... my Cobra burned to ashes
Friday last week I decided to take the Cobra for a nice ride through the hills. A 10 mile detour that I like to take once in a while to go to work.
Beautiful day, cruising in corners and pushing a bit on the throttle climbing the mountain. Happiness
Then downhill, in a corner turning right I hit the brake and only the left (driver) side of the car brakes.
I almost hit trees on the opposite side, manage to come back in my lane, hit a fence at low speed on the passenger side and pull over on a clear turnout about 50 yards later.
Nothing too bad, it seems.
I'm upset there will be a bit of bodywork on the pristine, 7 layers of clear coat (yes!) body and get out the car to check it out. There will be something with the brake. Probably a loose conduit or something stupid. I'll fix it, go back home gently and will take her to the shop... that's what I was thinking at that point.
Then I realize there is smoke coming off the passenger's louver. I run into the car to shut the engine off, grab the tiny extinguisher and stupidly blow it into the louver... to realize a few seconds later that drops of inflamed fluids are dripping under the car.
Then stress comes. I pull my phone to realize there is no network. I still try 911 but no network. I run uphill, checking for signal, and start to yell for help all the way around.
Turning back, the car is stable. More smoke, but no flames yet.
5 minutes later I'm back, never found @!$@# signal and still haven't called 911.
Two joggers who heard me yell earlier are there, but they don't get signal either.
The car then starts to burn seriously. I can just watch it, powerless. I can't prevent tears dripping from my eyes.
It's been about 15 minutes and a car comes by. I ask the driver to go back and call 911 as soon as he gets signal. So does he. A few minutes later he's back, telling fire dept is on its way. But the Cobra is already half gone.
A genuine 427 FE that was spitting 560hp, on a clean Unique frame, with rear Jag IRS, top loader tranny, shelby magnesium wheels, all vintage parts. Damn it. Just got the roll bar and side mirror re-chromed two weeks before.
Altogether I'm thankful I didn't get injured, and no one got hurt.
It could have been very bad if I had hit a tree, rolled the car or put myself in a situation where I'd burned in it.
I don't know what I'll get next, she'll be hard to replace.
This was Unique Motorcars chassis #9299
