Cobra 427 Comp vs. Grand Sport vs. 275LM

[Cal Metal]

Aussie Mike:

GM was never behind the GS program; in fact, that is why it was a Skunk Works operation. GM, at that time, still adhered to the AMA ban on Factory Racing programs that had been decided on in 1957. The GS program was an outlaw endeavor from the "get go".

It took some real brass by people like Duntov and Bunkie Knudsen to even contemplate, let alone, try to develop it within the walls of GM.

The car, therefore, never had any serious development work done on it. Contrast that with the development effort put in by Remington and the gang on the Gt-40. Worlds apart..................

[Excaliber]

It's surprising how long it took the USA to switch to disc brakes. Jaguar clearly showed the advantage in the early 50's at LeMans. What was it,,,,,mid to late 60's before disc started showing up on US cars?

Ernie

[Cal Metal]

Ernie:

That would be a good trivia question. What American car offered disc brakes first as an RPO item. The Crosley had them in 1949, on all four wheels, no less. But which one of the Big Three had them first? My guess would be Studebaker or the Mustang. I can't think of any car having them prior to '63.

[Ron61]

Cal,

I am not sure on this but my Grandfather had an old Dodge Touring car that he bought new and I think it was in the early 40s or late 30s. I just remember the wood spoke wheels and the brakes. They called them steel- draulic or something like that, but they were an early form of disk brakes I believe. I know that I wish I had that car now.

Ron

[bmalone]

Cal, Thunderbolt; but as you say that was '63. There have to be other earlier examples--just can't think of any right now.

[Anthony]

If I remember correctly, the 427 cobra was SCCA champ like 4 out of 5 years from 1965 - 1970, or something like that. I would think that it competed against BB vettes, including L88's. Dick Smith could probably give you a good comparison of his 427 cobra vs. the bb vette.