Hello everyone, Many of you know who I am. My name is John Chesnut and I have just become a new vendor on this forum. My ad will start next week!
I was an Arizona State Police officer until knee injuries prevented me from working in the field. Not wanting a desk job I left and began selling products that I invent. I have sold about a million unique coin banks for kids,
www.bigbellybanks.com. and I invented a self launching fishing system for kids that I originally sold on the TV shopping channel, QVC. I sold over $1,000,000 worth in 48 minutes of air time. Now I license patents for products that I invent.
This has allowed me to follow my passion for unique and high performance cars. I have been working pretty much full time for the past 8 years on them. My original car, the Dragon, has been a fixture at Run n Gun and I believe has a reputation for having great performance and handling. Originally designed around 1987-1996 C4 Corvette parts, I am just introducing a new version based upon the 1997-2004 C5 Corvette.
I have always loved the Cobra and wanted one. I recognize that alot of Cobra builders want one that replicates the original as closely as possible. That's cool. But, I wanted a modern Super Car with the original look. So during the past year I designed and built one that uses a race quality space frame of my design and the C5 independent suspension, brakes, steering, and differential. I took my car to Run n Gun in 2008. I spent the first 2 days finishing the car. I had not fired it up before I got there. On the third day I put it on the road course and in my first full driving session set the fast time for all cars running on street tires. I was running a 400hp engine, others had truly big power. While fast on the track my car is a smooth riding street machince too.
The Cobra is shorter and much narrower than the Vette. To make those parts work required a new narrower steering rack, new shorter axle shafts, and converting the Diff from a transaxle set up into taking a driveshaft.
I used the Vettes LS6 engine in my car but a great set up would be a 427 small block stroker Ford engine with a 600 Tremec 5 speed. My pictures show the car with Vette wheels, but period correct looking wheels from Vintage are available.
My cars are light. The frame weighs 315lbs and complete cars with an LS6 or small block are right at 2200lbs. They drive and ride like no other. I believe that my body is gorgeous and it is the correct dimensions.
My Cobra is in production now. Kits start at $17,990. Turnkey minus cars with all NEW Vette parts are $34,990, and complete cars with 480hp LS6 and T56 6 speed transmission or with a 520hp 427 Ford stoker with a Tremec 5 speed are $49,990. I am a small company so production is limited.
I am choosing not to participate in the recession. While other companies are contracting or closing I am developing new products and growing.
Please check out my web sites,
www.chesnutmotorsports.com and
www.dragonmotorcars.com to see full pictures and details. (There are a few errors on the web site, they will be corrected this week.)
Thanks for looking, I love all of the different cars. I believe that mine offers a new high performance option. Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.
jmcbigbelly@yahoo.com, 603-504-4106 (cell)
Have a great one, John
