Didnt Shelby build the Daytona Coupe specifically because the aerodynamics of the Cobra wouldnt let it exceed 150ish mph? Im pretty positive the Shelby Cobras didnt have top end for sh*t. Anywho, sweet sig. If thats your pop's replica, way to go.
According to the references I have, some of the roadsters (not the 427 sc nor the 428 cj) were capable of 200 mph. The same reference states that the Coupes were designed more to help keep the stupid thing on the road at high speeds rather than allow them to reach such speeds.
If you've ever driven one you'll immediately know what I mean. My car looses about 80% of it's steering feedback as the thing lifts the front end. The funky vents on the Coupe's hood not only were designed to increase airflow over the rad, but it was thought that they helped air, that would otherwise lift the front end exit smoothly, out the top. Only the best drivers in the world at that time could keep the roadsters on the road at such high speeds.
Interesting side note. Carroll Shelby convinced comedian Bill Cosby to buy one when he asked Bill why he didn't drive an American sports car. Bill's response was that the American made cars would only do 160mph. The Ferrari Bill owned at the time was cabable of 180 mph. Mr. Shelby built Mr. Cosby a 427 and even had a small brass plaque engraved stating that the car was built for Mr. Bill Cosby by Carroll Shelby and was "Guaranteed to exceed 200 mph" I've seen photos of the car and the plaque. Bill Cosby turned the experience into a comedy routine called....you guessed it "200 mph!"
I don't know the numbers exactly, but a quick review of FFR, ERA and a couple other builders that give those specs show their cars still weigh close to the 2500lb range with fluids. Some less than 2500 (about 2300) but none less than 2000 lb.
Again I've a bit of experience with the C5 Z06 and have many hours behind the wheel of a few replicas. (Pops built one, bought one factory turnkey and I have one that was already built.) Not to say that no replica will beat the Z06 on any given day, just again saying that most of the 427 replicas out there that do a good job of replicating the performance of the original are closely matched to the C5 Z06 in the conditions normally found on the street.
Agreed, doubt the car in the vid is original. If I had an original I certainly wouldn't be running it that hard on the street.
I agree they can be scary. I first drove one at the age of 21 and it scared me to death.
BTW nice sig, where'd you get it?
quote:
ORIGINAL: CobraStangGT16
There is some truth in what you say. There is no real way to tell from that video, but out of the couple hundred real 65's out there in the world today, the few in the U.S., it isn't likely to be a real cobra. No doubt are these cars fast. We got a 392 downstairs, it scares me. But I wonder why (if it were real) would the owner race it. Especially against a Z06 on the street. And I'm not saying that every single replica uses a 5.0, for instance, our cobra. It probably was running a 347 or 351W. As many replicas there are out there, there are even fewer 427's. And the reason it can keep up with the Vette is that most replicas weigh under 2000lbs. With that much power on top of that little amount of weight, it sure could keep up the the Z06. And yet I may be young, I'm certaintley not naive.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Clif Brohn
quote:
ORIGINAL: CobraStangGT16
Pshh...You guys are naive to think thats a 65 shelby 427. Thats definately not an original. Even if it were, the guy wouldn't have it on the street...Thats probably a 302 out of a an 80's or early 90's Mustang GT. Mose donor pallets are based on 87-94 GT's.
Like Upsteam, My dad and I built a Factory Five Roadster Replica with a 392 Ford Crate engine. Along with a TKO600 tranny and 94 GT rear end with new gears and axels.
Plus...we killed a Z06 the other day
Yes, chances are its an FFR clone, but why couldnt it be a real Shelby? Its actually more naive of you to completely rule out the possibility that it is a Cobra. Besides, its gotta have more than 347 cubes to pull on a Z06 like that before aerodynamics came into play.
Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II is Mercury’s version of the legendary King Cobra. As instantly recognizable as the King Cobra, this car also features the legendary design of Larry Shinoda’s sloping front end. This was the first 200-mile per hour car that is factory correct.
Define factory correct.
According to the FIA rules the "Production Class" means that a certain number of cars had to be produced that were similar mechanically. That is where the Cobra comes in as the first "Production Car" to reach 200 mph. There were certainly other cars that reached 200 mph prior to that. The first being driven by a Brit named Segrave in 1927 who drove a 6750 lb car named "CAMPBELL SPECIAL 'BLUEBIRD' ". It was powered by two supercharged WWI aircraft engines (total displacement was 45 liters!) and pegged 200 mph at Daytona Beach.
After all, the Z06 won't hit 200 mph while the 427 Cobra was the first production car to do so.
Really? Everything I've read has always been that the 427 Cobra would only hit around 160 - 165 and that the Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbirds were the first production cars to hit 200mph.
After all, the Z06 won't hit 200 mph while the 427 Cobra was the first production car to do so.
Really? Everything I've read has always been that the 427 Cobra would only hit around 160 - 165 and that the Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbirds were the first production cars to hit 200mph.
