cobra kit based on vw

[ilmung]

Hi ,
I am new on the forum and a fan of the vw/porsche technology because it's very simple ,not so expensif and the availibity of parts is very good .
My new project is to build a cobra based on a vw chassis .
So I would be very thankfull if anybody can give me info where I can find a bodyshell .
Maybe a bodyshell based on another car/chassis ,which I can adapt to the vw chassis ?

kind regards
Geert

[mr bruce]

I have a new Factory 5 427 body avaliable, e-mail me for details.

[Snake2998]

Although a Cobra body can in all likelihood be made to fit it will never capture any of the raw American muscle feel and sound that make Cobra's such awesome and appealing vehicles with major street cred nor retain any sort of re-sale value nor garner any respect.

I think you be much better fitting an early Porsche 356 or spider body to the VW chassis giving you the street cred that goes with those cars and matching your love of that technology.

[Snake2998]

Double Post

[mr bruce]

Geert , i put a picture up in the for sale section of the body

[PSB]

Well, it CAN be done...

[G-Pete]

Look around in the Swedish forums...

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by PSB

Well, it CAN be done...

There s/b laws preventing this sort of travesty.

[Nedsel]

I think if this works, maybe I'll make a Prius kit using a Bugatti Veyron as the starting point.

[Snake2998]

Actually this reminds me that when we first built our "replica" some 20+ years ago, and replica Cobras were a great rarity in our part of the world, I was occasionally asked if it was VW based (a quick blip of the throttle answered that question) but with the much larger numbers on the road now that question never gets asked any more.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

I think if this works, maybe I'll make a Prius kit using a Bugatti Veyron as the starting point.

Or perhaps a Veyron, with the Prius as the starting point.

[Xack]

Don't you think a Cobra pedal car would work better? That does not have an engine in the front either. The one in the back is for going down-hill only.

Get yourself a Bradley GT and be done with it. Be careful not to park it on the curb on trash day. You may find they've loaded it on the trash truck by mistake (or not, because the service knows good trash when they see it.)

[DougD]

Ouch! Lighten up, Guys. I kinda like the blue one...

Seriously, didn't someone offer a VW-based Cobra kit in the US many years ago?

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by ilmung

Hi ,
I am new on the forum and a fan of the vw/porsche technology because it's very simple ,not so expensif and the availibity of parts is very good .
My new project is to build a cobra based on a vw chassis .
So I would be very thankfull if anybody can give me info where I can find a bodyshell .
Maybe a bodyshell based on another car/chassis ,which I can adapt to the vw chassis ?

kind regards
Geert

A list of kit cars can be found at Kit Car List of Auto Manufacturers

A quick scan showed:

• Glockler Spyders Porsche Kitcar & 550 Spyder Replica Manufacturer - Glockler 550 Spyder for unmodified ’58-74 VW
• Intermeccanica | Custom Coach Builders - Manufactures Porsche and WWII VW Kubelwagen kits
• JPS MotorSports - 356 Speedster Replicas - Manufactures VW based Roxster, 1957 Porsche Speedster replica, flared fender 1957 Speedster SC, 1957 replica A Coupe and 550-A Spyder replica
• Mendeola Powertrain - Authorized Meyers Manxter builder & vendo
• Meyers Manx, Inc.: Home of the Manxter 2+2 and Manxter Dualsport Kits Cars - Creators of the original ’60s Meyers Manx dune buggy, now producing the VW-based Manxter 2+2 buggy, Manxter DualSport, and Manxter Kick-Out
• Reproduction Automobiles, Concept Cars, Vintage Car & Aircraft Restoration - Prototype Research - ’52 MGTD on VW pan
• www.vwstreetrod.com - Kits start at $1,995
• Wombat Car Company, maker of the Wombat Rebody Kit. - Manufactures Wombat for VW

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by DougD

Seriously, didn't someone offer a VW-based Cobra kit in the US many years ago?

I have been following the kit car industry since the days where the only ads were in Popular Mechanics magazines. Many of the kits were VW based back then, and IIRC there WAS one Cobra kit based on a VW chassis.

Admittedly it's been MANY years since then...it was back in the late 1960s...but if my memory serves me correctly the kit was an Arntz product.

I could be totally wrong about it being an Arntz product...you know what they say, the memory is the second thing to go!

I do specifically recall a VW based Cobra replica, though...mixed in with those Bradleys and Fiberfab/Kelmark Dino replicas and the neo-classics and Brittish MG replicas...there were even VW based MG replicas.

Hope you can find one...but I agree with the recommendation that the OP consider a 356 "bathtub" Porsche replica or a Porsche 550 Spyder replica if he wants a rear-engined replicar. The kits are engineered for that application and fitting a current Cobra body to a VW pan would seem like too much trouble and expense for what you'd end up with.

Good luck to the OP, though.

Cheers!

Dugly

[REAL 1]

A VW based Cobra kit? Sorry, but that is a new low. Sheesh. Talk about perpetuating the stigma of "Cobra kit cars". Really?

[ilmung]

Thanks all for your + and - point of views , I respect both !
Actually there's in Europe an increase of kitcar productions .But especially in Belgium there's a very limited possibilty to put kitcars on the road .Only with kitcars based on vw chassis it's much easier to put this cars legal on the road .Another point is that all vw beetle parts are still available and cheap compaired with other cars .And indeed porsche 356 + 718 +spyder550, colani gt ,dune buggy ,etc....... are popular kitcars but I want something else an I put my sense on the cobra .
I do not need the big engines with lots of power , supercharged , etc... I just want a quick car with no technical problems and still affordable .
If I take a vw engine 2.4 +- 180 hp at low rpm's , IRS back suspension ,red 9 front suspension ,adapted forced frame on the chassis, super light wheels I will have less than 5.5 sec to get the 100km/hour with high torque , I will use max 10 l fluel , in short curves ......the big cobra's won't follow me :-)
So I continue to find a cobra which I can adapt to a vw chassis .
If anybody find something of Cobra related to vw ... please inform me .
kind regards
Geert

[buddyg]

I can appreciate your situation but a Cobra based on a VW is a horrible idea. The 550's are a way better route to go.

[john chesnut]

I just purchased a complete set of molds for this car. This car has the same track as a VW. In fact I have an original 1964 Crusader frame being duplicated right now. That car was basically a Formula VEE that had been set up for 2 seats and draped with a fiberglass body. It ran the VW front and rear suspension with the engine mid mounted as in the 550. This body will not fit the stock VW tub as the wheelbase is 86.6 inches. I think a stock VW is 95.

It is such a pretty little car that I couldn't pass purchasing them. If you want a body PM me.

[ilmung]

Hi ,
Indeed a Porsche 550 spyder is a very nice car , I started a project with a Porsche 718 based on vw .


John ,
Very nice car !
Please contact me : gvanassche@abriso.com

regards
geert