New Ford/Shelby Cobra design - Page 2

Buzz · #21 (**permalink**) 05-29-2003, 07:38 PM

Here she is after liposuction. Top of door sill has been leveled slightly and the rear end is more perky. Also added chrome "bullet" style mirrors and gussied 'er up with a meatball and team stripes. Hood louvers added to aid under hood cooling and air extraction. Still working on the coupe.

GeorgiaSnake · #22 (**permalink**) 05-29-2003, 07:48 PM

Fix the headlights and I'll send in my deposit

Randy

Edley Rondinone · #23 (**permalink**) 05-29-2003, 08:24 PM

Closer, closer! Headlites still look too much like a "new Mini" or an E-Class Mercedes. Side vents seem a little large; too much like a Corvette; Steering wheel looks a little too close to the dash; front of rear fender bulge curves too far rearward; Maybe make the grille "mouth" rounder and less oblong, to look less like a Taurus; Mirrors and hood vents look good, though! Could you show more rear fender bulge, on the side view? Thanks!

BT SNAKE · #24 (**permalink**) 05-29-2003, 09:17 PM

Buzz,
You keep listening to these guys and you'll soon be lookin' at an original Shelby...

Hersh

PS...How about a rear view of this snake.

OZCOBRA · #25 (**permalink**) 05-30-2003, 02:50 AM

Buzz. I agree with Hersh keep your artistic license leaning towards the your original design (Perky Butt well OK!!)LOVE the hard top!!
As for your three seater any top shelf Production super car needs a DEMONSTRATOR, even better how about the safety car at Daytona or Indy it would be awsome to see !!!

Paul

boxhead · #26 (**permalink**) 05-30-2003, 06:27 AM

Love the pics Buzz, Drop the rear spoiler on the hard top model
Smaller and chromed side louvres.
I like the tr4 triumph look of the sloping doors.
Headlights sould be rounder.
Larger diameter side pipe.
Can you paint it yellow with guardsman blue stripes?

Excaliber · #27 (**permalink**) 05-30-2003, 09:03 AM

On that sidepipe issue.

The Viper people found that was a much bigger problem than they had anticipated. It had to be designed so as not to produce "snake bite", still look good and not introduce excessive heat into the passenger area.

As I understand it the heat on your left leg while driving is STILL a problem they have not been able to solve.

Ernie

flipper35 · #28 (**permalink**) 05-30-2003, 12:30 PM

They are actually an underbody exhaust that exits in front of the rear tire and the sills make it look like they are sidepipes. They are connected similar to an 'H' pipe to allow both banks to be heard on each side.

I looked at number 24 while car shopping in SD and the rockers were wrinkled pretty bad from the heat so I can imagine your leg would get real worm on those originals. Not much of an issue now though.

Buzz · #29 (**permalink**) 05-31-2003, 11:37 AM

Good point Hersh!
Re: the headlights/front end and oval intake: I'm trying to address the poor aerodynamic isses of the "old" design while maintaining the original character. The headlights can't be flat and upright - they must be laid back and smoothed into the bodywork. I will make them a bit rounder and see how that looks. Ditto with the intake. It too is smaller vertically and angled back at the top. I'll play with the shape to see if I can make it look more Cobra and less Taurus. I will post the revised pics including a rear view along with the "new" Daytona coupe. When we're all done, I'll send them along with our list of musts & wants to Ford, Shelby and one or two of the Car magazines just for fun. Who knows...someone might actually pay attention.

decooney · #30 (**permalink**) 05-31-2003, 04:23 PM

Hey Buzz,

I think what you have come up with so far is pretty darn neat looking. Great job. The graphics and character of the design almost sort of looks like it's from the "Go Speed Racer" cartoon or something. Kinda fun lookin. I'd like to have a poster of it as-is for my garage.

Duane

Buzz · #31 (**permalink**) 05-31-2003, 11:04 PM

Duane, send me your email address and I'll post you a larger file. Revised pics coming soon.

Edley Rondinone · #32 (**permalink**) 06-02-2003, 03:11 PM

Buzz: I agree with Duane. The good things about these computers is that you can show ALL the drawings, from the original "prototype" thru all the changes. Once people see all the changes and the original drawing, they can see how "their" ideas worked or not.

Buzz · #33 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 02:59 PM

I finally got a chance to finish the latest round of refinements to our "2005" Cobra. Lights are a bit rounder though still faired in and laid back for streamlining. Radiator opening is slightly larger and rounder and mesh inserts are added to brake & oil cooler ducts. Some additional rake has been added to the windshield and the sidepipes are larger. Rear view is included showing the LeMans style filler cap and the fine mesh screens in the retractable roll bars to cut buffeting at speed. There is also a "street" Roadster version with no sidepipes or hoodscoop, smaller side vents, chrome bumpers and some changes to the front end.
The Daytona coupe is also done and shares the same platform as the roadster but no sheetmetal other than the doors. Still needs some refinement and a set of must/want criteria.
Edit: note the small rear lip spoiler on the 427's trunklid - intended to recall the FIA "suitcase bulges", aid aero and house the third brake light.

Buzz · #34 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 03:05 PM

Here is the roadster with soft top and narrower fenders. Supercharged V6?

Buzz · #35 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 03:10 PM

Finally, an early draft of the Coupe. Comments, criticism, suggestions?

BANDIT 1 · #36 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 03:27 PM

The coupe looks awesome, however I do not like the big side louvers. They need to be "regular" Cobra size. Oh yea, it must have a big block and a supercharger.

BT SNAKE · #37 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 03:27 PM

OOOOOH OOOOOUUUH !!! I like the coupe!!

Buzz, Great job! I really like the way they look. really different yet you still can recocognize the true cobra heritage,

Hersh

Edley Rondinone · #38 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 03:37 PM

Buzz, Is it possible to put a drawing/picture of "our" Cobras next to your drawings for comparison sake? JMHO: make the trunk bulge/spoiler a little narrower; headlights still look a little cross-eyed, a la Barbra Streisand! shrink the fender scoops a little; raise up the rear edge of the door, more like the Coupe; make the butt a little less droopy; Roadster looks nice, but black background is too dark; maybe make the mouth of the Coupe a little narrower; great ideas, though!!

rdorman · #39 (**permalink**) 06-04-2003, 06:23 AM

I will take one of each!
Rick

Buzz · #40 (**permalink**) 06-04-2003, 07:22 AM

Thanks guys. When working on the sketches I deliberately avoided looking at pictures of the REAL cars so they would be fresh designs with impressions of the original details as opposed to modified copies. Looking at the original Daytona Coupe, however, I notice that the side vents are more of a vertical slot than a louvered vent, so I will see what something along those lines looks like. How much smaller should the 427's side vents be? What about the size on the Roadster? I'll shrink them a bit and see what happens. Hopefully then they'll be ready to send to Ford and Shelby and some of the car mags along with a short write-up. It's been fun - I kinda enjoyed this little exercise. Thanks for all the input. Maybe I'll also convert the 427 into a photo realistic pic and add a model or two for a 2005 (?) Cobra poster!