Help with Possible Hi-Tech Motorsport Cobra

[LMH]

There are some of the very early cars that don't have the body copied from CSX3190. Those tend to not be quite as valuable. Can you post a side view photo. I'd need to see the body under the doors.
Larry

[cobrakiwi]

Mark
I have pic's of the up rights, Hi Tech made a brake caliper bracket that bolts to the up right then the Hi Tech made steering arm is bolted to that and also the up right / spindle.

[TheStig]

Here are the following specifications of the car in terms of trying to determine a price. Please be aware, these are the specifications of the car as of now:
- Motor: 351 Cleveland (I know! This is the absolute worst part of the car. Yes...we give ourselves grief over this on a daily basis. The original owner wanted more horsepower in the car)
- Transmission: T5 - Mustang Transmission (5-Speed - Yes, the car originally had a 4-speed transmission but this is the transmission that was in the car when it was repossessed)
- Brakes: Wilwood Brakes - 4 Piston Caliper
- Wheels: Halibrand Cobra Knock-Offs
- Seats: Leather
- Color: Black - Brand New Paint Job (Polyurethane Black Pain)
- Lap-Belts: Cobra Restoration Website
- Brand new 4:10 Gear Ratio
- Brand new wiring throughout the entire car
- Brand new stainless steel bolts
- Brand new headers: Cobra Restoration Website
- Brand new chrome side-pipes: Cobra Restoration Website
- Brand new carpet: Black
- Brand new windshield: Cobra Restoration
- Brand new Fire-Stone Indy 500 tires
- Brand new ball joints: Local Parts Dealer
- Brand new wheel bearings: Local Parts Dealer
- Brand new shocks: Summit Racing

The individual parts are random as one can tell. We wanted to confirm that this is an actual Hi-Tech Motorsports Cobra before investing too much into the car.

I will try to post more photographs by tomorrow.

[LMH]

My opinion, the engine is going to be the down-fall. Nothing wrong with a Cleveland but in a car of such replication, I think it should have an FE.
Five speed is great and really helps at freeway speeds but the T5 isn't known for it's strength. A TKO would have been better but as you point out, it was in the car already.
The diff ratio is too low for my tastes. 3.23 would be better and if I was a buyer, I would have to factor in changing that.

Now that I'm done tearing your car apart... it is still a Hi-Tech and that makes it one of the best. I don't mean to pee in your cereal, so don't take my opinions to heart.
I'll wait for photo's.
Larry

[TheStig]

No, no, nooooo, you are perfectly fine.

We (my father and I) already know the major downfalls for the car as it stands. I completely agree with what Larry has said. It is an amazing cars, but the previous owner, for some reason, completely made a mockery out of the car.

[LMH]

Sorry, I should have stated 3.27 for the diff ratio. I was having a GM moment! I beg forgiveness!
Larry

[Bannon]

Wait a minute! We have a guy recently joining that is claiming to be The Stig?? OK exactly which Stig were you, there were several over time... :-D

Welcome!

JB

[TheStig]

I am so sorry that it has taken so long to respond back to this forum. Since the last time that I have posted to this specific thread, I have taken several pictures of the possible Hi-Tech Motorsports Cobra. After taking so many photographs, it has been difficult to upload them to the photograph albums that are provided by this website. Since the long length of time of upload and image resizing, I have opted to use a third party website to arrange a photograph album of the vehicle.

Here is a link to the photo-album:

Pictures of the 1965 Hi-Tech Motorsports Cobra

Once again, keep in mind that this Cobra was in rough condition when it was repossessed several years ago. The original motor upon repossession was a 351 Cleveland that been restored in the past year. Almost Any part or piece of the car that was missing was ordered from official Cobra restoration websites that provide authentic pieces.

Now, let us be honest:
- The motor is more than undesirable, the motor is not overdone but is nicely clean, which would definitely hurt the value of the car. The motor was restored by a professional speed shop that has direct connections with Jack Roush and his services. These individuals often provide Tony Stewart engines for his dirt track teams.
- The gauges are another weak aspect of the car. As of tomorrow, my father and I are going to spend a little bit of money to add period-correct gauges that include the reverse speedometer and glove-box.
- We are also tempted in purchasing the twin cooling fans that are often found inside of the car's front opening to help keep radiator cooler.
- Once again....it is a five-speed, which is not correct. Blah. If we were to change the five speed to a four speed, we would need to order new pipes and re-do several aspects of the car to accommodate the change. Overall, based on Mecum prices and Barrett Jackson prices, we are not convinced that it is fiscally worth while.

With these pictures, do you guys have ANY idea how much this car could be worth? Yes, we may be interested in selling it at some point in the near future.

Has it been confirmed that this Cobra was constructed by Tom DiAntonio from the early to mid 1990's or was the car built by a different individual and/or a different period of time?

[DanEC]

Wow - don't know what it's worth but that's a nice car - 351 and all. I think you're right that some more period gages will enhance it.

