corner of body showing in upper left of that shot)



Also notice no evidence of rolling........


Bill S

[cobrakiwi]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Even downloaded and photo shop enhanced I'm not seeing it, same goes for the lack of body framework and support shown in the trunk opening shot. All I see is straight fiberglass Contemporary main body. Would love to see better shots of the doors, trunk area, and of course under the body in the engine compartment to see if there are other modifications to the hood/trunk-lid/doors. Maybe something taken with a forced flash so I can really see the inner framework, be it Contemporary or otherwise

I do of course see the bodywork on the footbox/vin picture, and to me, that does not look like aluminum corner of body showing in upper left of that shot)



Also notice no evidence of rolling........


Bill S

(same goes for the lack of body framework and support shown in the trunk opening shot. All I see is straight fiberglass Contemporary main body. )

What frame work do you expect to see from the angel this picture was taken from then?
Aluminum body's wrap around the tubing (sub structure, bird cage etc) so when finished, not to be seen from the outside!

Once again the OP has claimed to have seen the car in person, (you have not)and verified the body is aluminum, he also verified how the body was attached to the body support tubing,
then you come along and basically tell him he doesn't know what he is talking about, Really?

[mrmustang]

Since you ask, and you are so obsessed with my posts about Cobra bodies, to the point of overlooking your own beautiful work vs this picture of the trunk showing all the way back to the body




Now look closely at the picture, as you can see all the way to the inner quarter panel itself, what appears to be missing from that shot?

The rear cross bracing for the body is missing if it was an aluminum body, and there was almost no trim in place, would you not see the cross bracing for the body to be supported on? Your birdcage has them, but could not find a decent picture of yours to show you, so I borrowed one from Karl to show the diagonal cross bracing.

Originally Posted by cobrakiwi

(same goes for the lack of body framework and support shown in the trunk opening shot. All I see is straight fiberglass Contemporary main body. )

What frame work do you expect to see from the angel this picture was taken from then?
Aluminum body's wrap around the tubing (sub structure, bird cage etc) so when finished, not to be seen from the outside!

Once again the OP has claimed to have seen the car in person, (you have not)and verified the body is aluminum, he also verified how the body was attached to the body support tubing,
then you come along and basically tell him he doesn't know what he is talking about, Really?

[cobrakiwi]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

I was thinking the body in the picture I referenced, looks like a crack in the fiberglass, as well as unpainted fiberglass along the edge

That's just a reflection,
Unpainted fiberglass, now that's funny!

[Buzz]

I have to say I agree with Bill. The hood opening edge in that pic sure looks like fiberglass and the aluminium firewall looks like an add-on panel. Not the best angle on the body shot but I also agree that the shape, fenders and front wheel arch/fender flare all sure look like a normal Contemporary body. Someone would've gone to a lot of trouble to replicate that body shape in alloy and create the required tubular substructure, yet still leave unoriginal details like the upright radiator alone. It's possible that they did, but it seems a bit strange and unlikely to me. I could be wrong though.

[bmwdb10]

It would be great if Jeff could get eyes on this thing. I see nothing in the pic of the hood that looks remotely fiberglass. Clearly the center of the hood is alum and has a glass or otherwise scoop riveted to it. Agreed that the cowl aluminum looks like the accessory panel offered by CCX. Exactly the same as my old CCX. Jeff is right about the door hinges. Not correct and odd that all of that trouble wouldn't merit the correct reinforcement.

But.... that steering wheel has to go!

Dave

[mikeinatlanta]

Having no facts (or real knowledge) to back it up, I proclaim that it is an alloy body. I'll put a $20 on it. Who's takin the bets?

[cobrakiwi]

Originally Posted by mikeinatlanta

Having no facts (or real knowledge) to back it up, I proclaim that it is an alloy body. I'll put a $20 on it. Who's takin the bets?

There you go,(Mr mustang) could be an easy $20 for ya

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by mikeinatlanta

Having no facts (or real knowledge) to back it up, I proclaim that it is an alloy body. I'll put a $20 on it. Who's takin the bets?

I think we should have Jeff collect the bets via PayPal and then distribute the winnings after seeing the car.

I am willing to bet $20 that the body is NOT made of titanium.

[RodKnock]

Ya know, CobraKiwi, maybe you can take some lessons from someone like MikeinAtlanta (expert, classy, self deprecating) and lose the condescending and general smart a$$ tone, every time a "Cobra body" question comes to the membership here. You're not the only expert on this forum.

I'm beginning to think you're the reincarnation of Evan too.

[cobrakiwi]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Ya know, CobraKiwi, maybe you can take some lessons from someone like MikeinAtlanta (expert, classy, self deprecating) and lose the condescending and general smart a$$ tone, every time a "Cobra body" question comes to the membership here. You're not the only expert on this forum.

I'm beginning to think you're the reincarnation of Evan too.

I'm no expert, never claimed to be,
This big coming from you!

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by cobrakiwi

I'm no expert, never claimed to be,
This big coming from you!

