For those folks who like a mystery, what manufacturer do you think this is?

[1ntCobra]

I just saw this on BAT and the seller thought it was an FFR Mk1, but others commenting on it say that it is not an FFR.

Perhaps someone will buy this up not knowing what it is and then next week we might see them show up here as a new forum member asking what they just bought.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...cobra-replica/

[Thor maine]

Body looks like a Shell Valley but the frame looks like homemade?

[1985 CCX]

Johnex

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

Johnex

Here is a picture of a frame from the Johnex website:



That looks like its got rectangular frame pieces, while the BAT car has small round tubes.

[eschaider]

That looks like the WRONG manufacturer.

The roll bar is an amalgamation of an SC and a USRRC bar. The frame looks like it is not going to be up to the job of handling any significant torque. The hood scoop is not even remotely authentic and pictures of other parts of the car would undoubtedly raise additional questions about those parts.

This is probably a good thing to steer a course around rather than attempting to buy.


Ed

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by eschaider

That looks like the WRONG manufacturer.

The roll bar is an amalgamation of an SC and a USRRC bar. The frame looks like it is not going to be up to the job of handling any significant torque. The hood scoop is not even remotely authentic and pictures of other parts of the car would undoubtedly raise additional questions about those parts.

This is probably a good thing to steer a course around rather than attempting to buy.


Ed

I am not bidding on it. I just checked and the current bid is 35K with over 18 hours to go.

It's got a plate with what looks like a 1965 Mustang serial number on it. I think that there was an ancient practice to register early kit cars with the VIN from a wrecked car. I am not sure if that would be something that might need to be corrected now, or if you could just leave it that way.

I also wonder about the use of zip ties on the frame rails.

[twobjshelbys]

Seriously? Zip ties? It's too bad BAT allows these kind of poorly built, and quite likely, dangerous, vehicles on their auction. I won't bother reading the comments but hope someone has called the car a trap.

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Seriously? Zip ties? It's too bad BAT allows these kind of poorly built, and quite likely, dangerous, vehicles on their auction. I won't bother reading the comments but hope someone has called the car a trap.

There aren't that many comments to read and none of the comments seem negative. Well I pointed out the Mustang VIN 5 days ago, hinting that that might be a problem, but no one seems to think that will be a problem.

[Harpoon PV2]

Originally Posted by 1ntCobra

There aren't that many comments to read and none of the comments seem negative. Well I pointed out the Mustang VIN 5 days ago, hinting that that might be a problem, but no one seems to think that will be a problem.

I am not trying to be flippant, and you won't see me bidding on this car, but the vin is only a problem if you try to register it in a state that requires vin verification like mine. No one is going to pass this car as a Cobra!

[cycleguy55]

Main tubes on chassis look like 2" diameter, but there is vertical and horizontal triangulation evident on the different members - typical of FFR chassis.



Photo 219 shows a FFR chassis number, while photo 214 shows a different number. Wheelbase looks like it could be more than 90". Could the body have been taken from a Cobrette or Cobray?

I see mrmustang commented on this perhaps being an old Sterling cobra kit, based out of Virginia.

[Buzz]

This very same car came up for discussion last year. What brand of cobra replica do I have?
The only US manufactured Cobra replica that used a small diameter, triangulated spaceframe chassis was Bennett. The suspension and all chassis details didn't quite match up, but the basic frame design and the extra wide wheels and tires fitted inside the wheelwells led me to speculate that it may have been a semi-home built job using a basic Bennett frame. Also - Bennett made at least 2 generations of chassis designs, moving to the tubular spaceframe in gen 2.
I'm pretty sure the body is from Bennett though, because of a number of matching details. Mainly, the area around the engine compartment opening is unique and identical and there is no rear fender cutout for the fuel filler. Compare to pics in the BAT ad.


Conclusion - this is a Bennett based replica in some form or another.

Bennett chassis illustration:

[joyridin']

Looks like somebody bought it for $35,500, or $37,225 with fees.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...2f7gM4KtWq_FG8