Kit Identification .. 1965 427 cobra

Junk man · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 12:23 AM

Hello all. New here. And just picked up a 1965 cobra project to get together.

I don't know anything about these, but am pretty mechanically inclined..

I will be needing both body and mechanical parts for the car.. and was hoping some can get me jumpstarted..By telling be what they see.. so I can order parts etc..

The biggest questions is who's kit? Body is extremely thick.. seems well made.
If there was a id tag, where would it be?
I see a vin tag from CA dmv.. but nothing else..
The rear looks to be Jag.. and have found a link to Id'ing it here..
Who's frame is it?
It may have been imported to the US in 1994. There is a sticker in the windshield..
Wheels are Centerline.. but say cast in the wheel " Bias use only".. They must be old?
Are all hoods and doors interchangeable between kits?
Lastly.. obviously looking for parts.. and trying to save a buck.. if you have any I need .. please contact me.

I think I plan to remove the body.. blast the frame and everything.. then paint everything.

Some pics..I have a lot more..

CHANMADD · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 10:00 AM

Jag rear, mustang front............Shell Valley, ....La exotics......?

CHANMADD · #3 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 10:02 AM

Looks like a Dana lsd.....

MOTORHEAD · #4 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 10:20 AM

Junk man: Best set of " help me identify" pics I've seen ! looks like you're missing a rear caliper ! Yeah , mustang front, jag rear, stout frame, looks like a worthwhile project, but I'm not that familiar with the older kits. Someone here will nail it for you. That low full width rollbar should provide a clue. What's the wheelbase ??

PS External boot hinges and "perky butt" Rear ? pre-dating FFR !!!

jhand · #5 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 12:58 PM

I would guess West Coast Cobra with the full roll bar, age and the way the dash is. Best of luck great starting point.
jay

CHANMADD · #6 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 01:06 PM

Looks like a third caliper on the rear left has been modified to work as a handbrake...?

PSB · #7 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 01:28 PM

I've never seen a Cobra with a Mustang II crossmember. Not a CMC/Streetbeasts as the fuel cap is in the correct location. Definately NOT a West Coast. Looks like a one-off or scratch built chassis to me.

Pete

spl310 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 01:54 PM

Old EM kits had Mustang II crossmembers. A few of the early kits did that.

MOTORHEAD · #9 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 02:01 PM

I was thinking early EM because of the "heavy glass"body, (chopper gun). and the corner gussets in the hood opening where EM mounts the hood latches, but hasn' t EM always been a round tube chassis??

BAsque1 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhand

I would guess West Coast Cobra with the full roll bar, age and the way the dash is. Best of luck great starting point.
jay

I agree with jhand, if your kit is 6" longer and 4" wider it could be a Kellison, West Coast, or a Stallion.
Normally these replicas would have a 9" Ford single axle vs a Jag IRS.
Lou(Basque1)

joyridin' · #11 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 06:43 PM

How many kit manufacturers leave the end of the tube frame open? I noticed both the front and rear of the main support tubes are open. Seems like they would get filled with crap...especially the front opening.

spl310 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 06:44 PM

Unique used a square frame with Jag rear and MGB fronts.

Junk man · #13 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 09:48 PM

Lots og great info .. Thanks folks.. Gives me some areas to start searching..

Wheelbase is 90" .. Is that normal?

Yea, Looks like they added a vintage wildwood e brake set up to the rear...

Not sure what " purky butt" or predating ffr is.. but I will search it out..

Seems it's not cut and dry with these.. I mean they are not easily Id'd..

I'm slammed this week with auctions and such.. but please to continue to provide your opinions .. and the first chance I get a few minutes I will back track and search the opinions out, and learn.

Sounds like I didn't waste my 6k buying this car.. and I do plan to redo it..
As you can see in the background , I have 2 others in process.. a falcon and a Camaro.. But this Beats the both...Can't wait to start.

Btw .. do doors and hood from anyones kit.. fit all bodys? Or no?

Thanks

tcrist · #14 (**permalink**) 09-09-2013, 09:56 PM

I believe that all of the body parts are manufacture pacific.

Ron61 · #15 (**permalink**) 09-10-2013, 04:34 AM

Junk Man,

The originals had 90 inch wheel bases. Some replicas had 92 or 94 inch wheel bases. The perky butt referred to was on early Factory fives, the rear end kind of stuck up instead of being flat and in line with the rest of the car like all of the rest. As for the doors and hoods, no not all of them will fit other bodies. It looks as if you have a good buy there and it should make a great car.

The parking brake handle is on top of the transmission tunnel and I am guessing what looks like a hole to the drivers side of it is where the shifter lever comes up. That is kind of unusual and should help some of the really knowledgeable people identify your car.

Ron

DanEC · #16 (**permalink**) 09-10-2013, 05:03 AM

I doubt it's a home-fabricated chassis - looks too well engineered and welded to me. It has some nice details such as the Jag suspension and they even added trailing arms to stabilize the lower link like ERA does. If the body fiberglass is as thick as you describe I would suspect it's not a particularly light weight replica. It doesn't really have the same perky butt as MK 1 thru III FFR - just looks a little taller body section at the tailight area than originals to me - but overall not bad. Some more correct wheels that fit in the wheel wells would improve it's stance a lot. Looks like it has been around and had quite a few miles on the road too. I would say you got a deal on it.

BAsque1 · #17 (**permalink**) 09-10-2013, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhand

I would guess West Coast Cobra with the full roll bar, age and the way the dash is. Best of luck great starting point.
jay

I agree with jhand, if your kit is 6" longer and 4" wider it could be a Kellison, West Coast, or a Stallion.
Normally these replicas would have a 9" Ford single axle vs a Jag IRS.
Lou(Basque1)

Junk man · #18 (**permalink**) 09-10-2013, 05:58 PM

Thanks people..

the width top of the wheel well to top of wheel well.. with a tram..
is 5" 11.5"

So that how wide it is..

Will tram the wheel base again with someone helping me.. to be sure.. about the 90..
But it's no where near the 96" mark.. for sure.

And yes.. The glass is really thick..Like 1" on the edge.. thicker as the fender moves in..
I bet it's pretty heavy too. 2 guys couldn't lift this off the chassis, I don't think.

Yea this car was driven a while.. and in a different country I think..
Can you even buy bias ply tires like those anymore?

Frame looks like it had been painted red originally..

Boy.. I wish the maker put tags on these or something..

How do I go about finding doors and a hood for it? Any thoughts

DanEC · #19 (**permalink**) 09-10-2013, 06:29 PM

An ERA is 70 inches wide at the rear so the width is not far off. With that and the wheelbase it doesn't appear to be a Kellison, West Coast, or a Stallion. No hood or doors huh - that will be a problem unless you can get an identity on it. If all else fails you may need to post the out to out dimensions of the door and hood openings and maybe some various model owners can match something up. A little fiberglass and filler work and anything can be made to fit.

Junk man · #20 (**permalink**) 09-10-2013, 07:05 PM

Looking at the kit comparison pics on the ERA website.. The curve of the quarters.. where it meets the door looks to be the same.. the others look different..

I'm Leanin that way.. based on the input here and the pics..And their frame..