Well, I'd consider you an expert, especially since you actually build Cobras from the ground-up. And I'd also consider MrMustang an expert. I'd also consider MikeinAtlanta one too. I'm not expert and I couldn't tell if that's a fiberglass body even if the body were unpainted.

Seriously, it's cool to discuss and argue, just lose all the sass, man.

[cobrakiwi]

I find it fascinating how somebody can posts a few pictures of a car, state a few facts (aluminum body etc) then the experts here jump on and basically say the OP doesn't know what he is talking about:
Personally I am not 100 percent sure myself, but I am sure I would not post such nonsense as has been posted with out knowing or seeing more.
The cars body looks quite nice to me!

[razerwire]

When building the Bennett car a steel tube was put around the cockpit and the fiberglass was rolled around it and I was going to put some pop rivets to finish the illusion but came to my senses. Glad tubes were put around hood and trunk as the hinge brackets could be welded on instead of glassed to body. Most fiberglass hoods and trunks have inner and outer panels that are glassed together to make finished part. Could the inner glass part have been replaced with aluminum bonded to tube frame then outer glass skin glued or glassed at outer edge where its wavy? Interesting to see how others solve problems to get results, I like to go to car shows and see how cars are put together and how problem areas were solved, some good and some not so good, but we don't know persons skill or resources so I don't judge, still like to look tho.

[Dominik]

It wouldn't be a mid 90s Gentry Motorworks body which has all sorts of layers, including aluminium?

[mrmustang]

cobrakiwi

Can't get a picture to upload this am for some reason, but in your picture it would be the triangular square tubing reaching from the upper rear hoop area to the far rear corners on both sides. Look closely at the trunk picture, enhanced, you can see the carpet/trim is attached to the inner quarter panel and not pushed forward (IE: covering) to where the square tubing should be located. Nobody I know who would go through the process of installing an aluminum body would forget that type of support for the rear body...

Mikeinatlanta,

To be specific about the bet, we are talking about the main body and not the hood, trunk, or doors. If so, I'll take that bet


Bill S.

[mikeinatlanta]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

cobrakiwi

Can't get a picture to upload this am for some reason, but in your picture it would be the triangular square tubing reaching from the upper rear hoop area to the far rear corners on both sides. Look closely at the trunk picture, enhanced, you can see the carpet/trim is attached to the inner quarter panel and not pushed forward (IE: covering) to where the square tubing should be located. Nobody I know who would go through the process of installing an aluminum body would forget that type of support for the rear body...

Mikeinatlanta,

To be specific about the bet, we are talking about the main body and not the hood, trunk, or doors. If so, I'll take that bet


Bill S.

To really narrow it down. I'm saying the area I pointed out earlier is alloy. This would be the body at the hood opening in the area of the hinges and stripes.

Is it a bet? You know I'm good for it and I know you are.

EDIT: To be clear. I'm not betting because I really give a crap, just having some fun.

[cobrakiwi]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

cobrakiwi

Can't get a picture to upload this am for some reason, but in your picture it would be the triangular square tubing reaching from the upper rear hoop area to the far rear corners on both sides. Look closely at the trunk picture, enhanced, you can see the carpet/trim is attached to the inner quarter panel and not pushed forward (IE: covering) to where the square tubing should be located. Nobody I know who would go through the process of installing an aluminum body would forget that type of support for the rear body...

Mikeinatlanta,

To be specific about the bet, we are talking about the main body and not the hood, trunk, or doors. If so, I'll take that bet


Bill S.

The square tubing you point out does nothing to support the body work of the car, IMO what it does do, it gives a structure for the inner trunk panels a place to be fastened to, it also helps mount the roll bar bracket, fuel pumps, and I believe on the street cars exhaust pipe hangers. It does tie into the outer corner, but gives little to no support to the outer corner or body.

On my frames, believe it or not the 3/4 round tube that runs from the outer corner down to the suspension tower (under the 1inch square tubing) adds the strength.

You could certainly build a car without that section of tubing and end up with the problem of not having a way to finish off the trunk as the originals did, as we see with this car in question.

What I do see from the OP's picture of the trunk is, there looks to be a steel tubing brace that is fixed to the trunk floor,(my guess would be, fixed to frame under the floor) that looks like it could help support the sub structure that supports the tubing that supports the body.

There's an old saying my grandfather used a lot around me, " Lad, there's more than one way to skin a cat"

[Buzz]

The hood, doors and trunk lid do indeed look like aluminum. I don't think anyone is arguing that. I believe a couple of people , possibly including Tom D'Antonio at Hi-Tech used to produce these aluminum pieces as options for their own 'glass-bodied cars and owners of other brands with accurately shaped openings could and did adapt them to fit. Still others like some members here have been able to fabricate their own. It's easy to conclude that a car with alloy doors and lids and well made aluminum inner panels has a full alloy body, though I'm not suggesting this is what happened here.

It's difficult for me to appear to doubt the testimonial of someone who has actually seen the car, but I have to say the fact that the body really looks like a Contemporary fiberglass body has me on the fence. No ego or anything else at stake for me - I'm just really curious to see how it all pans out.

[mikeinatlanta]

So, Me and Bill the only bet? Who else will put some skin in the game?