Britain's "remarkable automotive cottage industry"

[StephenC]

What's a Cobra:

Thanks (to Trevor also) for providing an alternate viewpoint, it's what makes CC so much fun and so interesting.

I see in your profile you indicate you own several Cobras. You are a great source of information for those of us who are new to the hobby, since you can compare different models and features.

Which Cobras do own, which do you like best, and why?

Great info provided on this thread. Thanks!

[What'saCobra?]

Hey Steve, you are right about Trevor.

But, my daddy told me if I was smarter, I would know a lot less.

Thanks for asking but, for now, we will let sleeping dogs...

Please don't be offended, but privacy...ex wives...that sort of thing...y'know?

-----------------------
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Hamlet", Act 1 scene 5

[StephenC]

WhatsaCobra:

Thanks for the reply, I think..........

I'm not sure I understand the privacy thing. You join a forum to discuss cars and then don't want to talk about your cars? I'm also not sure how many ex-wives read the posts here at CC and given the sketchy details provided in your profile, I'm also not sure how they could identify you if they did. How about some pictures in your gallery? No way to identify you from those.

I respect your privacy, and some here may give you the benefit of any doubt, others may not. I will not question you any further about your cars, I think I got all the information I need. Again, others may be a little more inquisitive. I'm also sorry if I have somehow offended you.

It's just very easy (and more than a little unusual) to come here as a new member claiming to own "several Cobras", and then refuse to provide any further details. Most Cobra guys can't stop talking about their cars, ex-wives or no ex-wives.

Best wishes.

[nikbj68]

Originally posted by Trevor Legate


You can't beat a bit of nuclear cover. (always popular with MD's of AC Cars. I'm told)

Sorry - I'm being silly now

That`s not what we said after Chernobyl!!!There`s still a flock of glowing sheep on Snowdon!

Would you have a 'nu clear cover' to replace an 'old not see-thru' car cover?

[Trevor Legate]

I think this thread is being stretched so far, it'll go twang and disappear up its own exhaust pipe.

Just a suggestion, WhataCobra, you could give us all a quick lecture on the "best" of the breed, in your learned opinion - whether you own one or not is hardly really relevant. I always lusted after an AC289 Sports of 1967 vintage. Had the great luck to have a photo session with COB6109, owned by Alastair Walker from new. Totally original and unmolested. Fab. (while I was snapping away at this Oxfordshire farm, a Spitfire flew along the valley at circa 100 feet. It was his brother-in-law commuting to Biggin Hill. Some days its worth falling out of bed).
If I cannot have that, then an AC Cobra Lightweight (yeah, that one) will keep me happy. All the grunt of a 427 with handling added. Given a twisty country road, no 427 will see which way it went.
However, I had a quick blat in a Kirkham FIA and that would keep me equally happy! That had handling and ride comfort that amazed me. Fabulous motor!!!!!!!!
Having said all that, I do have a Caterham 7 and as a cross-country car, at speeds of up to 110mph, none of the above would cause me much grief, and all with just 1600cc and a four-pot lump. Its all about arriving with a silly grin....in my opinion.

[Goober]

Trevor, I had a friend in Scotland who had a Caterham 7 with a 1600cc race engine. That thing scared the **** out of me. Probalby one of the fastest cars I have ever been in. Stuck to the road like glue. Getting in my RAM Cobra afterwards was like getting into a Robin Reliant!!
Mark

[wilf leek]

I hate Caterham 7s.

Every time I venture onto a race track in the Cobra, the damn things seem to come out of the woodwork.

They are all over me like flies in every corner, I pull away from them on the straights, then attempt a "heroic" cornering move in a vain effort to stay ahead in the next corner.

Then I get this "rotating in a cloud of tyre smoke" effect, which seems to do my lap times no good whatsoever. It would appear that it does cause the 7s to make drastic use of their cornering abilities to avoid me as I rotate, so I guess it is good for something.

LSIS's - hate 'em.

[What'saCobra?]

Stephen,

I would rather have wished you might have disagreed with my post facts or the conclusions I have made about the use and misuse of the AC cachet/brand. Instead, you criticise my masthead.

So, in the spirit of inquiry, instruction and learning, I have formulated a fair response for your and the other good reader's edification and perhaps even enjoyment. All in the name of good fun, eh?
---------------------------------------------

Dear Stephens of the world,

Thank you for your best wishes and desires not to offend people.

On the face of it, your first note certainly gives no offence, either intended nor received. No problemo.

Your second note is more interesting because of the veiled challenge to my veracity, which you seem not willing to do frankly.

But, I like your spunk, if not your artistic style, so I will take some time to formulate a few thoughts. I am a realist, perhaps an optimistic one at that.

