Your 5 quick ways to tell a replica from an original ??

[KobraKarl]

Specialk,Jim,

I guess it will be pretty tough to argue with the registry, and I sure dont have any more weighty evidence than the registry, but there are other well informed opinions (not mine ) that differ on that issue. Just for laughs i'll see if I can find some.

Karl

[Edley Rondinone]

Did any original Cobras have chrome rollbars or chrome pipes, or did any have stripes at all? Werent the rollbars and sidepipes black?

[Excaliber]

One thing seems for sure! LOTS of the original cars have been "altered" in some way in their present form. LOTS of them were subtly different to begin with! Hmmmm,,,,does make a case for those that now want to do it "their way". As for me, I like to keep in clear view the "standard" of what it means to "duplicate" a Cobra.

With that foundation in mind, I may choose to "alter" my Cobra in some way and at the same time admire those that reach for the ultimate in replication to the original concept (right down to the rivet count)!

Ernie

[computerworks]

Originally posted by Edley Rondinone


Did any original Cobras have chrome rollbars or chrome pipes, or did any have stripes at all? Werent the rollbars and sidepipes black?

Chrome was done aftersale. All Comp and S/C's came with black roll bars. Side pipes were black or white, to taste.
Remember, most of these were race cars that got dirty and dinged real quickly.. many got smacked real quickly and were painted, and repainted, and repainted...

[Jim Maxwell]

Edley, I think I have read that the side pipes on the S/C's were all black, not chrome. I also read that one of the twin supercharged Cobras had chrome pipes, but I have a photo of the only surviving one and it has black pipes( but a chrome roll bar!) The S/C's had black rollbars. I'm sure there may have been exceptions in both cases.
Karl, I'm sure the Registry doesn't have it all right, but SAAC does have paperwork on every Cobra made, including factory invoices. Of course, none of the paper work I have on my car from SAAC mentions the kind of engine it has, so...
I think they have factory documents that describe the engine used in each car. I'll send an e-mail to Ned Scudder, the SAAC Cobra Registrar and "keeper of the documents" and ask him.

[computerworks]

Jim is right...we have to go by the Registry, but remember it is now almost 7 years old and a lot of history and data has been uncovered since it was last printed. SAAC's records are the most accurate source.

Here is an interesting bit of data...
Excerpts from the 1966 Cobra brochure and then the 1967 one.
The 1966 sheet calls out the 427, while the 1967 calls out the 428. It is widely believed that the cut-in of the 428's came at about the model year change, coincident with the switch to round taillights.

A new program manager at SAI facilitated the switch back to 427's for the last 60 or so cars, until production was ended.

1966 version:



1967 version:

[Jim Maxwell]

Ron, It's interesting, (atleast to me), that the card you show above mentions a "dual-quad" 428, but the spec sheet I posted the link to lists a single Ford 4-barrel for the carb. All of the original 428 cars I have seen that still have their 428' s(three of them) have a single carb, all Holleys! Now, did the owners dump the Autolites, or did Shelby dump them first? My Holley has a date code tag that matches the production date at the Shelby factory very well and is the same carb being put on the GT350's in the same factory at the same time. That's a little too coincidental, I think. Impossible to prove, although I have spoken too every owner except the first one, and the carb was not changed by any of them. I am still hunting the original owner, but no luck so far.

[pk]

yep yep yep you're all right

Essential AC (the Mills book) has a nice pic of CS's twin pax car on page 69. Chrome roll bar and pipes. He also mention that this was not the way they were normally.

It does seem that many of the 289 race cars did ship with chrome bars though. The yellow Allen Grant car for one the 289 bodied first 427 is another. In Friedmans book you can see both finishes on 289s.

pk

[Rich A]

So what is the count.
Out of the 212 Cobras (CSX 3XXX).
How many 427SC with 427 were made?
My count is 31.

[Specialk]

The registry lists 312 427 cars. I had to add up some numbers, so I may be off by 1 or 2. If every car in the CSX32XX range were 428 equipped, that is about 1/3 of the total production.

Every 427 S/C had a 427, and 31 is the correct number.

[REAL 1]

And to be more specific. Every one of the 31 427 S/C's had iron block 427SO's.

Aluminum block? We don't need no stinking....

[Jeff Frigo]

Kris:

Why do some people say that a few s/c cars had 428's? I agree with you, all s/c's had 427's !!

[aumoore]

Originally posted by terry lee


Ruble,
As I recall someone at Dan Wulf's Cobra Bash, mentioed something about you being related to another Moore in the movie business; we all assumed it to be Michael Moore last Sunday night.
BTW - He REALY PI$$ED me off too. I'm not against anyone speaking their mind, but there is a time and place and this wasn't either.
Now come to think of it, could it have been Dudley Moore?
TL

Terry
Dudley Moore Nope Not him. I was thinkng I may be related in some way to Demi Moore or Juliane Moore


David
Glad to see you have my back if my evil, dis-owned cousin Michael ever steps foot in your swamp. If you need a description look for a 350# Hippy with black rim glasses and a Goutee. If it is not Mr. Moore it might be someone who hate America and in that case he needs to have a boot put up his A$$

[Jim Maxwell]

Don't you love all the editorials and columns and NPR stories( I listen to know what they are up to) that are criticizing the folks criticizing Moore and the Dixie Chick who spouted off? These same people called for Trent Lott's head when he barfed up that garbage he said. I have to agree with the folks this time--it IS our right to say what we want. BUT, It is also our right to disagree with what others say, and if that means I can show my disagreement in some small way like not buying a CD or attending a concert or movie, that is my right too!

[KobraKarl]

Jim,Kris,

Well I'm gonna drop my sword on this one , I cannot find any s/c-428 connection where I thought I might have seen it . but just for the sake of argement (and I have no axe to grind here) is there or was there ever any engine specific documentation on the individual CSX# S/C or Street cars?

[Excaliber]

How 'bout that 390 in the "Turd"?

Ernie

[Jim Maxwell]

Karl, I have written an e-mail to Ned Scudder just now asking him to shed some light on this. He not only has the original factory documents, but owns an original S/C, restored to near perfection. It is on the cover of Rinsey Mills book, "Original AC Ace and Cobra",. It looks great in that photo, and that was BEFORE the restoration! Incidentally, Ned bought his first Cobra from my brother when he was 18 years old, in 1971.

[Turk]

1-If the owner tells you it is real even before you ask, it probably is a replica!

2-If the license plate says it is Real, it probably is a replica.

3-If it is just like mine, it is a replica.

Hi Evan!

TURK.
Now that I have your attention, do you want the room or not?

[Excaliber]

License plate on a replica Cobra:

R-Cobra


Huh? Could be real (but it aint)!

Ernie

[REAL 1]

Turk: Most owners are honest about whether their cars are REAL or replica. Especially when they state it clearly on their license plate.

As to the room. Yes. My answer has not changed.