Club Cobra Gas-N Exhaust  

Go Back   Club Cobra > Cobra Talk Areas > ALL COBRA TALK

MMG Superformance
Nevada Classics
Main Menu
Module Jump:
Nevada Classics
Nevada Classics
Keith Craft Racing
MMG Superformance
Advertise at CC
Banner Ad Rates
MMG Superformance
Keith Craft Racing
December 2024
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31        

Kirkham Motorsports

Like Tree20Likes
  • 1 Post By xb-60
  • 3 Post By griffin289trips
  • 1 Post By JimH
  • 1 Post By Harpoon PV2
  • 3 Post By Alfa02
  • 4 Post By Mark IV
  • 2 Post By grybrd123
  • 1 Post By letsboogie351
  • 4 Post By marklotus

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 11-04-2015, 07:04 PM
HealeyRick's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 403
Not Ranked     
Default Cobra 427 vs. Griffith 400

Contemporary tests said CSX 3167 did 0-60 in 4.2 and 0-100 in 10.3 and held the fastest acceleration records into the '80s. Today, I saw a claimed time for a Griffith 400 as 0-60 in under 3.5 and 0-100-0 in less than a 427 Cobra. http://saacnw.org/newsletters/july02news.pdf Anyone know which one was really quicker?
__________________
Rick

My SBF Austin-Healey build:
http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,8264
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 11-04-2015, 08:34 PM
cycleguy55's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: White City, SK
Cobra Make, Engine: West Coast, 460 CID
Posts: 2,908
Not Ranked     
Default

Car and Driver Magazine has tested Cobras (originals and replicas) many times over the past 50+ years. Some of their tests, showing 0-60 times:
  • Shelby Cobra 427, 1965, 4.3 secs
  • Shelby Cobra 289, 1970, 5.2 secs
  • Autokraft Ltd. AC Mark IV (replica), 1984, 4.4 secs
  • Shelby Cobra 427 S/C, 1998, 3.6 secs

I could find no details on the '1998 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C' that ran a 0-60 time of 3.6 secs - perhaps someone can fill those in.

Source: Rocket Sleds: The Best Performers from 50 Years of Car and Driver Testing - Car Comparison - Feature Article - Page 2

BTW, this page (1965 Griffith 400 full range specs) shows the Griffith @ 6.6 secs - obviously well off a 3.5 sec pace.

Also worth noting is the Griffith had a wheelbase of 87.4" and was apparently plagued by torque steer and handling was described as 'quirky'. 1966 Griffith

Griffith apparently claimed a 0-60 time of 3.8 secs with a 289 HP - but I've found no instrumented tests.

YouTube video shows a 500 HP nitrous Griffith 500 with a sub-4 second 0-60. Video here: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd_WTr8PJV4[/ame]
__________________
Brian
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 11-04-2015, 09:03 PM
HealeyRick's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 403
Not Ranked     
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cycleguy55 View Post

Griffith apparently claimed a 0-60 time of 3.8 secs with a 289 HP - but I've found no instrumented tests.
This is what I found, too. Nothing to back up the 3.8 claimed time from Griffith. I could buy the Griffith besting a 289 Cobra, but not a 427.
__________________
Rick

My SBF Austin-Healey build:
http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,8264
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 11-04-2015, 09:27 PM
xb-60's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Adelaide, SA
Cobra Make, Engine: AP 289FIA 'English' spec.
Posts: 13,152
Not Ranked     
Default

I have John Christy's original Sports Car Graphic road test no. 21/62 for a 260 Cobra with 0-60mph recorded in 4.1 sec, 0-100 in 10.8 and standing quarter in 12.9 at 114mph. Top speed (ave.) was 152

Cheers,
Glen
Alfa02 likes this.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 11-05-2015, 03:04 PM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 94
Not Ranked     
Default Griffith