I thought we certainly could talk about Cobras, AC, SA, Shel', engines, kits, fabrication and anything else Cobra, including, but not necessarily required, what the poster owns; unless we want to and then it's Katie Bar the Door. OK by me. But, just not my style.

I thought the idea was to share our thinking and learn from each other in a spirit of inquiry that need not include a challenge to personal posessions as an entrance requirement to inquiry and participation.

Many younger members may not yet nor many older members any longer have the funds to own any Cobra at all, "genuine" or not. Should that bar them from the club registration or your attention and acceptance? Does that make their view any less valid?

I apologise if I am mistaken, but that is not my impression of ClubCobra.

I didn't think it was necessary to brag about our cars, or even mention them, unless we wished to do so. It seemed to me that much more is accomplished in the understatement than the overstatement. It obviously annoyed the pisoir out of you, mon ami.

I have been reading here for over three years, on and off, using various nomes des plumes and frequently itched to wack down a few and boost folks that were struggling and trying to come to grips with as much truth as possible. But I resisted the urge until lately, where this SA thing is getting wacky and has drawn me out.

I have also watched short-fused characters get pissed over nothing and that doesn't represent the best that is in us, does it? So, I am not pissed.

Yet, your second somewhat ingratiating inquiry does sit there up above, doesn't it? It was not enough for you to read my answer and accept it, but you needed to explain to others how, dwell one my response, create doubt and let me see, how did you put it:

"It's just very easy (and more than a little unusual) to come here as a new member claiming to own "several Cobras", and then refuse to provide any further details. Most Cobra guys can't stop talking about their cars, ex-wives or no ex-wives."

Well, old boy, I guess I am a little unusual and rarely brag about my posessions, big or little. Perhaps that makes me not an acceptable poster to you. I brought no attention to my "several" comment. You did. Next time, am I to leave it blank, so the Stephen's of the world will not be annoyed?

I have a fair suggestion. I will post $1000 to the moderator, which you can match and then we will count how many "Genuine" Cobras ("genuine" race cars count double) each of us has this afternoon by serial number, privately to the moderator, with necessary documentation and testimoney required and the guy that has more keeps all the money. The loser posts a straight, non-weasel-worded apology, dictated by the winner.

Is that fair enough? That is, you can pay to find out...seems OK to me...all in good spirit and all that.

Here's wishing you a wonderful day of happiness and learning and hoping the sun continues to shine brightly from your aspirations to ours.

---------------------------------------------
Aside:
1. You probably haven't got many ex-wives or they were not as avaricious as mine were.
2. Your cars are probably not famous or at least not notorious.
3. You are proably a fine young gentleman who tries asiduously to avoid controversy.
4. You are wrong if you think I am angry, only disappointed at your snobbery.
5. If the moderator so requests I will withdraw the offer, not wishing to cause offense where none is intended, just like Stephen.

Kindly read the lines below...slowly... and take them quite seriously as they are one of the fundamental basis of your country...and mine.

[clayfoushee]

Trevor,

At the risk of hijacking this, just a little, what do think of the Noble GT? It is about Britain's auto. cottage industry.

[clayfoushee]

What'saCobra,

I'd really hate to be on your bad side on a bad day. As I've expressed previously, you clearly have forgotten more about Cobras than most have ever learned, which is precious little, let there be no misunderstanding. But, your style of rebuke is rarely seen in forums like this, and also to be greatly admired. The civility of it all is more than most Americans can take or understand! We seem to prefer baseball bats for our arguments.

Are you sure you only studied one year of British history?....LOL.

[wilf leek]

What'saCobra - I have a free "British Citizen" certificate here if you would like one. We give 'em out to most any folks these days, and your command of the English language far outstrips most of them.

Please stick around here, out in the open. I suspect I have much to learn from you.

Also, please don't tell me you own/owned several original lotus 7s. I do hate those things. (see words above).

[RallySnake]

Clay,

Yeah, buddy! It reminds me of the difference in after-race socialization, too. I very well remember one afternoon after the British Gran Prix at Silverstone having a pint in the pub and being very aware that I was standing next to James Hunt (then Formula 1 World Champ) and other gents making jokes about the race.

Years later, I ran the Cobra at a small pre-event at Saugus raceway in Southern California. I stayed for the door-slamming stock car race. After the race, I go get my car and the racers are chasing each other around with tire irons!

Paul

[Trevor Legate]

Originally posted by clayfoushee


Trevor,

At the risk of hijacking this, just a little, what do think of the Noble GT? It is about Britain's auto. cottage industry.

