Superformance Coupe at Monterey -

[Durt]

Any opinions on Pete Brock's SPF coupe displayed at the Historicals last weekend?
I'm afraid I remain unconvinced. While I realize the intent was not to make an uncomfortable carbon copy of the Daytona (ala McCluskey's continuations,) the SPF iteration just seems too cush for me to take seriously. From the (somewhat cheesy) faux velour door inserts with crank windows, to the massive 18" wheels that look like they'd be more at home on a Viper, this car seems to be caught in the 'fish nor fowl' dilemma like the Cobra roadsters you see with Recaro seats, headrests, automatics and fully modern amenities. All perfectly acceptable unless you're more of an authenticity buff.
The fact that it's been made larger also added to the visible "?" in my thought balloon.
I wish them a lot of luck - but for my 90K, if I want a top and air conditioning, I'd have to opt for the CAV GT-40.

[TERRY M KRYSTOFIAK]

ACTUALLY I DID TALK TO BROCK ABOUT THE CAR....GREAT GUY. I TOO THOUGHT THE WHEELS WERE OUT OF PLACE AND ASKED IF IT COULD BE SWITCHED. THE 18" WHEELS ALLOW THE HUGE BRAKES. NOT SURE THE WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR STREET USE. ALSO HE MENTIONED THAT SMALLER WOULD NOT LOOK RIGHT IN THE WHEEL WELL AREA. OTHER THAN THAT, I THOUGHT THE CAR LOOKED GREAT. SINCE CARROLL IS SUING HIM HE CHOOSE HIS WORDS CAREFULLY. AS I WATCHED THE 6B RACE WITH THE AFTER BODY DAYTONA USING A CSX # I GOT TO WONDERING ....IF I WERE TO AQUIRE A CSX# AND PUT A CHEETA BODY....OR HEAVEN FOBID A CORVETTE BODY WHAT KIND OF "COBRA" WOULD I HAVE!!!!?

[Randy Klein]

Durt, you've put you're finger on the pivotal question: Authenticity or not?

Admittedly this isn't a suprise to me because I've been tracking the evolution of the Coupe for the past ~ 2 years, after Mariaah was totaled.

After having the good fortune to talk with Peter Brock for several hours about his design philosophy, I am convinced that this is a better car than the original Coupe.

Some facts that shed light on my feelings are:

The original plans for the Shelby Daytona Cobra were much like what the Brock Superformance Coupe has incorporated. That is, the original Coupe was supposed to be as long as the SPF Coupe, but AC had already cut the pieces, to the wrong dimensions, when Peter showed up in England to Execute his design. He actually had to "Backward design" the Shelby Coupe to make use of the parts AC mistakenly cut. Needless to say, he and Bob Negstad weren't real happy about that situation, but time and urgency forced them to "make do."

The 18" wheels will give the owner a broader range of choices for rubber, and brakes, that will make the car safer at speed than can be had with the 15" wheels. Personally, I wouldn't want a 200+ MPH car with 175 MPH tires...not that I would ever drive that fast. ;-)

The on-board AC will make the car much more comfortable in the heat, something the original Coupe wasn't, and neither was (is) the original GT40 a "cool driver." This I found out after talking with Bill Murray who drives the GT40 from the Shelby museum in Colorado.

I have to admit that at my age (56) and after having driven the wheels off of my 427 S/C, Mariaah, on the track and in on the street, a little more comfort, and safety, are very desirable for me.

Safety is the next issue. The Coupe has an integrated roll bar with the ability to take a roll cage that, from my perspective, is mandatory should the Brock Coupe EVER be put into a racing situation.

The steps that SPF went through to make their Coupe look as authentic as it does, took about an hour for the SPF CEO to explain to me. It really has a complete design pedigree that even impresses this old engineer.

There's more to say, but I need to take a nap!

