Differences between 65 & 66 cars

[PaulProe]

Can anyone list any of the other differences between the 65 and 66 Big Block Cobras

1) Change from 427 Side Oiler to 428 PI

2) Engine block from Black to Blue

3) Steering wheel badges changed from color to silver/black

Are there other subtle changes?

Thanks

Paul

[Power Surge]

Well, technically, there are no "65" 427 cars. They were 66 and 67 model years, even though the first cars were built in 65.

Many changes didn't have so much to do with the model year, but rather the time the car was built or sold. Some S/Cs were built in 65, but sold in 67, and some items could have been changed by Shelby as the car sat there.

The rule of thumb on the 427/428 change, was that street cars from 3200-3300 got 428s standard with an "option" for the 427, and then they went back to 427s on the last bunch of cars.

It might be easier to list any changes if you let us know what type of 427 car you are asking about (S/Cs or street cars).

[strictlypersonl]

The tail lights were changed from single rectangular to top round light/bottom reflector some time in the production process.

[marcocsx3121]

For the last time, the 427s in the 3200 series car were center oilers, not side oilers. I also doubt the idea that the 427 was an "option". When Shelby started slipping 428s in as an economy move, he was quite stealthy about the change.

[Tom Kirkham]

1965 Cobras were the comp and S/C cars (CSX30xx)
1966 Cobras were the street cars. (CSX31xx, CSX32xx, and CSX33xx)
CSX3104 (early street car) built in Nov 1965 is titled as a 1966 Cobra.

In general

30xx series cars had 427 Side oilers
31xx series cars had 427 LR Center (or Top) oilers 2x4 intake manifold
32xx series cars had 428 engines 1x4 intake manifold
33xx series cars had 427 MR Side Oiler 1x4 intake manifold

[Excaliber]

Marcos, you wish it was 'the last time', but I wouldn't hold my breath!

[marcocsx3121]

Well, Kirkham agrees and he sounds pretty smart.

[Blue66]

Originally Posted by marcocsx3121

Well, Kirkham agrees and he sounds pretty smart.

Damm Just hit me . I had CSX3147 Old age

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by marcocsx3121

I also doubt the idea that the 427 was an "option". When Shelby started slipping 428s in as an economy move, he was quite stealthy about the change.

I thought in a past discussed thread about the topic, that someone posted info from a late Cobra sales brochure that showed the engine upgrade option. I could be wrong.

[PaulProe]

Sal,
Before posting my question, I did a search on differences and drew a blank.

Can you give me a link to the previous thread or a key word that the search function would find it

thanks

Paul

[LMH]

Paul, you're as bad as I am!
Larry

[Excaliber]

Well I think Tom's breakdown is likely very accurate. But there may well be exceptions to the general rule and SOME car(s) might have come with high risers as special order, or shortly after delivery. It would totally make sense for a competition car to be running high riser heads back in the day.

[LMH]

I remember reading somewhere that originally, all 427 models came with dual quads. They may have been changed at some point but originally they were two four-barrels.
True?
Larry

[Excaliber]

I think that was mostly the 428's that came with dual carbs. The competition cars ran a single four with 'center pivot floats'. The center pivot floats are CRITICAL to good performance under severe cornering to keep the carb from flooding out. Because they are LONG carbs, you cannot mount two of them on the intake end to end.

"Flooding out" (fuel spilling into the carb throats under hard cornering) is a problem with my ERA on the road course track. You have to know how to 'deal with it' (as in drive it, set up the carbs, etc) or the motor WILL stall coming off the corners hard. It's just one more thing you DON'T want to worry about in the 'heat of battle'. A single four with center pivot is\was the ideal setup for road racing.

[DougD]

On the subject of what "year" a particular car was, I wonder if the sale and subsequent registration date determined what "year" the car was titled vs. a particular car's production date. Let's remember, these cars were expensive and not all that popular sales-wise when they were new. Many sat on dealers' lots for months if not years before they were sold. I'll go out on a limb and state for the sake of argument that when a car was sold and the MSO was presented to the owner's local DMV, the year on the title was the current year when the title was applied for. The concept of Cobras changing by model year just doesn't add up. They were produced with running production changes without regard for a particular model year. It would be interesting to see if there is a corellation between the car's VIN and the model year in which it was registered. The SAAC Registry lists the cars by sequential VIN, not "model year".

[Excaliber]

It's not uncommon for cars to be sold in '68 that were really '67's, or whatever year. The 1964 and half Mustang comes to mind...

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by DougD

On the subject of what "year" a particular car was, I wonder if the sale and subsequent registration date determined what "year" the car was titled vs. a particular car's production date. Let's remember, these cars were expensive and not all that popular sales-wise when they were new. Many sat on dealers' lots for months if not years before they were sold. I'll go out on a limb and state for the sake of argument that when a car was sold and the MSO was presented to the owner's local DMV, the year on the title was the current year when the title was applied for. The concept of Cobras changing by model year just doesn't add up. They were produced with running production changes without regard for a particular model year. It would be interesting to see if there is a corellation between the car's VIN and the model year in which it was registered. The SAAC Registry lists the cars by sequential VIN, not "model year".

Yes, that is exactly what I was referring to. Obviously S/Cs were "built" way before street cars, yet some S/Cs are titled as 67s because they were sold late.

I recall reading that no publicly sold big block car was sold as a 65 (maybe comp cars since they were first) especially since most of the S/Cs were built in late 65, they were mostly sold as 66 models, with a few leftovers carrying over as 67s.

[computerworks]

You are right...The "model year" concept as it applies to the Cobra is vague and unimportant now.

Back then, it was an issue for some as the dealers had trouble moving the cars...

..for example, at least two late 427S/Cs had their paperwork re-schnookered to show a 1967 model year on the invoice, even though the cars were 1965 vintage and invoiced in 1966.

[jay bentley]

Originally Posted by computerworks

You are right...The "model year" concept as it applies to the Cobra is vague and unimportant now.

Back then, it was an issue for some as the dealers had trouble moving the cars...

..for example, at least two late 427S/Cs had their paperwork re-schnookered to show a 1967 model year on the invoice, even though the cars were 1965 vintage and invoiced in 1966.

My friend who owns CSX3322 has an original stamped vin plate vs. the hand scribed ones that are more common. The vin reads 67-CSX3322. I was told that the car was requested with the 67 from the dealer to make it appear as the latest and greatest.

Jay

[PaulProe]

The intent of my post was to learn more about the subtle differences between the various presentations of the 427/428 cars.

I know about the engine differences. I learned about the difference in the steering wheel badge. I know about the original "Sunshine" wheels.

Are there other little things the Cobra afficianado would know?

The info on "year designation" is interesting but maybe the way I worded the question misled to that discussion.

Are there other things to be aware of?

Thanks

Paul