The "original" Cobra kit car

[mrmustang]

Amazing what you can find on the web. First time I have ever seen this shot.

[Ron61]

Bill,

That is the first time I have ever seen that picture also. Are those actually kits that early on? They have the 221 CI engine sign in the background and that engine had a very short lifespan and was never used in a Cobra. The first 60 built had 260 engines in them. Or was Ford selling them and you could put them together? That could be an interesting story.

Ron

[Mark IV]

That was the Ford "Cobra Kits" sign that travelled around hawking the engine parts kits that Ford marketed. You know, the ones that came with two round "COBRA" emblems that ended up on everything.....I saw one on a Chevy II in the sixties!
There is a picture out there with that sign and Bob Bondurant.

At that point in the sixties "kit cars" were floppy fiberglass bodies sold out of the back of Car Craft and more likely than not to never be completed.

[trularin]

Great photo! I too have never seen the image until now. Sort of gives you something to think about relative to Ford and the Cars.

Tru

[Nedsel]

Going back to the day, "Cobra Kits" referenced the engine parts that comprised the high-performance package, making a standard small-block into a Cobra-like engine. There were ads for Cobra Kits in various magazines like Hot Rod, and they always referred to intakes, carburetors, valve covers, chrome air cleaners, and the like. They did not suggest that Cobras were "kits."

[Karl Bebout]

Wouldn't CS's original cars be considered as much of as "kit car" as those currently from SPF or Backdraft? Rollers imported to the US where engines and transmissions were installed? Of course CS eventually did make a "few" modifications to put the cars on the track, as do lots of SPF and Backdraft people.

Yes, CS developed the cars that we all so dearly love, but putting a big motor in a little car was certainly nothing new. Allard comes to mind. He did choose a beautiful body and used the best power, he could get his hands on (Duntov be dammmmmmed!) and thank goodness those early kit car makers realized what a hoot they were.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

Going back to the day, "Cobra Kits" referenced the engine parts that comprised the high-performance package, making a standard small-block into a Cobra-like engine. There were ads for Cobra Kits in various magazines like Hot Rod, and they always referred to intakes, carburetors, valve covers, chrome air cleaners, and the like. They did not suggest that Cobras were "kits."

I think Ned is right. I have the old catalog from back then. See pics. They marketed a lot of over-the counter parts and put "Cobra" on everything they could.

[con9k@aol.com]

Love to find one of those kits still in the box.

[Thor maine]

So do I have this right ? The 221 engine was the first of the engines offered to CS by Ford. It was the one that was first measured and speced to fit in the AC. Or was one actually fit in an AC? Then it grew to 240 and those were the first fit in an AC in England? Then it grew to 260 and that was the first fitted by CS at Dean Moons in California? Then 289, 390, 427 SO, 427 CO, then the 428. About right? Anybody?

[Thor maine]

Did CS ever use any other engine in the Cobra ?

[Rick Parker]

The only 240 I recall was a straight 6 Cylinder. Otherwise the lineage looks right. Also the 390 (in Aluminum) was fit to the lonely individual Fliptop but was a dismal failure.

I would date that picture in mid 1963. Looks like a Car show at perhaps Pamona Fairgrounds. The Cobras have large badging and narrow wire wheels, and all the accesories including luggage racks to promote travel. Ford Falcons had not yet changed to the fresh boxy '64 style from their initial rounded nose design.

[Ron61]

One 221 engine was ever fitted in a Cobra and that was one that they flew to Thames Dutton to see if they could make it work in that body. Then the engine and transmission were removed and flown back to the states. By the time they got bodies here, Ford had kicked the 221 up to 260 and that is why they are so rare. No Cobra was ever built and offered for sale with the 221. The first 60 Cobras had the 260 engine in them which they had pumped up to 260 horse or one horsepower per cubic inch. I see a 62/63 Fairlane once in a while at a show that has the 221.

Ron

[Rick Parker]

They (221) were a real step forward from the 292 that they replaced but a little weak in the knees, I think around 145-160 HP with a 2 bbl in Fairlane application. But... A huge step forwarding design and efficiency.

[Karl Bebout]

No 240 Ford V8 that I've ever heard of or found on line.

From Fordidentifier.com:
The quickest way of differentiating between the different familys of Ford engines is to simply count the valve cover bolts.
2 bolts: 239/256/272/292/312 (produced from 1954 to 1964)
5 bolts: 332/352/360/361/390/391/406/410/427/428 (FE engine)
6 bolts: 221/260/289/302/351W
7 bolts: 429/460
8 bolts: 351C/351M/400

[LMH]

Ford's 240 was an inline six cylinder. Their "big block" six.
Larry

[Karl Bebout]

Remember that Ford had the really big 300 cu in grunt-n-go stump pulling six banger. Used to see some of them in lower class rail dragsters. Sounded like a whole bunch of pi++ed off hornets and ran like the dickens, if their crank didn't snap.

[Thor maine]

You guys are right No 240. I saw a picture in one of my books on Cobra's and it was of one of the early prototype engines I thought it said XHP 240 upon closer inspection , with my glasses on this time it said XHP260. But my question is did CS ever put in any other "one of" engines in like the 390 in the Flip Top??

[Karl Bebout]

I remember hearing of a 390 or two being installed. Don't know if it is fact. Think ole CS would use what ever he had laying around to get a car out on the road. Don't know how many 428s he called 527s.

[Bernica]

As I recall reading, there was a period when Ford ran short of 427's so CS started stuffing 428's in to keep going. Not sure about any 390's though.

[HealeyRick]

If that original picture shows Shelby was selling kit cars, then this one must show he was racing Healeys in 1963:



It's from the Nassau Speed Week, which seems like an awful inviting place to be as the snow closes in on the Northeast.