Early Fliptop (CSX2196) Pics

computerworks · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2003, 08:33 PM

While looking for early tire pictures...
...found some great early development pics of the Fliptop this weekend.

Thorin · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2003, 09:06 PM

Ron,

Fantastics pictures! People like Cal, the 2 Bobs and you keep coming up with these nuggets of history, please don't stop - they are fantastic.

Dave Lowell

Speaking of the two Bobs, hopefully Mr. Evans is fine, just busy. Sure do miss his posts

Excaliber · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2003, 10:42 PM

Man I love Cobra history! Thanks!

Ernie

Cal Metal · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2003, 06:28 AM

Great shots, Ron. I wonder if Rich Mason has seen these. Where did you find them?

computerworks · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2003, 06:34 AM

...found a great book, published in ~1982
"Carroll Shelby's Racing Cobra by Dave Friedman and John Christy"
...has tons of Friedman's track photos, all b/w, but many I have never seen before. Lot's of first-hand trivia by Christy. Good bio's on just about every guy who drove Cobras... both works cars and indies.

pderouss · #6 (**permalink**) 03-09-2003, 10:04 AM

There is a facimile reprint version of the Friedman/Christy book that Computerworks refers to. It was published in 1999 by Mercian Manuals, Coventry, England. There are B&W shots only but Friedman's "Shelby Cobra" book has lots of Colour shots. Because they are all 62-65 contemporary photos they provide a great record of what the real "Real Cars" looked like.

The only problem is that they have very little reference to the 427 cars - maybe because they were not very successfull as race cars when compared to the 289's. As I do not wish to restart the SB vs BB war it is also fair to say that they started to compete against mid engined cars (shades of Indy not so long before) which were clearly superior as race cars. Hopefully no one believes that a Cobra should be mid engined - though of course the King Cobra was. That was yet another English body/chassis (Cooper) with American engine. Both are good examples of Anglo-American co-operation.

Cal Metal · #7 (**permalink**) 03-09-2003, 03:02 PM

Friedman was not a fan of the 427 cars. In an intro to one of his books, he is pretty explicit about that. It would have been nice to see pics of those cars from that era, too.

Carroll DeWeese · #8 (**permalink**) 03-09-2003, 06:39 PM

computerworks,
Thanks for the pictures and keep it up. I never paid much attention to th Cobra when they were in their prime and dominating everything. The history is important to know.

snakeeyes · #9 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 01:16 PM

The "Racing Cobra" book has a lot of great anecdotes in it. I remember when, as a Cobra- and especially Flip Top-obssessed teen, it hit the bookshelves, I was in nirvana. It also has the great shots of Ron Butler driving 2196 through the streets of Nassau, and also of Miles stomping the Corvette Grand Sports at the end of Lap One of of one of the Nassau trophy races. Ron, you might want to post one of those if you have a minute; they say it all for a Flip Top fanatic.

Cal, Rich does have these in his album, along with a lot of others I wish I could get copies of--

computerworks · #10 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 02:03 PM

The shot of Ron Butler is great...tooling around town in the race car, after hours.
I'll have to get that one tonite and put it up.

Here's one of my favorites, from Nassau.. Ken Miles at the wheel.
...just a grungy, banged-up race-car, eh?

mr bruce · #11 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 02:17 PM

Can sumbuddy put a tape measure on that thing next time they get close to it. Specifically from the center to center of the headlites. The darn thing looks wider than a regular Cobra, tops of the doors look wider too.

PDHse · #12 (**permalink**) 03-11-2003, 05:02 AM

That book along with The cobra ferrari wars by Mike Shoen are the best cobra books in my opinion.

Cal Metal · #13 (**permalink**) 03-13-2003, 01:15 PM

Brucey:

The width from center line to centerline on the headlights on the Flip Top is 48". By contrast, the 289 cars are 44.5"; the 427 S/C is 45". You can thank Rich Mason for running down and getting the measurments for me. If you got me down in his garage, you would never get me out..............

mr bruce · #14 (**permalink**) 03-14-2003, 04:07 AM

Ah Ha! just as I suspected. Thanks Cal, don't tell little Bobby B but soon, you too will be able to have your very own Flip-Top Turd!

snakeeyes · #15 (**permalink**) 03-14-2003, 11:20 AM

Make that sucker accurate-looking, now, Brucey. I'm saving my pennies and donating plasma--

Cal Metal · #16 (**permalink**) 03-14-2003, 11:53 AM

Bob:

After this past week, is there any plasma left?

snakeeyes · #17 (**permalink**) 03-14-2003, 12:54 PM

Cal, actually, as a lawyer, the doctors appeared surprised that my vital signs reflected my having a heart. I did have to take a brief hiatus from the plasma sales business but now that I have a palpable pulse again, I'm back...got a lot of debts to pay...

TERRY M KRYSTOFIAK · #18 (**permalink**) 03-14-2003, 08:51 PM

CAL/ BOB,
THINK I JUST SOLVED THE ROOM SITUATION FOR THE HISTORICS. ITS 39' LONG WITH 4 POP-OUTS, AND 4 FOUR INCH PAYMENT BOOK. NOW NEED A SMALER CAR TRAILER!
TERRY

Cal Metal · #19 (**permalink**) 03-15-2003, 07:29 AM

Terry:

You did it! Traded CSX 2192, the GT-350, and the MB CLK for a 92 ft, swimming pool included, motorhome. Correct???

TERRY M KRYSTOFIAK · #20 (**permalink**) 03-15-2003, 12:31 PM

CAL,
NOT THAT STUPID! KEPT THE THE GT350!STEPPED BACK AND DIDN'T GET THE POOL...GOT CENTRAL VAC INSTEAD!!!RUNNING OUT OF CARS...F350, PACKARD, GT350,AND JAG X. HOWEVER, THAT DOES LEAVE A "VACANCY" IN THE GARAGE!! HMMM...AND EQUITY LINE ON MY EQUITY LINE? SURE WISH I HAD THE WAMU STILL.