I driven a few hipo griffiths, 200 Series & 400 Series. Yes, very fast cars, if set up properly. They can get twichy at very high speeds. The real Cobras I had rides in were also very fast. 289 and 427 cobras also need a lot of attention while driving at high speeds.
I don't take a lot of stock in original tests as they are very in consistent, some absurdly slow or unbelievably fast. As to which one is faster, who knows. I feel a decent hipo Griffith is good for a sub 5 sec. 0 to 60 mph run.
I think maybe there needs to be a contest, an original 289 or 427 Cobra VS a 289 hipo Griffith.
As the old saying goes the B.S. stops when the green flag drops!
Blue66, jolsen42 and Mach 1 Fan like this.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 11-05-2015, 04:12 PM
JimH's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Murrieta, Ca, CA
Cobra Make, Engine: F5 stock 302 EFI
Posts: 67
Not Ranked     
Default

I owned a Griffith 400 w/ 271 HP 289 engine from 1966--1968. It came with 185-15" Dunlop SP tires which were as wide as possible without rubbing the body or suspension upright. Way too narrow for the engine power. I won quite a number of 2nd and 3rd place autocross trophies, but never got a 1st place because of spinning out. The car came with high 3.08 Salisbury diff gearing, which resulted in a slower take off launch. With a 7000 rpm redline, I saw 70 mph in 1st, 93 in 2nd, 115 in 3rd and 135 in 4th, before chickening out. The front end was pushed way down from air flow pressure and the rear end was VERY light and was becoming unstable. Never went that fast again in a car without a rollbar!
Attached Images
  
Blue66 likes this.
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 10-18-2021, 11:40 AM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: COOPER CITY, FL
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 24
Not Ranked     
Default

Come along for a ride in a 1965 Griffith 200

https://youtu.be/pGs6Yi9E2NI

https://youtu.be/PJRLWkWy-bw
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 10-18-2021, 11:38 PM
Harpoon PV2's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: May 2021
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 516
Not Ranked     
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by xb-60 View Post
I have John Christy's original Sports Car Graphic road test no. 21/62 for a 260 Cobra with 0-60mph recorded in 4.1 sec, 0-100 in 10.8 and standing quarter in 12.9 at 114mph. Top speed (ave.) was 152

Cheers,
Glen
All hale John Christy, the man Carrol called the Godfather of the Cobra! He was at Dean Moons shop during the engine install in CSX2000 and it was Dean and John that actually went Corvette hunting. In farness Shelby had to run after a short test drive, because he was still trying to sell the Cobra, to Ford, Tasca and Ed Hugus! John went way overboard in his praise of the Cobra. Those figures for even a well tuned 260, need to be taken with several Texas size grains of salt!
Alfa02 likes this.
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 10-19-2021, 06:09 AM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: New Britain, CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Size 10 Feet
Posts: 3,016
Not Ranked     
Default

I suspect that the first 260 cid cars had blueprinted engines (and maybe even tweaked a little), anticipating that they would be the subject of magazine road tests. Once the production cars were tested, performance fell off quite a bit.
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 10-19-2021, 07:20 AM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 678
Not Ranked     
Default

Always had a soft spot for Griffiths .
__________________
Dan
427 CSX 3000/4000 and Shelbys.
All gone ! Was a Hell of a run

Now ... The dogs car
Mercedes E63S station wagon. 603hp
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old 10-23-2021, 12:27 PM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Cobra Make, Engine: Unique Motorcars 289 USRRC, 1964 289 stroked to 331, toploader
Posts: 1,090
Not Ranked     
Default

My car's tranny came out of a Griffith!
__________________

Paul

Unique Motorcars 289 USRRC
1964 289 5-bolt block
Toploader and 3.31 rear
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 01-04-2024, 05:24 PM
Registered User
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Dec 2023
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 1
Not Ranked     
Default

Perhaps we can have a race or maybe just time slips.. My Griffith 4006055 vs ?
I have owned my 1966 Griffith since 1983. Perhaps we can gather a few 1/4 mile time slips (this Summer 2024) to see how the various cars compare.
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old 01-04-2024, 11:16 PM
Alfa02's Avatar
CC Member/Contributor
Visit my Photo Gallery
Gold Star Contributor
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: (Beautiful) Sequim, WA
Cobra Make, Engine: Pacific Roadster, 347 cu.in. 5-speed
Posts: 2,001
Not Ranked     
Default

