[Historybuff]

from the British website for CobraOwner'sClub

cobrabob


1 Posts
Posted - 31 January 2008 : 16:39:20
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Hello everyone across the pond. I'm new to this forum, but I've owned CSX2186 since 1980. One of the first things I learned about the car is that it started life as COX6002--all the usual serial number spots are numbered 6002 rather than 186, and the frame has COX6002 overstamped with CSX2186. We have since learned that the COX6002 in France, which has been rebodied as a Daytona coupe, was probably originally mumbered CSX2186. My questions are two-fold: does anyone have any knowledge as to why the two cars were switched, and does anyone know which car actually appeared at the '63 Paris Auto Show? The only visible difference in the cars was interior color--my car has a black interior and the other car had a red interior. My car (the present CSX2186) has a positive ground (earth) which is manifested in the clock and Smiths electric tachometer. and doesn't show any evidence of an AC badge on the boot lid.
If anyone has any knowledge that would help clear up this mystery, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!


Trevor Legate


United Kingdom
143 Posts
Posted - 01 February 2008 : 16:55:58
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Hi Bob

I very much doubt that any further light can be shed on this issue - I guess the entries in the last SAAC World Registry cover the matter pretty well. If it makes you feel better, yours is not the only car to suffer from this 'problem'. CSX2354 was pulled off the so-called production line, turned into COX6012 and sent to the 1964 Geneva Motor Show, still with 2354 stampings on the hood latch and elsewhere, and an mixture of parts for both the American and european markets. Another chassis became 2354 and was sent to SAI in the usual way. Both cars still exist, in Germany and New York, but by a weird twist of fate are (were) both owned by people with the name 'Otto'. All helps to confuse!! I suspect AC simply altered a cars ID to meet the most urgent demand at the time, either from SAI or a dealer in Europe.
Back in the period, nobody at AC was too bothered about chassis numbers or what was stamped where - they would be very amused by the manner in which people get over-excited by such matters today....but obviously in your case its nice to know as much as possible.


(Incidentally Trevor Legate doesn't reveal in his note that he is a famous Cobra author/researcher, which might not matter re his comments)