Bruce Cambern's 427 one owner Cobra

[*13*]

Sure was.

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by *13*

It's your car. I say do what you want with it. However, with as much as you have invested, why not have it & a continuation or replica that you mod & track as much as you desire?

There would be no challenge in that, if I were to build a car it would be easy to get everything right because nothing would be impossible. Getting an original to work without cutting or welding is a real challenge. It is so much fun telling people that it is real (sorry REAL 1) and watching their faces when they realize it is. That is probably the most fun you could have besides running it. If I had chosen to build something it would have been a mid engine GT-40 with light weight components. Most people have never actually seen an original car especially if they are not really into museums or historic racing. They are very enthusiastic about seeing it run. I have a blast at Goodguys events because you get older people who know what it is and young ones who want to know what it is.

[*13*]

I certainly don't hold anything against your decision. It's great that you have kept the parts & it can return to its original state. Just curious. It's always amazing to see a "Real" Cobra & hear it's story.

[Rick Parker]

There were about 10-12 Cobra's in Fresno in the Mid 60's several were being Auto X'd. I can think of 2 427's that sat in parking lots while the owners were a considerable distance away inside at work! Different time.........

[maurice19]

Those were the days, Rick.

My time of inspiration.
Maurice

[Bobcat]

Bruce ... what you said about the original Cobra`s front suspension being out of the norm for modern passenger cars is so true . We like to think of our cars as being able to out handle with anything on the road , but I do HPD events , mostly at VIR , and I can tell you that most modern "grocery getter " cars are way above the sports cars of yesterday . Probably the equal of or better than most of our replicas as built . I remember going through the uphill esses at VIR at 100 mph + with a 2013 Ford Focus ST grafted to my rear bumper .... and that was a totally stock car other than aftermarket pads .
so , I spend tons of money , buy parts and reset the suspension , go to hi performance tires just to beat a Ford Focus ST ????

Will get rid of my ERA ??? Absolutely not ... it is far more fun to drive than the Focus , and I love it .

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by Bobcat

Bruce ... what you said about the original Cobra`s front suspension being out of the norm for modern passenger cars is so true . We like to think of our cars as being able to out handle with anything on the road , but I do HPD events , mostly at VIR , and I can tell you that most modern "grocery getter " cars are way above the sports cars of yesterday . Probably the equal of or better than most of our replicas as built . I remember going through the uphill esses at VIR at 100 mph + with a 2013 Ford Focus ST grafted to my rear bumper .... and that was a totally stock car other than aftermarket pads .
so , I spend tons of money , buy parts and reset the suspension , go to hi performance tires just to beat a Ford Focus ST ????

Will get rid of my ERA ??? Absolutely not ... it is far more fun to drive than the Focus , and I love it .

I have a 2014 F-150 crew cab with ecoboost which would out handle my old corvettes and beat the 57 to 60 mph.

The Cobras are fun to drive and they have one huge advantage on modern cars and that is weight. That is an area that will always be an advantage, even modern super cars with carbon everything are around 3000 lbs or more.

[Bobcat]

Funny you should mention the F150 .... mine is a 2003 Screw with the 5.4 engine ( 112,000 miles ) . Nothing special , anti sway bars front and rear , Bilstein shocks , good brakes ( I tow ) and a retuned ECM . This truck has surprised more than a few cars ..... even the trucks today are really decent handlers if you care to push them .
Definitely beats my `63 1/2 427 Galaxie on the turn department .

[Jamo]

A 2003 Screw?

[Bobcat]

An abbreviation for Super Crew that a lot of F150 owners use .... get your mind out of the gutter Jamo !

[Cobra #3170]

I know this is getting boring but this video of the next day shows how much the engine has left even at around 7000 rpm. I got a little too ambitious with the throttle at 0:54 and it jumps sideways going approximately 90 mph in second gear. I am going in the opposite direction on the same course, love the way that engine pulls everywhere no matter the gear or RPM.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np4pcDEsnFg[/ame]

[TimG427]

Boring, no way. This is great. Please post all the videos you like.

[Rick Parker]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfW-aF3SGyw[/ame]

[COBRA427]

Bruce - Awesome Cobra

Could you give us some info on your wheels, like, brand, model, size and back spacing?

Thanks

[*13*]

Owning a small block car(replica, of course ), that is some insane power! Wow! Sounds great & looks to handle that way too. Maybe I should throw on that set of 17's w/ Falkens, I have sitting in the garage.

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by COBRA427

Bruce - Awesome Cobra

Could you give us some info on your wheels, like, brand, model, size and back spacing?

Thanks

Yes, they are pin drive Jongbloeds 11x18 F and 12.5x18 rear, the suspension is a zero scrub design that has 7" of back space on the front and 5" in the rear

[mickmate]

The cone killer strikes again, attaboy Bruce!

[spf645]

Originally Posted by Bobcat

Bruce ... what you said about the original Cobra`s front suspension being out of the norm for modern passenger cars is so true . We like to think of our cars as being able to out handle with anything on the road , but I do HPD events , mostly at VIR , and I can tell you that most modern "grocery getter " cars are way above the sports cars of yesterday . Probably the equal of or better than most of our replicas as built . I remember going through the uphill esses at VIR at 100 mph + with a 2013 Ford Focus ST grafted to my rear bumper .... and that was a totally stock car other than aftermarket pads .
so , I spend tons of money , buy parts and reset the suspension , go to hi performance tires just to beat a Ford Focus ST ????

Will get rid of my ERA ??? Absolutely not ... it is far more fun to drive than the Focus , and I love it .

Bobcat,,, if you bring the cobra up to your extra house in Carolina foothills, maybe I could borrow the old 2000 focus I sold, do some practice runs following you up (THAT) hill. It being 13 years older than the SVT you spoke of,, you've got a much better chance of shaking this tailgater.

Only picking...

Little café near pool at top of hill, isn't bad. Was there a few weeks back.

Brett

[DTuck]

Bruce was my boss at Ford and I ended up helping him get ready for a race he planned to attend by working set up a test track at TRC in Ohio. Seemed that his race times where better when I was setting in the passage seat then when not. What car is all I can say. Lost track of him when he left Ford. Would like to contact him to go over old times. So Bruce if you are out there get ahold of me.

[Snake2998]

In my opinion anyone who returns this car back to original is committing a crime - it must be one of the few originals that has genuine ongoing competition based development that ensures that it can compete against most modern machinery and should be kept exactly as it ends up to act as a benchmark to what can be achieved by intelligent modification and development without changing the essence of the car.

If I had the money I would pay well over the going rate for originals for this car whenever it came on the market, and if I had the money and the ability I would continue its development and active participation in the type of competition it has been set up for.