427 Street Car Options

[PROFESSOR FATE]

Does anyone KNOW what options were available from Shelby to the original owner of a 427 street car? For example, could a buyer order and take delivery of a 1967 427 Cobra with side pipes, roll bar, a particular engine, hood scoop, oil coolers, fans, 8 track tape player, bidet, hot tub, et cetera? I don't mean stuff you could get at Shelby's parts department, and then have installed. I mean manufacturer supplied options that were on the car, when it was initially delivered.

[Anthony]

I would think that any option could have been ordered for a "street" car, to a full comp car package. The 427 dragonsnake has a street car serial #. I would think that there were not many street cars ordered with these options, as the S/C cars were available for awhile.

I believe the early street 427's actually had comp car frames, ex brackets for the diff cooler pump, that were not on later street 427 frames, although I would think that it would be easy to weld brackets onto a "true" street frame if needed, wanted.

[427SnakeSC]

Not sure about some of those things, but I do know that if it had side pipes, roll bar, hood scoop, it was no longer considered a street car. Equipped with those it was considered an SC. I think that also the street version came with two 4 barrels as opposed to 1 in the SC. As for one with an 8 track and hot tub, I hear that Shelby actually produced one of these and it was seen on Rodeo Dr. in Cali!!

[computerworks]

This blurb is from the Registry..

There were few actual options for the 427 Cobra...The following items were available, as evidenced by their inclusion on Factory Sales Invoices...:

• radio
• front and rear anti-roll bars
• hood scoop
• roll-over bar
• magnesium wheels

[ST]

Originally Posted by 427SnakeSC

I think that also the street version came with two 4 barrels as opposed to 1 in the SC.

Not really, some had a single 4V as well as dual 4V’s.

[PROFESSOR FATE]

Computerworks,

I noticed also that the Registry indicated that those options were probably dealer installed. In the case of roll bars, sway bars, and mag wheels, these things are pretty much just bolt on items. But, a proper hood scoop, which would require reforming the flat hood to seal on a turkey pan, would take more skill than your average dealer body shop guy is going to have. I wonder, if the hood scoop was dealer installed, did they just cut a hole and pop rivet the scoop on?

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by PROFESSOR FATE

I noticed also that the Registry indicated that those options were probably dealer installed. In the case of roll bars, sway bars, and mag wheels, these things are pretty much just bolt on items. But, a proper hood scoop, which would require reforming the flat hood to seal on a turkey pan, would take more skill than your average dealer body shop guy is going to have. I wonder, if the hood scoop was dealer installed, did they just cut a hole and pop rivet the scoop on?

I think it would come down to how many street 427's were dealer ordered, sent to the dealer, then purchased by an individual, vs an individual ordering a car to be built by Shelby through a dealer. If the latter, I would guess that with enough of money, Shelby could install any option. I would think that most street 427's were not ordered this way. If the dealer ordered the car, then he would probably just order a standard car, or with "options" as listed by Shelby, nothing fancy or expensive. Then, the dealer could modify the car further to the purchasers liking if needed. Who is going to pay for shipping back to and from Shelby for any additional modifications unless it's something very special.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by PROFESSOR FATE

Computerworks,

I noticed also that the Registry indicated that those options were probably dealer installed. In the case of roll bars, sway bars, and mag wheels, these things are pretty much just bolt on items. But, a proper hood scoop, which would require reforming the flat hood to seal on a turkey pan, would take more skill than your average dealer body shop guy is going to have. I wonder, if the hood scoop was dealer installed, did they just cut a hole and pop rivet the scoop on?

Actually, I would think that the roll bar would be the toughest "option" for a typical dealer to install.

Re: the hood scoop...that would be easy.

No reforming the hood; all MK III's had the same hood...no sealing, since Street's were 2x4, so no turkey pan,,,, just whack a hole and pop-rivet a painted scoop.

Even so, I doubt many were done that way.

I would think most of the accessories installed at the dealer were radios and mirrors/trim.

[RedCSX1]

Originally Posted by computerworks

Actually, I would think that the roll bar would be the toughest "option" for a typical dealer to install.

Re: the hood scoop...that would be easy.

No reforming the hood; all MK III's had the same hood...no sealing, since Street's were 2x4, so no turkey pan,,,, just whack a hole and pop-rivet a painted scoop.

Even so, I doubt many were done that way.

I would think most of the accessories installed at the dealer were radios and mirrors/trim.

Lewis Downs a long time member of the Norcal Shelby Club who passed away Monterey Historics weekend was a original Shelby 289 Cobra owner. He went to the factory to pick up his 289 Cobra and through his ownership had many of the so called options installed by the dealer, sort of. One of them was the hood scoop. He tells they used a jig saw to cut a very rough hole in the hood and then pop-rivet on the scoop. He had tons of stories and pictures, I kept telling him to write a book on living with a Cobra. During the 60's the Cobra was his daily driver in the San Fran area where he worked.

[427SnakeSC]

Originally Posted by ST

Not really, some had a single 4V as well as dual 4V’s.

Thank you, sir, I wasn't aware of that. As they say "You learn something every day."

[elgecko]

Hummmmmmm........ The 8 track was beginning it's entry in the automobile in 1966, when Ford installed 65,000 units that year. I guess a few could have made it into a street Cobra or two....they were the cool thing to have back then
Had one in the MGB, chick magnet
Dave

[427SnakeSC]

"P.S. The side pipes take a little getting used to, but I kind'a like them now!"

Hey jdog, have you gotten your first case of "snakebite" yet?

[jdog]

No, not yet!

jdog

[HI Cobra]

With that said - it is just a matter of time!

[427SnakeSC]

Originally Posted by HI Cobra

With that said - it is just a matter of time!

You got that right! I've done it twice now, the last time was one to remember! Remember "What doesn't kill us, only makes us stronger or smarter!" Yea, right!