Need Help with Cobra infoformation.. How to tell real from fake.??

[Cal Metal]

Based on the shifter location, it appears that the car probably uses a Tremac. It is centered perfectly in the console area. The TLs that use a Hurst have the shifter somewhat to the left of center. Lack of the reverse shifter would also indicate a 351W, perhaps.

It could just be me, but the shifter location looks like it is really set back quite a ways and not forward enough where one would normally want to reach for the shifter. In this case, it is right next to the driver's elbow.

[Excaliber]

The pattern on the gear shift knob is for a four speed. I bet the gear shift has fallen downward because the tranny is missing. Raised up it would have the classic forward curve toward the dash. Is that a reverse lockout tab just below the gear knob? Top loader me thinks,,,,,,,,

Other clues (mustard stain on the floor, scuff marks on the seat, angle of the car in the garage, etc.) would lead one to conclude the driver was male, brown hair, of medium build and was wearing jeans and a tee shirt at the time of impact..............and he was going to fast for conditions.

Don't you just love a good mystery!

Ernie

[Bob Putnam]

There are only a few cars with an exposed roll bar. ERA, Superformance, Kirkham, CSX and ?. That car has an unusual glovebox door (not ERA) and what looks like a Superformance handbrake handle. It also lacks the tunnel-to-dash tubes of ERA, Kirkham and CSX.

Therefore - My first choice is SPF, or (unlikely) some other brand...

[Woodz428]

Bob, I'm not sure what tubes you are referring to, but my SPF has 2 tubes that go from the dash to the tunnel. I can also see the same in these pics (if you look closely they are visible even though the lighting is poor).

[KobraKarl]

If i remember correctly , the late Contemporary's also had the exposed roll bar. If you look close the tunnel to dash support tubes are there. But that glove box is out of character for the rest of the car........maybe an after thought on an S/C...

KK

[Excaliber]

Exposed roll bar on Excaliburs and Classic Roadsters also. This is NOT one of those.

However, now that you mention it, it appears the area behind the seats (where you can see the roll bar) is like an open shelf, storage area. Again, like the Excals and C.R.'s have.

I was not aware of other cars that left this area open (if in fact it is).

Ernie

[Randy Rosenberg]

It's an SPF...

From PIC #1:

1. The sidepipes point straight out.
2. The rollbar shape, size, angle, and mounting match SPF.
3. Rivets on the hood/scoop match SPF.
4. Location of the hood locks matches SPF.
5. Tonnuo (sp?) cover / convt top rivets match SPF.
6. Side curtain holes match SPF.
7. SST louvers match SPF.
8. Trigos or SPF Wheels are common on SPFs (and others), but the lack of bolt's on wheels is an indication.

From PIC #2:
1. The angle of driver's seat matches SPF.
2. The fresh air vent control on the exteme left of the dash matches SPF.
3. The nut under mirror holding the dash matches SPF.
4. The roll in the carpet on the tunnel matches SPF.
5. The location of the rivets on cowl above the dash matches SPF.
6. The parking brake handle matches SPF.
7. The shape of the glove box (tho out of alignment) matches SPF.
8. The size, shape, and metal of the defroster vents match SPF.
9. Smith's gauge are common on SPFs (and others) but the absence of non-Smith gauges are another indication.

PIC #3 &4 dodn't reveal much more than PIC #1

This is an SPF...

[Bill Wells]

ray, could be a Superformance, the dash layout is same as mine assuming the dash pic you show incudes another toggle switch hidden in pic view by the right side of the steering wheel. also ap-appears to be a blue light between the far two left gauges which would be typical of spf's. the light above the ignition key should be red and the ohter light shows as yellow which is also typical for spf's.

the gear shift lever knobs on spf's show a 4 spd pattern even with the 5 spd tremec, that is the way they come.

best to check under the hood for telltale spf chassis number id's"

* on the frame crossmember between the radiator and engine will be a stamped serial which will read either :

- AC9CSLK1897AM1xxx
-SPxxx
-SPOxxxx (the x's being the numeric chassis number)

* also, lifting the hood, there should be a Superformance decal on the right inner fender well area near the firewall that says Superforamance and will also have the serial number as referenced above. some folks , or states, remove this decal for various reasons.

remember , the serial on the title may not be the serial of the car, ie, someone used a title washing co and got a new serial, or a state (like michigan) assigned the car their own unique 'assembled vehicle' serial number

best check the cross member and tell us what the stampings are as typically those are not messed with although i have seen some folks cover those up to.

color could be spf malachite green. fender fins appear to be stainless on my pc screen. bill.

[rayNmiami]

WOW.. Great Replys.. You guys rock.. More info.. The engine and Tranny are both missing. I have not seen the car only pictures.. I should be able to get someone to check for a plate in the glove box and the engine compartment. Anywhere else to check?

Here are a couple more pictures.. maybe there will give you a little more help.


Ray

[rayNmiami]

more engine pix

[KobraKarl]

Square tube rules out Contemporary and High tech.

[Bill Wells]

ray, see the black / silver decal plate on the engine bay ..left side showing in the picture. have someone read to you what that plate says. dollars to donuts it is SPF as i posted as well as Randy ...and the serial should be there too...looks like this puppy was driven hard and put away wet and then canniblaized. bill

[rayNmiami]

more

[KobraKarl]

was this car stolen?

KK

[rayNmiami]

I think it was just wrecked.. No reallly sure though it may have been stolen then wrecked..

[tyfaim]

Superformance

[rayNmiami]

It is a super performance.. I just had the guy check the plate. I know it was built in 2002. Anything else I need to check?

Is super a middle, low or high end builder?

thanks

Ray

[Excaliber]

Yup.....looking more and more like Kris nailed it early on. SPF

Note the curve on the bottom of the gear shift, foward slant to it for sure, which would be the "correct" style shifter.

Now for the engine! Long narrow header ports.....460 Big Block or FE?

Middle to high end builder SPF (uh oh, that statement could start a fight)

Ernie

[rayNmiami]

LOL.. The guy there said it looked like the headers were too small for a big block.

He also said the fram in the rear was a little bent but shouldn't be to hard to fix.

The car was wrecked but only insured for the body. So the owner had the engine and tranny removed prior to the insurance company taking it back.


So what type of engine/tranny should I put in this to get the best return of value? and how much do you think it would cost me? Just for the engine and tranny?


Also when finished ballpark what would this be worth?

thanks

Ray

[Excaliber]

Usually not a good idea to buy a Cobra with hopes of recovering your investment. Frankly, it rarely happens!

If not a Big Block then a 351W. $35-40K if complete, maybe less. I'd be worried about the title will play out BIG TIME. If it's through a "title washing" service you can forget about Calif registration. If it winds up saying something like "salvage title" vehicle you discount heavily the price.

If I was going to "go for it" I'd use a 351W and a 5 speed to keep costs down number one. Number two, I prefer small blocks. WHAT motor it USED to have will make a difference in what motor will easily fit back in! A BB vs SB have different engine and tranny mounts, not to mention the headers won't fit!

Could be a can of worms! Do it because you love the car, not the re-sale. DO NOT go with an automatic trans unless you want to keep the car forever......

Ernie