Some of the early 289 cars were also automatic, which has little or no bearing on THIS modern replica. My point is this: Many of todays modern Cobras share little or nothing with the car they pretend to emulate. Not necessarily a bad thing, but some builds really push the envelope of the term 'replica' and when they do a more accurate term would be 'hot rod'. Now thats not necessarily a bad thing, but don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining.
To suggest an automatic is OK for a 'drag racing' replica Cobra is doing exactly that. Show me an original drag race Cobra that ran in the 10's with an auto and twin hair dryers sporting a solid axle? Puuhlease, that aint rain I'm feeling my friend!
Early 289 original drag race Cobra's ran in the 10's. WITH IRS, stick shift FOUR speed, naturally apirated (one or two carbs) and a small block! Now THAT is a drag race Cobra!
I'm just recognizing 'reality', many of todays replicas are in fact, 'hot rods'. Now the COOL thing about that is, darn few 'hot rods' have EVER aspired to the worthy goals a replica Cobra does. A replica Cobra captures the 'spirit' of a real Cobra in this sense, generally speaking: There built to handle well, stop well, go fast, be drivable to work and STILL 'kick ass' in all forms of street or track. Plus, they look great. Now compare THOSE STANDARDS to a more typical 'hot rod', a '32 Deuce Coupe. It looks good, but would you ever take it on a road course? When was the last time you saw one on a drag strip? Would you drive it to work everyday? Not even close to a Cobra 'hot rod'. Most 'hot rods' are SHOW cars, that is what separates a replica Cobra from the rest of the 'hot rod' world. Replicas are meant to be DRIVEN and driven hard. Well done, an awesome 'hot rod' that happens to look like a Cobra, just don't tell me that's rain...
OH, and if were playing the 'well an original had one' game, there were more than one original with a black hood, which is where I got the idea. Plenty of solid red Cobras out there, or red with white stripe, something different but still in the spirit of the 'game', a black hood, I like it! Not all original paint jobs are worth emulating, here's an example from an original Cobra. I couldn't bring myself to do this one.
CSX3020
