New Ford Cobra...whatta ya think?

[Tom T.]

Well gee whiz, you did ask. Now Ford's new GT, well, that's a beautiful car.

T,T, and T

[CSX 4027]

I know some of you have stated or felt the car will grow on us.

Back in the 60's, I saw new cars like the;
Ferrari 275/GTB
Jaguar XKE
Corvette StingRay Split Window
Maserati 3500
as well as luxury cars like;
1963 Buick Riviera

..all of which did not have to grow on you. You knew right then and there they were gorgeous and timeless.


The Studebaker Lark had to grow on you. Then you had to get fungus remover to get rid of it

[maxrpm]

lotta TTs flyin 'round here!

[Dan Stryffeler]

I agree with a lot of the earlier posts... the new GT40 is a clear winner, this car is somewhat off the mark. After watching the developement of the Cobra on TV last night, it's kinda starting to grow on me abit - think the rear end could have been a little longer; looks a little cut-off, not too crazy about the dual headrest/rollbar; single hoop might have looked better.

Amazingly humorous that nothing about the Series I was ever mentioned in the show; i.e., that Ford's position is the new Ford Cobra is the logical evolution of the original car, leapfroging right over Shelbys car.

I was amazed that they were able to bring the car together so quickly, there's a pile of talent in that group from Ford!

- Dan

[RACER X #99]

Sizzler,
I was with you right up till you mentioned bring back the FE. While the FE was a decent engine 30 years ago and a proper engine for some replica Cobras, it certainly does not belong in any future factory built automobiles.

If and when Ford sells the new Cobra lots of people will buy them.

After watching the build last night and watching Shelby doing donuts with the new Cobra I am changing my vote. I kind if like it now.

Hey what do I know I like the Maxima also.

Cranky

[speed220mph]

The coverage of the new Cobra build on the Learning Channel last night was great. They got old Shel involved to "approve" the car to give it credibility. But as J Mays said, "It's hard to get approval when you're duplicating an icon such as the Cobra. The comments on this thread proves it.

V-10 engine and chassis look right on, but with styling causing mixed emotions. Although great attention was paid to aero, problem with front end seems to be too many joints, squinty eyed headlights and a permanent-frown radiator opening. Wish they wouldn't have duplicated the Vette's side vents. Needs work. Didn/t come off visually as nice as the new GT-40 aka Ford GT, but give Ford credit. It's a great start, with a great "we're gonna kick-a$$" attitude as was done with the original Cobra. Still don't think they'll produce it.

[BANDIT 1]

It was obious that for some reason they were using the original AC body as their guide. The original AC opening on the front has the opening oval at the top and straight across on the bottom. After watching the TLC show, I noticed that they also made the fenders slightly higher than the hood. The car is rounded at the top, but for some crazy reason they have the body going straight down instead of rounding the body at the bottom.

I would have much rather had their Cobra "test mule" Mustang with the 600 horsepower V-10!

[PJS50]

I don't know about you guys (and I haven't read ALL of the posts here) but I think it looks like a Aston Martin on steroids! A little bit too "shoeboxey" for me to be called a Cobra... One thing I would like to see is if she'll REALLY do "a buck ninety" without catching air... Of course somebody else can do it for me
Also, it weighs a hair over 3000 pounds.. seem kinda heavy doesn't it? I wanna see how this rear mounted tranny works too..
Lots of questions, not enough money for answers...

[Tom T.]

Cobra Zagato?

TT

[HIQ]

The "New" Cobra looked a bunch better on TV than it does on print. I don't care much for the head lights, but I did like the overall package.

[Sizzler]

Originally posted by RACER X #99

Sizzler,
I was with you right up till you mentioned bring back the FE. While the FE was a decent engine 30 years ago and a proper engine for some replica Cobras, it certainly does not belong in any future factory built automobiles.
Cranky

What I'd posted was:

Originally posted by Sizzler

But then, I think Ford wasted billions on developing the modular engine family when for 10% of the cost it could have just refined the FE, so what do I know.

That means not that they should resurrect the FE, but that, when it was decided, after way too long a liquid lunch, that Ford needed a whole new engine family, that that might not have been the best idea Ford has ever had. Especially based on the results.

