Million Dollar Skunksworks Kirkham

[Larry N Johnson]

David,

Nice !!

See you and the great Kirkham team in a few hours.

Larry

[RodKnock]

It was a tough choice. Provo for Ski Week or Maui? My wife said Maui. It's about 80 here. Gorgeous.

[What'saCobra?]

Looks like a billet chassis.

Think F-22A wing.

True Carbon Chassis /body. Monocoque. Million USD may not be enough.


Carbon/carbon brakes.

Real CV half-shafts. String cut.

Billet wheels (Cobra II).

Billet engine, Ceramic pistons, Cracked Ti rods, 9000RPM, 300Ci, pneumatic valves, 850HP

700kg

[Guinness]

Kirkham Winter Summit spy photos.

[Guinness]

Secret Billet Chassis Spy Shots!

[Guinness]

[fsstnotch]

:drool:

[CobraV8]

Looks impressive! When you actually use it for normal driving, would it need to be x-rayed/dye penetration tested now and then to detect fatigue cracks (like airplane parts)?

-Simon

[David Kirkham]

Simon,

No, airplanes are made out of very hard (and crack prone) aluminum alloys. (Typically, 7075 and 2024). Additionally, airplanes are typically only made with a very small safety factor as an airplane has to fly and everyone knows it is very difficult and expensive to get extra weight (more safety) off the ground. Finally, airplanes can't just pull over on the side of the road when the crap hits the fan.

On this car, we observed as strict of weight discipline as was reasonable. We used 14,000 psi as the endurance limit on the FEA (Finite Element Anaylsis) tests. (The aluminum doesn't yield until 30,000 psi.) The chassis should last forever. It is amazing the amount of material that can actually be removed when you run a part through FEA.

It is extremely interesting to design a part and then run it through FEA. You think you are cool until Cosmos tells you otherwise. After the tests, it is amazing to see where the computer tells you you have too much material and when you think about the colors you wonder why you were so dumb in the first place. (We call FEA "looking for rainbows" as different stresses show up as different colors). What is really interesting is when you actually REMOVE material and make a part stronger by shifting the load paths around. As you can imagine, we were very concerned with keeping our customer happy and him off of You Tube.

David

[Don]

Guiness:

RE: Spy Photos, 3rd photo:

Appears to be the hood and fenders of a Series I XK-E ? If so, any other info, such as reproducing the entire body ?

One of my previous vehicles was a Series 1 1967 XK-E coupe, silver blue with the gold head. I do not know if they are still in business, installed an Abarth exhaust system, real neat sound with the Jag engine.

[wtm442]

Too nice to cover up with a body. Does anyone make a 427 S/C body in a clear material?

[69boss429]

Dear Mr.Kirkham,
You must immediatly stop what you are doing with that billet alum chassis!
If not I will be forced to come out there and order one in person.
That is exquisite,breathtaking,and went to the very top of my wishlist of cars I'd stuff full of an all aluminum Boss 429 engine.
Congratulations!
Now,I'm off to purchase a powerball ticket.

[David Kirkham]

bnewell,

Thanks, more pics coming up in the next few days, weeks as the build progresses.

Bill,

The thought has crossed my mind many times.

KM480,

Yes, the possibilities are virtually endless.

Meat,

I like the cup holder!

69boss429,

Thanks for the kind words. This car really is a reflection of our company and we love to try new things. The car is spectacular in real life.

Well, everyone has gone home from the Summit. It was a GREAT time! Thanks to all who came. I will post more pics of our Killer Car soon.

David

[BLACKJACK]

Oh My Gawd !!!!!!

Dave: In The Words Of My Dear Sweet Grandmother From Pittsburgh: "plumb Friggin' Gorgeous".

I've Been Salivating All Over The Keyboard Looking At The Pictures. Absolutely Incredible.

Now - - - Having Said That - - - When Are You Going To Start Building The Replica P-51 Mustang ??? I Have A P-39 Airacobra But Without Selling My Home I Couldn't Afford A (real) P-51.

I Know, I Know, We've Had This Conversation Before. My Offer Still Stands To Do All The Test And Trial Flying And "sorTing Out" For Expenses Only.

Man, The Coupe Is Fantastic !!!!

Y'all Have A Really Great Day.

Blackjack

[David Kirkham]

Blackjack,

Thanks for the kind words. I messed up (staying up too late) and posted all the pics on the other thread. I will fix that soon. In the meantime bump over there and you will see some really cool pics.

David

[mrmustang]

David,

How about a one piece "Billet" aluminum body .


Bill S.

[meat]

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

Gents and Fellow Car Nuts,

If you had a "million dollars" what kind of a car would you build. More realistically, if you could have anything you wanted, what would you do? I am speaking of a replica that we all dream about. What options would it have? What engine?

I mean if you wanted the ultimate Chariot of Fire, what would you do? And why?

Cobra specific?

A stiffer, lighter chassis. Monocoque would be nice.
Lower center of gravity.
50/50 weight distribution.
Computer-controlled brake bias w/manual override.
Computer controlled anti-roll bars w/manual override.
Streamlined undercarriage.
Cup holder.

Your pal,
Meat.

[powerslide]

David, will you accept the Hope Diamond as a partial deposit? Or maybe my first born child.....oh hell you can have my wife, too!

Mama mia!

[David Kirkham]

powerslide,

Thanks for the kind words...

I have one wife already and we Mormons gave up having two wives long ago!

David

[Hoofa]

That chassis needs a cool new body.