Cobra build.....

[Doc Watson]

So there I was, a few vodkas to many out on the tiles and a friend says...
'my dad has a cobra kit in the garden you want it?'
'yes, how much?' I reply
'nothing' he says
'yes' I reply

Hired a trailer 2 hour drive to look at it, returned with a chassis (free), body (free), rear axle (£30) and steering rack (£30). The kit is a 'Libra' cobra, bought 'in the mid 80's' the glass is in one piece with bonnet, boot and doors. Is the body a 289 cobra?

The chassis is a little worse for wear with the floor panels rusted away and the central tunnel partially rusted. The rear diff is a 3.09 from a 3.0 Capri and is an atlas axle with LSD and mounts for a 4 bar linkage to the chassis. The front rack is a quick rack from a MGB and also fits brackets on the chassis.

Me and my partner in crime (Mike next door) will attempt to give this old lady a long overdue makeover.

I have found only one reference to a 'Libra' cobra and one owner of this kit type (how has not replied to my request for help) so we are in the dark a little with regard to some components that will be required.

Trying to source an early 302 or 289 as motive force and will try and get some pics of the chassis, axle and rack if it ever stops raining here.....

 

[Doug S.]

Is the body a 289 cobra?

Yep, Doc, that's a 289'er!

The fishmouth is the giveaway, note the straight horizontal nature of the bottom of the fishmouth. The 427 variety had amuch more curved bottom lip, a mirror image of the upper lip.

Congratulations! That's quite a find, even in the sad condition you've found it, and from the description you've given it's definitely salvageable.

Doug

 

[egoman/ Shawn Wedge]

So you got it for free .......... I cant speak. There are days that its just great to get out of bed and I will assume that this was one for you.
We need to see the prelimimary teardown when you get to it . I would guess that its just a matter of your climate that anything left outside will rust to some extent. Awesome find...... Good luck!

 

[Bill Hara]

That's brilliant Doc!
One thing though, won't this interfere with the 40??
Cheers

Bill H

 

[Simon]

Try over at the Cobraclub, UK Cobra Club Forums those guys'll give you some more info.
Simon

 

[Craig White]

Old 289 slabside Cobra replica. Something a bit different compared to all the 427 shaped cars. Well I suppose you can't complain about the price. Enjoy.

 

[JohnMcL]

Try talking to Gerry Hawkridge at www.hawkcars.co.uk He makes a super 289 so may not be inclined to help but he has encyclopaedic knowledge of other kits and 289 history.

 

[Simon]

I think Mr hawkridge's help will be along the lines of "you need to buy a Hawk kit" (call me cynical)
Simon

 

[Randy V]

Lucky man...

I concur that it is indeed a slab-side..
You can get a lot of good Cobra knowledge on FFCobra.com as well...

 

[Doug S.]

I concur that it is indeed a slab-side.

I'm with Randy on this one--slab sided 289's are in demand here in the U.S., although only to a select few--the 427's outnumber the 289's by a huge margin. Most of our 289's are FIA replicas, slab sided 289's are very difficult to find....

It's looking more and more like this was a banner day for you, Doc!!

Hey, pardon my curiousity, but tell us more--is there adequate paperwork for you to pursue this as a street car build, or will it need to be a track terror?

How many of us dream of having this happen to us?????

Doug

 

[Doc Watson]

No paperwork at all....... going for a street car, am just about to take some sorry photos of the chassis and axle as I have a few questions to ask.

BTW what is a 'slab sided' cobra? is that an early model cobra? production model?

The GT40 build is still ongiong and progressing at its normal glaciel pace, building the garage around the car will be interesting......

Andy

 

[Doug S.]

BTW what is a 'slab sided' cobra? is that an early model cobra? production model?

When Shelby first started shoehorning Ford 260 V-8's into the Ace body, at first they were just production bodies. Keep in mind these British sports cars were usually fitted with 4 or 6 cylinder motors, no need for large tires, so the sides of the car coursed straight down, like "slabs". Well, with the SBF ol' Shel needed more space for tires, so he essentially massaged those "slab sides" into the Cobra equivalent of our "Gulf flares". Ace saw the writing on the wall and changed the fenders very quickly to accommodate Shel's need for more tire; hence, there are very few slab sided original Cobras out there.