OK lets get this thread into the low hundreds.............the Noble is an AWESOME road car. End of story.
Or almost - not yet had the priviledge to drive one as yet, I really must, there is a dealer only 5 miles up the road! It has brought forth massive praise from weary motoring journalists in the UK and is a massively quick and capable machine. A solicitor in my home town owns a yellow one and I encountered him on the by-pass not far from my home - I was in a friends Mazda MX5 (sorry - Miata?). We pulled away from a roundabout together on a streaming wet road, he put his foot down and simply became a dot on the horizon. I had to check I had not hooked reverse!!! Amazing traction! Charlie Agg (see earlier posts, Cobra pilote extrordinaire and one of the fastest drivers I've ever come across) had a loan of a friends car recently and he assured me that the Noble was one of the fastest road cars he has ever encountered. If he says its quick, then it must be everso quick! Do not accept a lift as a passenger!

On the down-side, it has a very basic interior, but adequate,and one of the motoring magazines recently had a wheel collapse into a wheelarch, fortunately at around 25mph. Lee Noble called EVERY member of his staff into work on a Sunday and went through the problem with a fine-tooth comb. One mechanic had fitted one bolt that was a fraction shorter than it should have been.
I did hear of another owner who has a 'rogue' car that has had more than its share of problems and he is on the verge of returning it with a demand to have his money reunded. I think he is just unlucky. Good cars - buy one.

Sorry to have ruined Wilf's life by the raising of the dreaded 7! My apologies, no harm intended, but get out and drive one Wilf - come over to the dark side. The most fun you can have with yer clothes on.

[wilf leek]

Trevor - agreed. Last one I drove was a Westfield Seight with a TVR 4.3 litre V8 in it. An interesting experience, if not "pure" 7.


My main issue is that my height and heft make it even more difficult to be comfortable in a 7 than in a Cobra. My current fake snake is one of the roomier ones on the UK market, I fit in it rather than on it, and life is good.

I can only echo every word you said on the subject of the Noble - the factory is not far from where I live, and I was very impressed with the thoroughness of the engineering, and the quality of the (S African) build. And frightened to death by a test run as a passenger.

[Trevor Legate]

WhatsaCobra

Can I just echo Wilf's sentiments - excluding the '7' thing. Us February 2004 newcomers must hang in here. Methinks you have a LOT of knowledge to impart. Chuck it my way - please! If you possess a whole stack of Cobras that fine by me, I won't hold that against you. (Just to upset Wilf, i hope you have a 7)

[RallySnake]

Wilf,

I'm with you there. In my 20's, I drove a Lotus 7 around the Midlands with my trim girlfriend and had a great time. These days, at over 215, running rallys with my 265 pound naviguessor, that little cockpit just would not do. The handling was a dream, though.

Paul

[Trevor Legate]

Wilf

OK you are excused 7 duties. I am of a more petite build, a perfect fit in italian cars like Alfas and early Lambos and one of those people who find a 7 roomy. Well, sort of. I can almost move around a bit and look through the windsreen!

[What'saCobra?]

Trev,

Surely you know your Cobra ag pilot is as home in the M8F as he is in his new Nissan GTP car. He is bleenin' good, though I can fairly mention one gentleman ever a little bit better on a given day...Chris Chiles.

Trust me, Chiles has a degree of concentration like the best of the best of the best. I have not seen Chris pilot a COB, but I would bet on him after a few familiarization laps...likely 2 is all that would be necessary.

They are both real British Sportsmen and a pleasure with which to race cars, drinks or whatever.

Ask us about driving around the Ardenne after the Spa races trying to find the "lost" restaurants in the rented/hot street cars...

My daddy said, there is a find line between fearless and stupid...

Now, how many M8F's were actually assembled by Peter's company in the day?

Duck!

[clayfoushee]

Thanks Trevor, I've read all of the reviews posted on Noble's US site, and it seems astounding, beyond Porsche, and into Ferrari and Lambo, true super-car territory all for $ 85K (US) completed. There are only 4 or so finished, left-drivers in the US so far, but the waiting list is apparently getting long.

I suspect some will have trouble getting past the Ford Duratec V6 (albeit w/ twin-turbos) power-train in the U.S, as the only one available. Those who know anything about engines here, know it as the powerplant for the Ford Taurus Hertzmobile (without the turbos, of course).

Some American, of course, will eventually try to put a 427FE in one........LOL.

[Mark IV]

Yes, the Noble is an awsome car! Lee Noble has done a great job on the chassis and gee, who builds the Noble...???? Could it be......Hi-Tech Autos? You know, Jimmy Price, the guy who can only build "three cars in 18 months?"

Sorry, couldn't resist. Yes, I am a certified wise arse. And I still contest the revisionist history being sold on another thread.

In all seriousness, even Britain's "cottage industry" is going offshore to make it work.

Jimmy talks very highly of Lee Noble and the car I saw was very impressive. I want one....

And I have driven my friends Caterham 7 with a 1700......it is amazing. He describes the handling as "a rat with sneakers"...


Rick

(former AC US guy...or not depending upon who you wish to trust...)