All the best,

[Durt]

Appreciate the feedback. I have no doubt that the SPF coupe is vastly superior to the original, just as the modern roadsters are - I just have a problem with replicas that stray from dimensions and intent resulting in another animal altogether. I have no doubt that this would have been the coupe Brock would have built in a perfect world. But in that same world, Shelby's Cobra would be Chevy powered as well.
I drove my Cobra up from LA, and good God it was miserable - but I'm just not the kind of enthusiast who wants to take an open, noisy, hot, stinky hot rod and turn it into a roomy Mercedes. If that's an issue, I'll drive the Mercedes.
I want my Daytona damn close to original for those beans.
I really hope they find a demographic - but to me, this car is a Viper in Daytona clothing, and you don't need to tap dance with the title to a Viper.
And, as I said, I'm a stubborn purist - I'm not bagging on the effort. I'm sure it's an incredible machine.
And Shelby is sueing Brock? Is there no bottom to this mean old SOB's petty agenda? I guess he's determined to go to the grave bitter and disliked.

[Bill Kesner]

Terry.....

I'm guessing you meant Group 7B, also which coupe was re-bodied? What a weekend!! I heard over the annoucement that the flip-top got damaged in Dick Smith's oil leak by turn 11. I hope it's minor, as Rich's car is too rare and too beautiful.

- Bill -

[csx700?]

the rebody he is talking about was #99. i believe this was lynn park's coupe that he had McCluskey build. it was an original 289 roadster that was rebodied. the driver of shelby's car was dereck bell and it was parked in the pits next to lynn park's fia cobra roadster.

[Excaliber]

It is a tough call when you "stray" from the original specs, no matter HOW the original specs came about.

I sure like the extra room my Excalibur and Classic Roadsters have. I also have those days where I long for something closer to original specs (like one in hundred people could tell the difference)! But I know the difference.

With the exhaust odors and heat the original Coupe came with I must say some "re-design" is a good thing, for some of us. It's good there is a choice!

Ernie

[Durt]

That's why I've tried to be careful in my wording. In no way am I saying that modifications and improvements are inherently wrong or in some way 'sacreligeous', it's all personal preference - and in many cases - extremely tall for example - a necessity.
I simply prefer the original agony - my personal set of chains.

[Edley Rondinone]

Durt- were you at the Glendale Cruise Nite a few weeks back?

[TERRY M KRYSTOFIAK]

BILL,
RICH MASON IS A CLOSE FRIEND. IVE ACTUALLY DRIVEN THE FLIP ON THE TRACK. DICK WAS SURE RUNNING STRONG, HAD PASSED RICH ALITTLE EARLIER, THERE WAS REALLY NO CHOICE BUT TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE OIL SITUATION ON A BLIND ENTRY. THE FLIP TOP IS NOT THAT BAD CONSIDERING....FROUNT AND REAR SIDES. I GARANTEE IT WILL BE "AS NEW" WITHIN A MONTH OR SO. RICH WAS UNDERSTANDABLY NOT HAPPY, BUT PUT ON HIS BEST POKER FACE. HE DID COVER THE CAR AS SOON AS HE CAME IN. WE WERE TO RUN IN THE SAME RUN GROUP AT THE END OF THE MONTH AT SEARS, IM SURE HE WILL RUN HIS DRAGONSNAKE INSTEAD. WAS A GREAT WEEKEND WASN'T IT!?

[Durt]

Edley - I missed Cruise Night this year due to band reunion committments in Lawrence Kansas on the same night - but I heard it was a good 'un.
Also - how'd you guys like Phil Gallant taking honors in 7B over the Daytona? That little #12 is a beotch & Phil a good driver.
I haven't had a chance to talk to Lynn (Park) but what's the skinny on his #16 FIA? This was the second year he didn't run.

[Jamo]

Terry

Hope it comes back together quickly--glad to hear it was, shall we say, moderate damage? Rich is one heck of a nice guy, from the few times I've talked to him.