[mickmate]

Hi Mark, I'll check the article and see if that gives details on the Galaxie upright. It's a real nice looking car but if it were mine I would change a few things and there's a few others I wouldn't have done. If you need help sourcing any parts let us know. The number of this car is the very next one to Davids (601HP). David doesn't that makes it a D'Antonio car?

[LMH]

Looks awesome! Paint is very well done, at least what I can see from the photo's.
There are a few things I would have done different but that can be said of almost every car on here.
A couple suggestions I would make would be to change the gauges to more accurate ones. Stick with the comp layout as this is a 427 S/C model replica. I would not add a glove box. Again, it's an S/C style car. Lower it down a little and then have it aligned. It looks a little high off the ground in the photo's. It'll show better and look more accurate.
I like the oil filter/coil bracket... very nice!
I would probably change the shifter and steering wheel center cap but that's picking nits!
( I can be a nit-picker though!)
Just my guess on the value would be in the 60's range. What do you think Nick?
Larry

[LMH]

Oh yeah... get that Mustang emblem off the dash!
Larry

[LMH]

Nice looking pose.
Larry

[TheStig]

Originally Posted by LMH

Paint is very well done, at least what I can see from the photo's.

Thank you for the compliment. In all of the pictures that have been shown, the car was a bit dusty from sitting in the garage. Even though a car cover is used to keep the car as reflective as possible, dust still tends to accumulate on the body of the car. However, the paint job (polyurethane paint) gets compliments any time that the care is taken out on the road.

Originally Posted by LMH

I would make would be to change the gauges to more accurate ones.

We will be ordering better gauges for the car in the morning. It is 12:37am in Kentucky, so the gauges will be ordered in around 12 hours from this posting. I will take the suggestion of not installing a glove box.

Originally Posted by LMH

Lower it down a little and then have it aligned. It looks a little high off the ground in the photo's.

This is a very interesting suggestion. I would have never thought of lowering the car. Now that you have mentioned it, it does seem to be sitting a scosh too high compared to the real Cobra. As you all know, we are basing the looks more on the A/C Cobra rather than the Shelby. More will be spoken about this point in just a bit.

Originally Posted by LMH

I would probably change the shifter and steering wheel center cap but that's picking nits!

Before posting the pictures online, we had discussed that a Cobra center piece needs to be placed in the center of the steering wheel. Also, rather than having the "Powered by Ford" emblem on the sides, I had always suggested that he put the common "427" emblem even though it does not currently have a 427 in the car. The shifter knob can also be replaced with ease, so I appreciate that suggestion.

Originally Posted by LMH

Oh yeah... get that Mustang emblem off the dash!

Please do not get me started on this. I was never satisfied with the gauges (my dad liked them) and putting that Cobra emblem on the dash was ALWAYS a point of debate between us. I have hated that emblem since it was placed in that location and have begged for him to remove it since it is meant to be an A/C Cobra in the first place. The Cobra emblem is absurd. I cannot wait until he sees this same suggestion from the Cobra experts on this forum.

I love my old man, though!

[LMH]

Please do not get me started on this. I was never satisfied with the gauges (my dad liked them) and putting that Cobra emblem on the dash was ALWAYS a point of debate between us. I have hated that emblem since it was placed in that location and have begged for him to remove it since it is meant to be an A/C Cobra in the first place. The Cobra emblem is absurd. I cannot wait until he sees this same suggestion from the Cobra experts on this forum.

I love my old man, though!

Oh trust me, I know exactly what you're saying! My dad and I go round and round about things on my build too. If we were building motorcycles, it would be a TV show!
But when all is said and done, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be.
Larry

[601HP]

Your car appears to be the next build after mine. They told me the specific style of serial number had been changed, and my car was the first to be assigned that new numbering. Your serial number is distinctively the next after mine. Hi-Tech shipped my car during the first week of July 1994.

The height of your roll bar is identical to mine, which is lower than virtually all others.

Was your's built by D'Antonio? David

Originally Posted by mickmate

Hi Mark, I'll check the article and see if that gives details on the Galaxie upright. It's a real nice looking car but if it were mine I would change a few things and there's a few others I wouldn't have done. If you need help sourcing any parts let us know. The number of this car is the very next one to Davids (601HP). David doesn't that makes it a D'Antonio car?

[mvanhorn8893]

Does anyone know if someone makes the rear suspension parts for a Hi-Tech Motorsports Cobra 427?

Reading some online info would lead me to believe that these should be equal to original Cobra parts.

I'm looking for lower control arms for both sides, knuckles with bearings spindles brakes, trailing arms, and half shafts for both sides.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

[1985 CCX]

Best bet is Craig in VA, assuming Tim G is unavailable.

His #434-465-9493

Craig is familiar with Hi-Tech cars and also a great resource!
Anyone else will be learning at your expense.
Looks like the typical Ford 9" set up.

[Mongoose930]

Craig is working on my Hi-Tech and he is awesome!!!

[krausewich]

Craig 'AKA' Cobrakiwi !