A reference to help clarify:
"Mr. (Carroll) Shelby, now 74 years old, turned out fewer than 350 of the two-seaters between 1965 and 1969. His handcrafted Cobras paired a lightweight aluminum racecar body from Britain's AC Cars Ltd. with a massive eight-cylinder, 500-plus-horsepower engine from Ford Motor Co. It quickly became a sports-car icon, blending graceful styling with a top speed above 200 miles per hour--a bracing 320 kilometers per hour." - Wall Street Journal. Thursday, 20 March 1997.
The Superbirds came after the 427 Cobra and were the first "Stockcars" not FIA "Production" cars. Different classification from a different sanctioning body. You are correct in that. The 428 cj and 427 sc were good for about 160-165.
What about the Paxton Supercharged 427 Cobra? it made a little over 500bhp i think. Pretty sure that could reach the coveted 200mph benchmark.
+1. Carroll Shelby built one of these for Bill Cosby. Can't imagine what that car would go for at Barrett-Jackson. Last I heard, which was several years ago, the car was in England.
Posts: 613
Joined: 2/5/2005 From: UPSTATE NEW YORK Status: offline
i think in one of my mustangs and fords, or mustang monthly magizines it tells where that car has been and is now...yeah its probably a couple of million dollar car that id like to ride in.
Posts: 2572
Joined: 8/18/2006 From: Orange County, CA Status: offline
Some one told me once that the Cobra's hit an aerodynamic wall just before 200 MPH. So to say, I don't think they get any faster at a certain point, as with most cars out there, no matter how much HP or Torque.
Seem logical to anyone?
Upsteam, were you asking me about the sig? LOL, you made it. Looks awesome.
Team MF Member #885 Posts: 2626
Joined: 12/4/2005 Status: offline
Your source is the Wall Street Journal? You wouldnt happen to have any other proof would you? I know how good the WSJ is at reviewing and track testing high performance vehicles, but im just not convinved Not only that, ive read two or three articles on the original Shelby American Cobras, and not one of them mentioned the Cobra either being able to do 200mph, or being the first to do so. If it in fact DID do it first, dont you think these bios would have mentioned it?
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Joined: 8/18/2006 From: Orange County, CA Status: offline
In fact, now that I remember, there was one cobra that did 200+. It was driven by non other than the famous Dick Smith. If you know Cobra's, you know who Dick Smith is. My dad told me he remembered hearing about it when he was young, that a cobra did 200+.
Team MF Member #885 Posts: 2626
Joined: 12/4/2005 Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: CobraStangGT16
In fact, now that I remember, there was one cobra that did 200+. It was driven by non other than the famous Dick Smith. If you know Cobra's, you know who Dick Smith is. My dad told me he remembered hearing about it when he was young, that a cobra did 200+.
Again, it has questionable truth to it.
Was it a stock Shelby American CSX series Cobra? This is getting interesting, lol
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quote:
Warning: Clif is extremely snide, sarcastic, and a little crazy
According to Muscle Car Encyclopedia. I apologize I'm at work and done have the publisher information on the book. Two roadsters chassis numbers csx3303 and csx3315 were specially built by Carroll Shelby at Shelby American in 1966 with twin Paxton superchargers. Carroll Shelby kept one and sold the other to Bill Cosby. These cars were certified as capable of reaching 200 mph. Again the 427 cj and 427 sc were capable of 160-165 mph. Still, Shelby American built 2 427 Cobras that were capable of 200 mph.
Your source is the Wall Street Journal? You wouldnt happen to have any other proof would you? I know how good the WSJ is at reviewing and track testing high performance vehicles, but im just not convinved Not only that, ive read two or three articles on the original Shelby American Cobras, and not one of them mentioned the Cobra either being able to do 200mph, or being the first to do so. If it in fact DID do it first, dont you think these bios would have mentioned it?
The Cobra was not the first car to do that. As I said in a previous post the first car to do that was built by a Brit named Seagrave who did it in a purpose buil vehicle weiging 6750 lbs on Daytona Beach in 1927. I was powered by two supercharged aircraft engines.
The Cobra was the first "Production" car to do that. That is to say it met the FIA production class requirements. That doesn't mean that every car produced has to be identical. They just have to meet homologation requirements that simply state the vehicles sold to the public must be "mechanically similar" and must meet a minimum number sold. That is the same basic motor, transmission, and chassis. Power adding components like supercharges can be added to small numbers of vehicles in the production run and still the car can be classified as a "production vehicle"
my dad has an original 427 shelby cobra. its a CSX 4000 with an aluminum block 427 2 4 barrels side oiler 4 speed all that good stuff. its 1 of 4 that is polished aluminum, it looks like chrome. its a beast, im scared to DEATH of that car, if he ever punches it from a stop you will get more sideways faster than any other car ive seen in my life. what a beast. that vette would be begging for mercy from a stand still. (the block isnt polished the whole car is, no paint)
EDIT: oh ya forgot, nice vid! we went out to carrol shelbys texas ranch a few years ago and had a photo shoot with teh car and shelby in the car etc. very cool stuff.
< Message edited by EmperorOfChicken -- 10/11/2006 6:37:33 PM >
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RE: Vintage Shelby Cobra vs. '01 Z06 Vette - 