GM didn't reinvent the SBC, it refined it. Mopar is still building variants of the 318 V8 (and I think the V10 may even be based on it). Only Ford decided to splurge $10 billion to end up with an engine that is wider, more complex, and less powerful than what it had to begin with. Spend $1 Billion and refine the Windsor, or spend the money to clean up the FE, and Ford's savings would have allowed it to build new GT's, Cobra's, Pantera's, EXP's even, if they wanted to, long ago. At this point, they've sunk the capital, wound up with some sort of asset. They need to get as much return on it as possible before hybrids and electrics make it obsolete as well. I don't think they should be throwing more money down the pit with V10's and such when a 4.6l V8 is almost the perfect engine for a 3,000 pound roadster.

And, while I don't think Ford should bring back the FE, I think Shelby, Genesis, and even Dove, have shown with real products and real investment, that the FE is still viable today. Iron or aluminum.

[RACER X #99]

Sizzler,
But they did improve on the FE. They built the 385 series which we all know is a bettter BB than the FE. Not quite a good as the BB that the General builds but still a better race engine than the FE.
Everybody is going OHC so that is the way to go. Some day even the sb Chevy will be history.

Cranky

[SCOBRAC]

The people at Audi are considering patent and copywrite infringement litagation.

Also... I told you fiberglass cars were better but noooooooo... CS agrees it seems...

[Sizzler]

The Lima is overweight, and only really good for racing. In street trim, the FE is a better engine. AND, the FE can weigh less than a SBC with aluminum heads, intake and water pump. The Lima will NEVER be considered a lightweight. It puts too much weight up front no matter where the trans gets placed.

And are we forgetting the SOHC Cammer FE? TOO Competitive for NASCAR?

OHC's aren't that big a deal. They were doing DOHC Windsors in the early 60's. Which is, of course, my point: why not just build up for the future from a DOHC 221,260,289 instead of recreating the sticks used to stoke the foundry's furnace?

[SCOBRAC]

Cobra TT roadster

[Sizzler]

Originally posted by SCOBRAC


The people at Audi are considering patent and copywrite infringement litagation.

Also... I told you fiberglass cars were better but noooooooo... CS agrees it seems...

Wouldn't be the first time.
Wasn't the Taurus very similiar to the Audi 5000 of the day?

Your comment about fiberglass brings up a question: does anyone know what they're planning on making the new Cobra out of? Glass? Aluminum? Hydroformed aluminum using Jaguars' experience/equipment maybe?

[BANDIT 1]

I agree with Mr. RacerX, the 385 series engine is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY better than the FE engine!

No brag, just fact.

[Sizzler]

Originally posted by BANDIT 1


I agree with Mr. RacerX, the 385 series engine is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY better than the FE engine!

No brag, just fact.

Yes fact. Mostly because it can be bored and stroked to far larger displacements than the FE, and because it still enjoys factory support.

OK?

[RACER X #99]

Sizzler,
Perhaps you don't remember or were not around in the sixties but the Cammers were king of Top Fuel for a while but as the amounts of Nitro went up so did the Cammers. (in flames) Just could not handle 1500HP now that the fuelers are claiming 6,000 hp there is little doubt that the FE could not hold up to todays racing requirements.

Last year somebody did a major build with a Shelby FE block and heads and went so far as the radically raise the exhaust ports and all thay could get out of this engine was about 1200 hp nowhere close to what is needed for serious competition in drag racing.

Like I said in my earlier post it was a decent engine in it's day but just like the flathead it has outlved it's usefullness in racing. Fine for a restoration or even a Cobra replica but just not quite as good as the competition.

If you have one that is fine and enjoy it for what it is, not for what it was.

Cranky

[BANDIT 1]

I agree! I am not putting down the FE engine, only saying the 385 series is a better engine.

I had a 427 FE engine in my Pro Street 1969 Mach 1, never had a problem.

It's kind of like this...

If I was on a desert island and I had to choose between Britney or Christina, I would pick Britney.

It doesn't mean that Christina couldn't get the job (he, he, he) done, just means I think Britney is better...