Excalibur Owners: Please Reply!

[RedSnake351]

For the last two years I've had a Cobra and was sure it wasn't a Hi-Tech, which was stated on some paperwork. After months of trying to research the origin of the body, I got my answer during the 2007 London Cobra Show. Two very knowledgeable guys, Dave from Kentucky and Jay from OCC, independently confirmed "positively" that the body is an Excalibur and the chassis is a Classic Roadster. It was built professionally by American Cobra Exchange in 1994 in Atlanta, GA. at 1915 Airport Rd, Dekalb-Peachtree Airport. Researching this company on Google has revealed very little information.
It is listed with a picture in a 1996 "The Car Collector & Car Classic Magazine'" as an ACE 427. It has a 351W, 5 sp. Tremec, tubular front end and carrera coilovers on all 4 corners.
According to the VIN # ACE 94109ECL351001 it would indicate that it is probably the 1st one built, and an unconfirmed story is that 5 were built at the same time.
I'm trying to find other owners with the same body/chassis combo to see if their cars came from this company.
Ralph

[Excaliber]

I would be hard pressed to determine a Classic Roadster body from an Excalibur body, and I KNOW what to look for. They are a virtual carbon copy of each other, including most of the frame components. It's the interior where things vary quite a bit from the C.R.

Excalibur never offered a 'kit' of any kind, while there might have been a few bodies and pieces that got out of the factory in various ways, that would be about it. Random stuff, notably when the factory was shutting down, not starting up!

I would bet you got a C.R., body and frame, made by one of MANY independants that have come and gone over the years. Some replica Cobras will forever remain a mystery as to who built it and what it was built from.

Magazines are notorius for mislabeling replicas of all makes and models. ACE 427 is a fairly generic term that could apply to wide variety of replica Cobras. But in your case it does sound like an actual company name, "ACE".

[RedSnake351]

Ernie, thanks for the reply, my research is not over! One of our club members, Big Iron, has a genuine Excal and the next time we get together we're going to compare the bodies "real good!"
Ralph

[cobraduke]

Can't say much about the chassis differences, but the primary, obvious difference in the fiber glass bodies is the shape of the doors at the upper leading edges. See CRII site for good photos of the CR II version and you can check my gallery photos for the Excalibur version. The rest of the cars seem remarkably identical with the exception of the variety of dash, seat, door latch and console variations seen in the CR. Builders can and do get creative there and the CR factory has options and running changes as well. CR II is a great place for parts and info where they are alike. For example, I needed a windshield washer bottle and the kit from CR II was identical to that used on my Excalibur 11 years ago. Let us know what you find out about your cobra.

Mike

[BLACKJACK]

Dumb Break Here - - Literally!!

On The Recent Drive To Ohio I Cracked The Windshield On My Excalibur.

Anyone Know Where I Can Get A Replacement???

Thanks - And - Y'all Have A Reallly Great Day.

Blackjack

[cobraduke]

CR II are the same for sure. Contact Don Scott. I was told they are all the same, but I'm doubtful as the body width varies. But I'm no expert so may be they are. Nice to learn that yours gets to make cross country trips. You are helping get my motivation up to do something like that. I need a new windshield as well, but it is only pitted. Guess I'll wait until it really needs it. Let us know what you find out.

Mike

[MaSnaka]

Mike I have the slightly older CR which I'd be happy to measure for you if you like. Let me know. John

[Aloys]

BLACKJACK:
had to replace mine, that`s written on it:

XXX Triplex Laminated
DOT 17-M101-AS1
E11
43 R-0076
Pilkington
Made in England

Hope this helps a bit!

[ohekk]

redsnake351

The Classic Roadster and the Excalibur are NOT a "Virtual carbon copy of each other"

There are several distinguishable differences. The shape of the door being most noticeable.

To my knowledge, Excalibur had 2 sets of molds then acquired a third set fro Badgerland Dream Cars that was similar to the CR except had the doors modified similar to Excalibur. The 3 sets of molds were NOT identical!

When comparing your car to an Excalibur: check the doors, the parting lines in the front fenders, headlight openings, hood, door jams, backup lights, Fuel filler shape & location sidemarkers and the firewall. Excalibur glass was hand laid NOT applied with a chopper gun.

Many parts are interchnageable but the bodies are definately different.

It's true that Excalibur did not market their Cobra as a kit, however once the production stopped, the molds and fixtures were sold and several Cobras were sold as "Components only". I know of at least 5 in my area.

It's possible your body was:

A - Pulled from the original Excalibur molds
B - A "component only" body that left the factory
C - A salvaged body from a car that was wrecked /"rebodied"
D - Pulled from the Badgerland molds
E - None of the above

If your car was built in 1994...I suspect D or E

[RedSnake351]

Originally Posted by ohekk

It's possible your body was:

A - Pulled from the original Excalibur molds
B - A "component only" body that left the factory
C - A salvaged body from a car that was wrecked /"rebodied"
D - Pulled from the Badgerland molds
E - None of the above

If your car was built in 1994...I suspect D or E

ohekk, thanks for your thoughts on the subject. A buddy, Big Iron, who has a "real" Excalibur in southern Wisconsin will bring his car and we will make a "real" close comparison of the two bodies.
I was not aware of the Badgerland molds, but that doesn't mean much! (I'm not aware of a lot of things!)
Thanks, Ralph

[DavidFagan]

It's a 96.
I think camber's and toe's are always zero or real close on all cars but I have no idea about the caster angle.

[ohekk]

caster:3.75° +/- 0.5°
camber:3/8 degree +/- 1/8 degree
toe in: 0.03 to 0.06 (1/32in to 2/32in)

[ohekk]

I have no confirmation but I heard of another set of molds in the Minneapolis area that again were splashed from the CR and modified the doors.

It seems as though the wider / longer Classic Roadster has been copied almost as much as the Original Cobra

[cobraduke]

Red/Black, less than 4000 miles, appears all original, dealer in Portland, OR. Idaho plates. Any history on this car?

Mike

[flyboy1997]

Mike, I don't know History yet ( other than CarFax ) but I can tell You The Future...... I made a offer to dealership after ebay bidding closed with reserve not met by me, after closing I made a offer less than what they intended to get & a good bit less than what was listed months ago when the Doctor himself was trying to sell elsewhere, dealer was selling for him. One owner car renewing license every two years ( I guess that is a norm in OR ? ), car has air & other factory options not mentioned that would have probably helped to list? Anyway # 140 of However many will be relocating to Magnolia, AR as soon as I get a good carrier, know of any better than Reliable? Will see how many keys & paper work will come with car in the next month probably? Wendell

[Madmiles442]

Rich's Classic Transport hauls more Cobras than anyone and does a great job of it.
http://www.richsclassictransport.com/home.html

[BLACKJACK]

You Can't Beat Rich's Classic Transport. They Carried My Era Cobra And Era Gt-40 From Virginia To Nebraska And Back. They Treated The Cars Like "grandma's Favorite China".

Darn Nice Guys To Do Business With As Well.

Blackjack

[BLACKJACK]

I'm Still Trying To Find A Windshield For My Excalibur.

Does Anyone Have Don Scott's E-mail Or Phone Number ??

I've Been Trying To Find It On The Forum With No Luck (computer Genious That I Am).

Thanks

Blackjack

[tcrist]

Go to WWW.classicroadsters.com

All of the info you need is there

Terry

[BLACKJACK]

Thanks, Terry.

Blackjack