For example, look at your photo at the front wheel arches. Yes, you do have a slight flare at the lip of the wheel opening, but the flare doesn't extend all the way up to the top of the fender; now, on the other hand, 289 FIA models usually have flares that extend all the way to the top of the fender to accommodate more aggressive front tire profiles.

The newer Cobra replicas have taken this to even further extremes in order to take advantage of current wheel/tire options that weren't around in the 1960's.

Many Cobra purists believe the slab-sided Cobras were the most beautiful, others believe what I see as a "bloated" 427 model to be the epitome of Cobradom........but not enough want the slab-sided look that the replica manufacturers are willing to invest the R & D time and money needed to release those models (I did hear some rumblings that F5R is going to release a 289 model, but I haven't heard anything about that one being a slab-sided model).

Can you really register a car for street use in the U.K. without having to have some sort of paperwork??? Here in the U.S. this would be a race car, no way to get it on the street without a M.S.O. or some sort of title for the vehicle, and for that most states require extensive documentation as to the source of the body, chassis, motor, most of the major parts.

You really have gotten very lucky, Doc! Cheers to you!!!

Doug

 

[John W]

Nice find Doc, well done. !

look at this link: http://allthingscobra.tripod.com/not_forgotten.html
It says they were known as 'king' cobras, with only 26 made.

Lucky bugger

 

[Jac Mac]

Its actually has several different model Cobra features- Rear guards are slightly higher at rear than originals, brake ducts did not feature on slabside, nor the hood scoop.

 

[Doc Watson]

John thanks for the reference to the kit.

Ok here is the rear axle, from a Ford Capri 3.0 V6. Tag shows ratio of 3.09 and it has LSD fitted.

The original capri leaf spring brackets are on the ends of the axle and the 4 bar link mounts are inboard. The angled bushings can just be seen below the axle and the two plates mounted on top take the coilovers and the straight link to the chassis.
Look at the rear chassis and you can see the angled mounts.

Which way does the axle go in? as shown or is it upsidedown in the photo. No info on lengths of arms so I will have to work out the best geometry.

Also a shot of the front suspension mounts and the rack. Oh and something that was a tunnel.....

Andy

 

[Jac Mac]

Rear axle is upside down in pic, I would start again on the chassis ( Get a refund on your investment at the scrappy ). , convert rear axle to 3 bar ( retain two lower and fit one top link going forward & down slightly on RH side of diff center ) plus watts or panhard link. Doc , your gonna get us kicked off the forum with all this Cobra talk!

PS, you will probably be able to find a rear cover for the diff that has an integral pivot point built in for Watts linkage-- check with the classic escort rally car boys at the local car clubs etc.

 

[jyrki sulka]

Nice one Doc!
I like 427 -body too, but this is so "beautifull original british" -style

Your rear axle was a real bargain. Price was under w/o LSD -level....
It is old model 3,0 Atlas, maybe from mk1 Capri.
If so, it`s narrower than mk2/3, but a little bit wider than Escort Narrow Atlas.
3,09:1 ratio was in use from -70 to -86 (mk1 3,0 "uprate" to mk3 280 brooklands)

 

[Doc Watson]

Pulled the back plate and no LSD...damn.... was going to sell it and buy a doner for the cobra.

Over many cups of tea discussion with Mike turnied to looking at using a Ford Sierra V6 as a doner using the V5 (log book) and engine,gearbox,suspension,steering column, rear diff, brakes and electrics. A ford Granada will also do or perhaps a Sierra 4x4... a 4WD cobra???? hmmmmm

The doner cars go for as little as £150 here and once the car has been through SVA we can retink engine options.

First job is chassis clean and paint and find a doner car.

Andy

 

[Jac Mac]

89>> Nissan 300zx rear end or Toyota Supra JZ80? I think. Both IRS-Viscous LSD, 5x4.5"pcd stud pattern. Toyota front end looks good as well. Check out 'Gazza' on GT40's.com for the Cobra he built using Toyota as base-really nice. Really tough parts & you would have to beat on them real hard to break. Crownwheel of 300zx is 230mm/9".

 

[David Briggs]

Doc, you are clearly a man with too much time on his hands!
I hope this all ends well.
Dave