cobra budget concept

anglia4 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 06:34 PM

Hi,

I'm a mechanical engineering student in new zealand and i'm doing a bit of a design project at the moment.
I'm trying to price up and design a cobra that could be built for under NZD$20,000 (USD$14,000) and if it looks like it can be done then i might actually build it!

At the moment i'm trying to price up the body, however im having trouble finding a supplier in NZ or Australia that can supply just the fibreglass body by itself.

has anybody made their own fibreglass body? How did you come up with a mould?

I was thinking that if i could find an accurate 3D CAD model of the shell i could take sections of it for every 12" along the cars length and strategic places around the nose, and then could have them cut out of plywood or MDF, then put them together with industrial foam inbetween and smooth them out to make a mould, then lay the glass over the top of that.
Is that a feasable idea?

does anybody have an accurate 3D Cad model that they would be willing to share?

Thanks for reading!

mr bruce · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 06:42 PM

I have an FiA style body that I've been trying to give away, I can cut it into 4 or so sections , crate it up for you. All you'll have to do is pay for the shipping, and then glue it back together . Believe me , it will save you tons of work trying to make a body/mold from scratch.

mickmate · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 06:47 PM

I was one of them once! Does Graham Berry still make the chassis for the Almac cars? I don't know if they're still making bodies. http://www.kiwiracecars.com/ I found a body by itself over there in Auckland quite a few years back with a good shape and a 90" WB. Jacmac on CC here is a pretty clever Kiwi making his own moulds, search him out. Also check out the Almac club on here and contact a few of them. Good luck with the budget, expect to blow it.
Cheers and welcome aboard.

FUNFER2 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 07:45 PM

That's a very interesting IRS.

Is the pumpkin a Ford 9" ?
How much travel does it have ?

anglia4 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr bruce

I have an FiA style body that I've been trying to give away, I can cut it into 4 or so sections , crate it up for you. All you'll have to do is pay for the shipping, and then glue it back together . Believe me , it will save you tons of work trying to make a body/mold from scratch.

Whats an FiA style body? sorry if its a dum question!

anglia4 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 08:01 PM

as far as i know graham berry still makes them. thanks for the info on other clever kiwis too

mickmate · #7 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 08:10 PM

FIA is basically a 289 nose on a 427 rear end with the signature cutback doors. That looks like a custom casting for the incher center. Almac was one of the first outfits to start making Cobra replicas, they've been at it a while.

anglia4 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 08:44 PM

so the FIA is narrower through the front arches? i.e it doesnt have the big flares on the front?

mr bruce · #9 (**permalink**) 03-10-2010, 04:03 AM

http://www.clubcobra.com/classifieds...e=SDC11586.JPG

Woodz428 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-10-2010, 05:53 AM

A noble concept, but that's a pretty hard nut to crack...for a complete car? If you want to approach it from that angle I would guess that FFR would be the model to follow. Instead of 5.0 'stang stuff use a car more prevalent in your area. I still think it will be a hard price to meet.IMHO
Mr. Bruce, are you jesting about giving that FIA body away?? PM me if you are serious...I can make the trek with the trailer.

Ozgur_Tan · #11 (**permalink**) 03-10-2010, 12:21 PM

hey
take a look to my project in this sub-forum
i'm going to start manufacturing of bodyshell, but slabside or fia ?
it takes around 4 months to built buck excluding research & 3d work
i suggest for you just get bodyshell from mr.bruce
regards
ozgur

Chris5.7ltr · #12 (**permalink**) 06-02-2010, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr bruce

I have an FiA style body that I've been trying to give away, I can cut it into 4 or so sections , crate it up for you. All you'll have to do is pay for the shipping, and then glue it back together . Believe me , it will save you tons of work trying to make a body/mold from scratch.

If this offer is still open and anglia4 doesn't want it I will take it, I'm looking into building a hill climb AC Cobra and this body would be perfect!.

BTW I live in Australia.

mr bruce · #13 (**permalink**) 06-02-2010, 03:23 AM

FiA body gone

Jac Mac · #14 (**permalink**) 06-05-2010, 12:40 PM

Anglia 4, The buck I have is being dedicated to the Flip Top car style, probably the best body style you could choose for a hillclimb car with its extra width & the option to make both front & rear sectins removable for maintanance etc.
I see your last post was on 10th March so you might be an infrequent CC user, but feel free to PM me if you need more info.
cheers
PS... can help with a 9" IRS Housing , but done right in this part of the world it would take a large slice out of your $20000.00