I would like to join this fun little group with our newest (1964) car. Will present it to the club next week, I believe it will keep up with the Griffith and a Cobra or two. Watch for coming attractions Cheers TommyRot.
Tommy, EM-0785 and Harpoon PV2 like this.
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old 01-05-2024, 05:50 AM
Senile Club Cobra Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Buffalo, NY USA, NY
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance
Posts: 4,535
Not Ranked     
Default

Why did Griffiths have the huge back window? So, when you punched it, you could see where you are going!
__________________
"I'm high all right, but on the real thing....powerful gasoline and a clean windshield..."

rick@autoventureusa.net
Reply With Quote
  #15 (permalink)  
Old 01-05-2024, 05:59 AM
Senile Club Cobra Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Buffalo, NY USA, NY
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance
Posts: 4,535
Not Ranked     
Default

Why did Griffiths have the huge back window? So, when you punched it, you could see where you are going!
__________________
"I'm high all right, but on the real thing....powerful gasoline and a clean windshield..."

rick@autoventureusa.net
Reply With Quote
  #16 (permalink)  
Old 01-05-2024, 10:50 AM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Cobra Make, Engine: N/A
Posts: 295
Not Ranked     
Default

I have a 1969 TVR Tuscan SE (basically a Griffith with a 3 inch longer wheel base = 90 inches) that was drag raced in the day. With the car came a timing slip from 7 June 1970 at Englishtown, NJ. On that day it turned a 7.040 8th mile (100.28 mph) and the quarter was 10.91 at 127.08. I am unsure about any modifications that may have been done to accomplish that, so think what you will!
cycleguy55 and Alfa02 like this.
Reply With Quote
  #17 (permalink)  
Old 01-05-2024, 02:17 PM
letsboogie351's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Melbourne, vic
Cobra Make, Engine: Kenmer with Ford Quad Cam Boss 260
Posts: 981
Not Ranked     
Default

https://youtu.be/8BF3kTuq9zk?si=iacWYMmaZkEHFXpX
Tommy likes this.
Reply With Quote
  #18 (permalink)  
Old 01-05-2024, 06:01 PM
Alfa02's Avatar
CC Member/Contributor
Visit my Photo Gallery
Gold Star Contributor
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: (Beautiful) Sequim, WA
Cobra Make, Engine: Pacific Roadster, 347 cu.in. 5-speed
Posts: 2,001
Not Ranked     
Default

Or a Step up to a 400-stage2? He meant overhead valves not cams. Any idea about those wheels, couldn't understand his accent when he mentioned them? He knows where the LOUD pedal is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-9YbPNeLKg
Reply With Quote
  #19 (permalink)  
Old 01-05-2024, 09:36 PM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Wayne, PA
Cobra Make, Engine: KMP938
Posts: 88
Not Ranked     
Default

I hope to bring my 1967 SWB Tuscan to the SAAC meet this summer in NJ.
One of 28 made by TVR after Griffith went out of business.
Basically a Griffith 400 with a nicer interior but the name was changed to Tuscan.
Attached Images
 
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:32 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
The representations expressed are the representations and opinions of the clubcobra.com forum members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of the site owners, moderators, Shelby American, any other replica manufacturer, Ford Motor Company. This website has been planned and developed by clubcobra.com and its forum members and should not be construed as being endorsed by Ford Motor Company, or Shelby American or any other manufacturer unless expressly noted by that entity. "Cobra" and the Cobra logo are registered trademarks for Ford Motor Co., Inc. clubcobra.com forum members agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyrighted material is owned by you. Although we do not and cannot review the messages posted and are not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we reserve the right to delete any message for any reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). Thank you for visiting clubcobra.com. For full policy documentation refer to the following link: CC Policy
Links monetized by VigLink