Dick was running strong--just installed the big Boghosian motor which was built alongside mine--so I saw the strength going in as it was put together. He was really happy with how it ran during the morning warm-up, and it was great seeing a Cobra running up there with the GT40s and LM. An outside line let lose and ended his day.

Loved watching these gentlemen having at it on the track--neither of them ever baby their machinery.

[Tom T.]

Hey Terry,

How's the new motorhome? Can I sit in it at MiniNats? Sold the Contemporary, and can't run the Z06, even with Ford stickers on it. That fliptop has been bruised quite a bit over the past few years, hasn't it? Great car, glad to hear driver okay and car fixable.

TT

[TERRY M KRYSTOFIAK]

JAMO,
ARE YOU GOING TO MINI NATS? IF SO WOULD LIKE TO MEET. ILL BE RUNNING A '66 GT350..RED/WHITE #53. AS FOR LYNN PARK, ON SUNDAY DURING WARM UP I THINK HE BLEW A PASSENGER SIDE HEAD GASKET. HE PULLED THE PLUGS AND I THINK # 2 & # 3 CYLINDERS SHOT OUT WATER. THE SAT TRANS AM RACE WAS REAL "ENTERTAING". DID ANYONE HERE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DAYTONA (WHITE) THAT WAS LEADING WITH TWO LAPS TO GO. MORTON WAS REALLY DOING A GREAT JOB OF DRIVING.

[Jamo]

Don't know yet Terry...

Wished we would've met up this weekend. Ran into Kee--said you folks were around. Lots of people! I figured I'd find Big--you'd be surprized how many tall folks were walking around when you're looking for one.

I hung around Dick's pit for quite awhile after the warm-up--probably within a few yards of each other.

[gsharapa]

I think the one thing everyone needs to remember is, the SPF coupe is not suppose to be a replica of the Daytona Coupe!
That's actually what Shelby would sue for....
This coupe is what Pete hoped for back in the 60s and will most likely be a much better automobile then the originals. No it can't replace an orignial but who in the heck has that kind of coin to have one anyway. I think the coupe is pretty neat looking. Yes I also would prefer the 15 inch wheel look and would have to have the real exhaust, but the rest of the car is pretty awesome and very affordable comparied to other cars in that class...
Good Luck Superformance I hope you sell a ton of them!

[Durt]

I had a whole dollar riding on the white Daytona & was quite upset when he spun it.
What I can't quite comprehend regarding Lynn's #16 is this: The guy has 8 original Cobras, a full time mechanic and more scratch than Rupert Murdoch. What possible malady could prevent the operation of this machine short of detonation on the starting grid?

[TERRY M KRYSTOFIAK]

TOM T.,
YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME, SPEND THE NIGHT IF YOU LIKE. GLAD YOU ARE COMING. PUT THE Z06 IN THE CAR SHOW, THEY HAVE A CLASS FOR IT. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

[TERRY M KRYSTOFIAK]

JAMO,
BOB (TOO TALL) EVANS WOULD REALLY BE HARD TO MISS. WHAT A GREAT, NICE GUY. SPENT SOME TIME WITH PHIL REMMINGTON, WHAT A WEALTH OF INFORMATION, AND UNBELIEVABLE MEMORY. ONE EVENING COULD BARELY SCRATCH THE SURFACE, AND A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH HIM AGAIN SOMETIME. DAVID KEE SEEMED TO ENJOY HIMSELF. WALKING THROUGH THE PADDOCK HE WOULD POINT OUT CARS RUNNING THIS TRANNY'S. THOSE WERE THE ONES WITH NO PROBLEMS! THE KNOWLEDGE OF "SNAKEEYEES" AND "CAL-METAL" ON ALL VINTAGE CARS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

[Jamo]

Kee always has a good time...

After the burnouts at the Fling with my brand new trans, he comes up at the Clubhouse. First thing he says is "your warranty is over."