Help to identify my cobra

[Pmccooey]

I picked up a Shelby Cobra about 6 months ago and am finally going through it and replacing all bushings, ball joints, shocks, etc. I originally believed it was a Contemporary Classics car but ran into some discrepancies with the front end and someone on another forum told me it wasn’t a Contemporary.

I can’t seem to post any pictures yet so I’ll describe the car. It has a tubular frame, 427 SO, Toploader, jag IRS with inboard brakes, dual coil overs on each side, front suspensions appears to be a Mustang II IFS with screw in ball joints and coil overs. Wheel wells are aluminum as is the trunk and engine bay. It has a CCX # on the right side front frame.

If it’s not a Contemporary does anyone have any guesses what other manufacturer built the Cobra this way? I just assumed it had been upgraded at some point and changes were made.

[twobjshelbys]

This will take some pictures of the underside, engine compartment, foot boxes and trunk plus exterior front and back end... You can try posting them to a hosting site and link them here but I think after your post count you should be able to. What method are you using? Select "go advanced" and then use the paperclip to upload. Did you try that?

[Pmccooey]

I’ll try and post some that I have.

[Pmccooey]

More pictures

[Pmccooey]

More pictures

[mrmustang]

It is a Contemporary Cobra.

Tough to see with my phone, but it looks like a torsion bar car.



Bill S.

[Pmccooey]

It has coil overs in front with a sway bar.

[saltshaker]

CCX# is located on top of the left 4” frame rail between the shock mounts
Jon

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by Pmccooey

More pictures

Looks like a Contemporary to me.

[Thor maine]

That is not a Contemporary or it has been highly modified. The front end is not Jag torsion bar or Contemporary set up that used Jag geometry and the same Jag mounting points and Contemporary does not have aluminium inner panels standard (but could have been modified). The frame in the front looks like the main rail is capped while a Contemporary has a cross member. The rear looks like Contemporary as does the low roll bar from an early CCX.

[strictlypersonl]

Rear steer? (Rack behind the wheel center line)
If so, that's a rare breed, and would narrow the search way down.

[MOTORHEAD]

Hey guys, OP in post #1, states "has CCX number on rt frame rail".
Contemporary with mods?

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Thor maine

That is not a Contemporary or it has been highly modified. The front end is not Jag or Contemporary set up and Contemporary does not have aluminium inner panels. The frame in the front looks like the main rail is capped while a Contemporary has a cross member. The rear looks like Contemporary as does the low roll bar from an early CCX.

I beg to differ:

Front end is later Contemporary tubular suspension
Aluminum panels were an extra cost option from Contemporary (listed in sales/build list), out of the three Contemporary 427SC's I've personally owned, two of them had this option.
Frame rails are indeed Contemporary design and layout, as are front knock off hubs (Contemporary spec), upside down door latch assemblies, transmission tunnel, dash, door hinges, short rollbar, carb linkage, even the VW brake reservoir. Plenty of other "tells" if you know what to look for

Bill S.

[Pmccooey]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

I beg to differ:

Front end is later Contemporary tubular suspension
Aluminum panels were an extra cost option from Contemporary (listed in sales/build list), out of the three Contemporary 427SC's I've personally owned, two of them had this option.
Frame rails are indeed Contemporary design and layout, as are front knock off hubs (Contemporary spec), upside down door latch assemblies, transmission tunnel, dash, door hinges, short rollbar, carb linkage, even the VW brake reservoir. Plenty of other "tells" if you know what to look for

Bill S.

Thanks Bill. I’m getting a few people telling me it’s definitely not a Contemporary. I’m far from an expert and that’s why I was reaching out. When I bought it I inspected it and believed it to be a Contemporary. I’ve been trying to get some Contemporary brochures to look up what options were available.

The PO didn’t know much but his history on the car stated he was the 3rd owner. The original owner had it built and used it for racing in the Poconnos. There are some SCCA badges on it but those could be bought anywhere. So I assume that the original owner may have made upgrades for racing. The PO did know that the gas tank was replaced with an extra large aluminum tank (32 or 36 gallons).

Pat

[1985 CCX]

I am with Bill CCX.

All the points he pointed out plus the seats look like CCX and the door cards CCX.
Later CCX did have a coil over option versus the std Jag torsion bar.
Also, the rear area ahead of differential looks like CCX frame transition to me. Very close to mine from the day.

My vote CCX...
Think Power and Performance were also similar but their seats and door cards different.

[767Jockey]

Are the body header exit holes open at the bottom? That's another CCX trait. I'm with the others, sure looks like a CCX to me. Low roll bar, VW brake reservoir, and many other things.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Pmccooey

Thanks Bill. I’m getting a few people telling me it’s definitely not a Contemporary. I’m far from an expert and that’s why I was reaching out. When I bought it I inspected it and believed it to be a Contemporary. I’ve been trying to get some Contemporary brochures to look up what options were available.

The PO didn’t know much but his history on the car stated he was the 3rd owner. The original owner had it built and used it for racing in the Poconnos. There are some SCCA badges on it but those could be bought anywhere. So I assume that the original owner may have made upgrades for racing. The PO did know that the gas tank was replaced with an extra large aluminum tank (32 or 36 gallons).

Pat

Pat,

Pocono area was my old neck of the woods, PM me some details on the history, and an email address so I can send you scans of the Contemporary sales documentation and order/option/pricelists of the time period.

Bill S.